[Effects of ginger-separated moxibustion at Baliao points combined with Bushen Huoxue formula on patients with decreased ovarian reserve function].

PubMed

Jiang, Duosheng; Zhang, Yingchun; Wu, Xiaolan; Wang, Yanming; Fan, Qiangfang; Wu, Song

2017-10-12

To compare the efficacy differences between ginger-separated moxibustion at Baliao points combined with Bushen Huoxue formula and Bushen Huoxue formula alone on patients with decreased ovarian reserve function. Fifty patients of decreased ovarian reserve function were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 25 cases in each one. The patients in the observation group were treated with ginger-separated moxibustion at Baliao points combined with Bushen Huoxue formula; the moxibustion was given for 1.5 h, once every seven days, and no treatment was given during menstrual period. The patients in the control group were treated with Bushen Huoxue formula. One-month treatment was taken as one treatment course, and totally three courses were given. The change of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E 2 ), anti-mullerian hormone (AMH), antral follicle count (AFC), peak systolic velocity (PSV), resistance index (RI) were observed before and after treatment in the two groups. After treatment, the FSH, FSH/LH and RI were significantly lowered, but the E 2 , AFC, PSV were significantly increased in the two groups (all P <0.05); the FSH, FSH/LH and E 2 in the observation group were lower and AFC was higher than those in the control group (all P <0.05). The ginger-separated moxibustion at Baliao points combined with Bushen Huoxue formula are superior to Bushen Huoxue formula alone in improving ovarian reserve function.

Hyperforin alleviates mood deficits of adult rats suffered from early separation.

PubMed

Zhu, Minghui; Liu, Chunhua; Qin, Xuan; Yang, Zhuo

2015-11-03

In this study, we aimed to explore the effect of hyperforin (Hyp) on adult rats suffered from early separation. Wistar infant rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group (CON), early separation from parents group (ESP), and early separation from parents+treatment with 3mg/kg/day Hyp group (ESP+Hyp). Postnatal rats of ESP group and ESP+Hyp group were separated from their mothers for 6h every day on the 14th day after birth, and this separation lasted for 3 weeks, while rats of CON group had no separation. Hyperforin was intragastric administrated on the 21th day after birth, and lasted for 2 weeks in ESP+Hyp group. After separation, adult rats were evaluated by using the open field test (OFT), novelty suppressed feeding test (NSF) and forced swimming test (FST). In OFT, time spent in central grids was much shorter in ESP group compared with that of CON group. After treatment with hyperforin, time spent in central area was much longer compared with that of ESP group. In NSF, the feeding latency of ESP group was much longer than that of CON group. After treatment with hyperforin, the feeding latency was shorter compared with that of ESP group. In FST, score of ESP group was markedly higher than that of CON group. Interestingly, the score was obviously lower in ESP+Hyp group than that of ESP group. In conclusion, these results suggest that hyperforin is able to alleviate anxiety and remit depression in ESP rats. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Affectionate Writing Reduces Total Cholesterol: Two Randomized, Controlled Trials

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Floyd, Kory; Mikkelson, Alan C.; Hesse, Colin; Pauley, Perry M.

2007-01-01

In two 5-week trials, healthy college students were randomly assigned either to experimental or control groups. Participants in the experimental groups wrote about their affection for significant friends, relatives, and/or romantic partners for 20 minutes on three separate occasions; on the same schedule, those in the control groups wrote about…

Maternal Daily Diary Report in the Assessment of Childhood Separation Anxiety

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Allen, Jennifer L.; Blatter-Meunier, Judith; Ursprung, Antonia; Schneider, Silvia

2010-01-01

The current study evaluated the feasibility and validity of a parent-report measure of separation anxiety, the Separation Anxiety Daily Diary (SADD). Mother and child participants consisted of three groups: 96 children (aged 4-15 years) with separation anxiety disorder, 49 children with "other" anxiety disorders, and 43 healthy controls. The SADD…

Effects of Adult Learner Participation in Course Planning on Achievement and Satisfaction.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rosenblum, Sandra; Darkenwald, Gordon G.

1983-01-01

Hypothesizing that participation in course planning would result in higher achievement and satisfaction, researchers used a posttest-only control group design with continuing education students in two separate experiments. The control group completed the course as planned by the experimental group. No differences were found between the groups in…

Reciprocity in group-living animals: partner control versus partner choice.

PubMed

Schino, Gabriele; Aureli, Filippo

2017-05-01

Reciprocity is probably the most debated of the evolutionary explanations for cooperation. Part of the confusion surrounding this debate stems from a failure to note that two different processes can result in reciprocity: partner control and partner choice. We suggest that the common observation that group-living animals direct their cooperative behaviours preferentially to those individuals from which they receive most cooperation is to be interpreted as the result of the sum of the two separate processes of partner control and partner choice. We review evidence that partner choice is the prevalent process in primates and propose explanations for this pattern. We make predictions that highlight the need for studies that separate the effects of partner control and partner choice in a broader variety of group-living taxa. © 2016 Cambridge Philosophical Society.

Autonomic functioning in mothers with interpersonal violence-related posttraumatic stress disorder in response to separation-reunion.

PubMed

Schechter, Daniel S; Moser, Dominik A; McCaw, Jaime E; Myers, Michael M

2014-05-01

This study characterizes autonomic nervous system activity reactive to separation-reunion among mothers with Interpersonal Violence-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (IPV-PTSD). Heart-rate (HR) and high frequency heart-rate-variability (HF-HRV) were measured in 17 IPV-PTSD-mothers, 22 sub-threshold-mothers, and 15 non-PTSD mother-controls while interacting with their toddlers (12-48 months). Analyses showed IPV-PTSD-mothers having generally lower HR than other groups. All groups showed negative correlations between changes in HR and HF-HRV from sitting- to standing-baseline. During initial separation, controls no longer showed a negative relationship between HR and HF-HRV. But by the second reunion, the negative relationship reappeared. IPV-PTSD- and sub-threshold-mothers retained negative HR/HF-HRV correlations during the initial separation, but stopped showing them by the second reunion. Results support that mother-controls showed a pattern of autonomic regulation suggestive of hypervigilance during initial separation that resolved by the time of re-exposure. PTSD-mothers showed delayed onset of this pattern only upon re-exposure, and were perhaps exhibiting defensive avoidance or numbing during the initial separation/reunion. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

40 CFR 63.137 - Process wastewater provisions-oil-water separators.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

.... (2) The control device shall be designed, operated, and inspected in accordance with the requirements... receives, manages, or treats a Group 1 wastewater stream or a residual removed from a Group 1 wastewater... control device. The fixed roof, closed-vent system, and control device shall meet the requirements...

40 CFR 63.137 - Process wastewater provisions-oil-water separators.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

.... (2) The control device shall be designed, operated, and inspected in accordance with the requirements... receives, manages, or treats a Group 1 wastewater stream or a residual removed from a Group 1 wastewater... control device. The fixed roof, closed-vent system, and control device shall meet the requirements...

40 CFR 63.137 - Process wastewater provisions-oil-water separators.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

.... (2) The control device shall be designed, operated, and inspected in accordance with the requirements... receives, manages, or treats a Group 1 wastewater stream or a residual removed from a Group 1 wastewater... control device. The fixed roof, closed-vent system, and control device shall meet the requirements...

[Clinical study of medicinal-cake-separated moxibustion for senile osteoporosis].

PubMed

Zeng, Yuqing; Bi, Dingyan; Yi, Zhan; Lu, Jianwei; Zhong, Fuhua; Jiang, Binfeng

2017-05-12

To explore the clinical efficacy and partial mechanism of medicinal-cake-separated moxibustion for senile osteoporosis. Sixty cases of senile osteoporosis were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group according to the random digits table, 30 cases in each one. The two groups were both treated with basic treatment of western medicine. The acupoints included four groups:① Dazhui (GV 14), Dazhu (BL 11) and Ganshu (BL 18); ② Zhongwan (CV 12), Danzhong (CV 17) and Zusanli (ST 36); ③ Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL 23) and Mingmen (GV 4); ④ Shenque (CV 8) and Guanyuan (CV 4). Each group of acupoints was selected for one treatment. The observation group was treated with medicinal-cake-separated moxibustion, and the medicinal cake was consisted of fructus psoraleae (30 g), prepared rehmannia root (30 g), atractylodes (30 g), codonopsis pilosula (30 g), epimedium herb (20 g), rhizoma curculiginis (20 g), syzygium aromaticum (5 g) and cinnamon (5 g). The control group was treated with wheat-flour-cake moxibustion. Each acupoint was treated with 5 moxa cones in the two groups. The treatment was given once every other day for six months. The symptom score, lumbar and hip bone mineral density (BMD), serum type Ⅰ procollagen amino-terminal propeptide (PINP) and serum β-type Ⅰ collagen carboxy-terminal peptide (β-CTX) were observed before and after treatment. After treatment, the symptom score and serum β-CTX were significantly lowered (all P <0.05), while the lumbar and hip BMD and serum PINP were significantly increased (all P <0.05) of the two groups. After treatment, the symptom score and serum β-CTX in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (both P <0.05), while the lumbar and hip BMD and serum PINP in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (all P <0.05). The medicinal-cake-separated moxibustion has significant efficacy for senile osteoporosis, which is superior to wheat-cake-se-parated moxibustion.

Separation/divorce and child and adolescent completed suicide.

PubMed

Gould, M S; Shaffer, D; Fisher, P; Garfinkel, R

1998-02-01

To investigate factors that may modify the effect of separation/divorce on youth suicide. A case-control, psychological autopsy study of 120 of 170 consecutive suicides younger than age 20 and 147 community age-, sex-, and ethnic group-matched controls living in the greater New York area was conducted. Fifty-eight suicide victims and 49 community controls came from nonintact families of origin, indicating the permanent separation/divorce of the biological parents. Potential modifiers of separation/divorce include youth's age at separation, custodial parent's remarriage, nonresidential parent's frequency of contact, parent-child relationships, and parental psychopathology. The relatively small impact of separation/divorce was further diminished after accounting for parental psychopathology. An interaction of separation/divorce and the father-child relationship emerged. The dramatic increase in youth suicide during the past three decades seems unlikely to be attributable to the increase in divorce rates.

[Experimental study of metabonomics in the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis in mice].

PubMed

Wang, A; Li, Q F; Zhang, G Q; Zhao, C Q

2016-02-01

To investigate the application of metabonomics in the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. Eighty male Kunming mice were randomly divided into two groups, control group (30 mice) and allergic rhinitis (AR) group (50 mice). After modeling, removal behavior score more than 6 and retain 30 mice behavior score equal to 6.Collect the mice peripheral blood and preparate blood serum, using UPLC-MS chromatographic separation and detection. The data were pretreated by SPSS and Excel, after chromatographic peak matching by MZmine. Firstly , delete interference data in accordance with the 80% rule .Then, the investigate data were analyzed by PLS-DA and PCA-X. Three-dimensional view of the control group (30 mice) and AR group (30 mice) blood serum data was drawn using PCA-X and PLS-DA method. The two groups of samples could be completely separated through views, which showed that there was a significant difference between the two groups of data. There were some differences in the blood metabolites between the control group and AR group . The study showed that it was scientific and feasible to diagnose AR using the metabonomics.

Proceedings of the fifteenth DOE nuclear air cleaning conference

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

First, M.W.

1979-02-01

Papers presented are grouped under the following topics: noble gas separation, damage control, aerosols, test methods, new air cleaning technology from Europe, open-end, and filtration. A separate abstract was prepared for each paper.

Thermo spectral analysis (TSA) of living human skin by FT-IR -Development of a diagnostic method for the early detection of chronic diseases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Folberth, W.; Heim, G.

1985-12-01

A Fourier spectrometer was used in order to measure the spectral emissivity E(k) of human skin in the FIR region k=190-420 cm-1. Three studies on patient groups with defined chronic diseases have been performed: patients with untreated bronchial carcinoma, patients with rheumatic arthritis and patients with chronic renal insufficiency. In comparison with a symptomfree control group all patient groups show significant differences in E(k). As result of a discriminant analysis a separation of 95.7% between carcinoma patients and control persons is possible. The separation quotes between the other groups indicate that patients with malignant neoplasms can be discriminated from other chronically ill persons.

[Clinical research of arthroscopic separate double-layer suture bridge technique for delaminated rotator cuff tear].

PubMed

Ren, Jiangtao; Xu, Cong; Liu, Xianglin; Wang, Jiansong; Li, Zhihuai; Lü, Yongming

2017-10-01

To explore the effectiveness of the arthroscopic separate double-layer suture bridge technique in treatment of the delaminated rotator cuff tear. Between May 2013 and May 2015, 54 patients with the delaminated rotator cuff tears were recruited in the study. They were randomly allocated into 2 groups to receive repair either using arthroscopic separate double-layer suture bridge technique (trial group, n =28) or using arthroscopic whole-layer suture bridge technique (control group, n =26). There was no significant difference in gender, age, injured side, tear type, and preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Constants score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) score, and the range of motion of shoulder joint between 2 groups ( P >0.05). Postoperative functional scores, range of motion, and recurrence rate of tear in 2 groups were observed and compared. The operation time was significant longer in trial group than in control group ( t =8.383, P =0.000). All incisions healed at stage Ⅰ without postoperative complication. All the patients were followed up 12 months. At 12 months postoperatively, the UCLA score, ASES score, VAS score, Constant score, and the range of motion were significantly improved when compared with the preoperative values in 2 groups ( P <0.05). However there was no significant difference in above indexes between 2 groups ( P >0.05). Four cases (14.3%) of rotator cuff tear recurred in trial group while 5 cases (19.2%) in control group, showing no significant difference ( χ 2 =0.237, P =0.626). Compared with the arthroscopic whole-layer suture bridge technique, arthroscopic separate double-layer suture bridge technique presents no significant difference in the shoulder function score, the range of motion, and recurrence of rotator cuff tear, while having a longer operation time.

Impact on knowledge and behaviour of the general population of two different methods of solid waste management: An explorative cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Del Cimmuto, Angela; Mannocci, Alice; Ribatti, Domenico; Boccia, Antonio; La Torre, Giuseppe

2014-06-01

The objectives of the present study were to evaluate knowledge among general population about the risks factors of waste management, to estimate the feeling of anxiety concerning the waste, and to compare knowledge of two different methods for collecting municipal solid waste (MSW): a street separate collection system and a door-to-door separate collection system. A cross-sectional study was performed, administering an anonymous questionnaire to 180 inhabitants in Aprilia, Latium, Italy. The study sample consisted of 183 citizens: 64 in the intervention group and 119 in the control group. The intervention was represented by a campaign of door-to-door collection. The correct implementation of separate collection of waste was 87.5% in the intervention group and 63% in the control group (p<0.001). For both groups, the favourite type of waste collection was door-to-door (p=0.013); a high difference concerning the quality of information was found (p<0.0001): in the intervention group, 84% declared to be satisfied (67% sufficient and 17.2% good), while in the control group, 21% declared to be satisfied (16.8% sufficient and 4.2% good). The advice mainly reported from the control group respondents was to increase the size of the information pack (80.7%, p=0.024). The information campaign seemed to increase people's awareness about the problem, improving the management of waste and household waste. The door-to-door collection was appreciated and preferred by both groups. The adoption of a door-to-door scheme seems to be a winning option mostly because it is supported by an information and education system for the citizens. © The Author(s) 2014.

Aerodynamic control, recovery, and sensor design for a first stage flyback booster

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1989-01-01

The mission of the flyback group is to control and recover the first stage of a commercially developed winged booster launched from a B-52 at 40,000 ft and Mach 0.8. First-stage separation occurs at 210,000 ft and Mach 8.7; the second and third stages will continue deployment of their 600 lb payload into low Earth orbit. The job of the flyback group begins at this point, employing a modified control system developed to stabilize and maneuver the separated first-stage vehicle to a suitable landing site approximately 130 miles from the launch point over the Pacific Ocean. This multidisciplinary design was accomplished by four subgroups: aerodynamic design/vehicle configuration (ADVC), trajectory optimization, controls, and thermal management.

Maximum performance synergy: A new approach to recording studio control room design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szymanski, Jeff D.

2003-10-01

Popular recording studio control room designs include LEDE(tm), RFZ(tm), and nonenvironment rooms. The common goal of all of these is to create an accurate acoustical environment that does not distort or otherwise color audio reproduction. Also common to these designs is the frequent need to have multiple ancillary recording rooms, often adjacent to the main control room, where group members perform. This approach, where group members are physically separated from one another, can lead to lack of ensemble in the finished recordings. New twists on old acoustical treatment techniques have been implemented at a studio in Nashville, Tennessee, which minimize the need for multiple ancillary recording rooms, thus creating an environment where talent, producer and recording professionals can all occupy the same space for maximum performance synergy. Semi-separated performance areas are designed around a central, critical listening area. The techniques and equipment required to achieve this separation are reviewed, as are advantages and disadvantages to this new control room design approach.

Psychological effects of custody disputes on children.

PubMed

Wolman, R; Taylor, K

1991-01-01

This two-group, repeated measures examination of the psychological impact of child custody contests on children reports a subset of data from an ongoing longitudinal study of 95 children and their parents from 43 divorcing families. The authors report clinical observations concerning children's experience of custody litigation, as well as comparisons of baseline and post-test responses of contested and uncontested groups on measures of locus of control, separation anxiety and family concept. Contested children exhibited significantly greater internality of control orientation than the normative sample. Contested children's test scores also suggested significantly less separation anxiety and significantly more positive family concept than the uncontested group at post-test. The implications of these unanticipated findings are discussed.

The Training of Morphological Decomposition in Word Processing and Its Effects on Literacy Skills.

PubMed

Bar-Kochva, Irit; Hasselhorn, Marcus

2017-01-01

This study set out to examine the effects of a morpheme-based training on reading and spelling in fifth and sixth graders ( N = 47), who present poor literacy skills and speak German as a second language. A computerized training, consisting of a visual lexical decision task (comprising 2,880 items, presented in 12 sessions), was designed to encourage fast morphological analysis in word processing. The children were divided between two groups: the one underwent a morpheme-based training, in which word-stems of inflections and derivations were presented for a limited duration, while their pre- and suffixes remained on screen until response. Another group received a control training consisting of the same task, except that the duration of presentation of a non-morphological unit was restricted. In a Word Disruption Task, participants read words under three conditions: morphological separation (with symbols separating between the words' morphemes), non-morphological separation (with symbols separating between non-morphological units of words), and no-separation (with symbols presented at the beginning and end of each word). The group receiving the morpheme-based program improved more than the control group in terms of word reading fluency in the morphological condition. The former group also presented similar word reading fluency after training in the morphological condition and in the no-separation condition, thereby suggesting that the morpheme-based training contributed to the integration of morphological decomposition into the process of word recognition. At the same time, both groups similarly improved in other measures of word reading fluency. With regard to spelling, the morpheme-based training group showed a larger improvement than the control group in spelling of trained items, and a unique improvement in spelling of untrained items (untrained word-stems integrated into trained pre- and suffixes). The results further suggest some contribution of the morpheme-based training to performance in a standardized spelling task. The morpheme-based training did not, however, show any unique effect on comprehension. These results suggest that the morpheme-based training is effective in enhancing some basic literacy skill in the population examined, i.e., morphological analysis in word processing and the access to orthographic representations in spelling, with no specific effects on reading fluency and comprehension.

The Training of Morphological Decomposition in Word Processing and Its Effects on Literacy Skills

PubMed Central

Bar-Kochva, Irit; Hasselhorn, Marcus

2017-01-01

This study set out to examine the effects of a morpheme-based training on reading and spelling in fifth and sixth graders (N = 47), who present poor literacy skills and speak German as a second language. A computerized training, consisting of a visual lexical decision task (comprising 2,880 items, presented in 12 sessions), was designed to encourage fast morphological analysis in word processing. The children were divided between two groups: the one underwent a morpheme-based training, in which word-stems of inflections and derivations were presented for a limited duration, while their pre- and suffixes remained on screen until response. Another group received a control training consisting of the same task, except that the duration of presentation of a non-morphological unit was restricted. In a Word Disruption Task, participants read words under three conditions: morphological separation (with symbols separating between the words’ morphemes), non-morphological separation (with symbols separating between non-morphological units of words), and no-separation (with symbols presented at the beginning and end of each word). The group receiving the morpheme-based program improved more than the control group in terms of word reading fluency in the morphological condition. The former group also presented similar word reading fluency after training in the morphological condition and in the no-separation condition, thereby suggesting that the morpheme-based training contributed to the integration of morphological decomposition into the process of word recognition. At the same time, both groups similarly improved in other measures of word reading fluency. With regard to spelling, the morpheme-based training group showed a larger improvement than the control group in spelling of trained items, and a unique improvement in spelling of untrained items (untrained word-stems integrated into trained pre- and suffixes). The results further suggest some contribution of the morpheme-based training to performance in a standardized spelling task. The morpheme-based training did not, however, show any unique effect on comprehension. These results suggest that the morpheme-based training is effective in enhancing some basic literacy skill in the population examined, i.e., morphological analysis in word processing and the access to orthographic representations in spelling, with no specific effects on reading fluency and comprehension. PMID:29163245

The effect of oral honey and pollen on postoperative intraabdominal adhesions.

PubMed

Celeplı, Salih; Kismet, Kemal; Kaptanoğlu, Buğra; Erel, Serap; Ozer, Saadet; Celeplı, Pınar; Kaygusuz, Gülşah; Devrım, Erdinç; Gencay, Omür; Sorkun, Kadriye; Durak, Ilker; Akkuş, Mehmet Ali

2011-02-01

We evaluated the effect of oral usage of honey and pollen, either separately or together, on postoperative intraabdominal adhesions. Forty rats were randomly separated into 4 groups of 10 rats each. Abrasion was performed on the cecum, and a patch of peritoneum located opposite to the cecal abrasion was completely dissected. Group 1 rats received no treatment; Group 2 rats received 4 g/kg/day honey; Group 3 rats received 4 g/kg/day pollen; and Group 4 rats received 4 g/kg/day honey and pollen mixed in equal amounts, in addition to the standard feeding for postoperative 21 days. All the rats were sacrificed on the 21st day. Following the adhesion scoring, tissue specimens of the peritoneum and bowel were subjected to histopathological investigation. The tissue and blood specimens were also taken for biochemical analysis to investigate the antioxidant capacity. Adhesion scores were significantly different between the control and other groups. No dense adhesion was observed in the treatment groups. Tissue malondialdehyde levels were significantly different between the control and honey and honey+pollen groups. Superoxide dismutase and glutathione-peroxidase levels were significantly different between the control and other groups. Catalase levels were different between the control and honey groups. Plasma antioxidant levels were different between the control and other groups. The pathological scores for fibrosis and inflammation were significantly different between the control and other groups. Honey and pollen were found to be effective in preventing postoperative intraabdominal adhesions, and these effects were thought to be a result of their antiinflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Decreased functional connectivity in an executive control network is related to impaired executive function in Internet gaming disorder.

PubMed

Dong, Guangheng; Lin, Xiao; Potenza, Marc N

2015-03-03

Resting brain spontaneous neural activities across cortical regions have been correlated with specific functional properties in psychiatric groups. Individuals with Internet gaming disorder (IGD) demonstrate impaired executive control. Thus, it is important to examine executive control networks (ECNs) during resting states and their relationships to executive control during task performance. Thirty-five IGD and 36 healthy control participants underwent a resting-state fMRI scan and performed a Stroop task inside and outside of the MRI scanner. Correlations between Stroop effect and functional connectivity among ECN regions of interest (ROIs) were calculated within and between groups. IGD subjects show lower functional connectivity in ECNs than do HC participants during resting state; functional-connectivity measures in ECNs were negatively correlated with Stroop effect and positively correlated with brain activations in executive-control regions across groups. Within groups, negative trends were found between Stroop effect and functional connectivity in ECNs in IGD and HC groups, separately; positive trends were found between functional connectivity in ECNs and brain activations in Stroop task in IGD and HC groups, separately. Higher functional connectivity in ECNs may underlie better executive control and may provide resilience with respect to IGD. Lower functional connectivity in ECNs may represent an important feature in understanding and treating IGD. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Immunohistochemical expression of hard tissue related factors in the mouse dental pulp after immediate teeth separation

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

We examined change of Runx2 and ALP expression in mouse tooth pulp which exposed to teeth separation experiment by immunohistochemistry as a model for conservative dentistry treatment. 8-week-old 36 male ddY mice were used and wedge was inserted between upper 1st and 2nd molars. The wedge was removed 30 minutes as well as 3 hours after the insertion and the samples were prepared extending up to 1 week of time period for regular histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations for ALP and Runx2 expression. The opposite sides without wedge insertion were taken as controls. In the control group pulp, weak expressions of Runx2 and ALP in the vessel endothelial cells as well as the pulp cells were revealed, suggesting the appearance of these genes upon mechanical stress induced by mastication and tongue pressure etc. On the other hand in the experiment group, Runx2 expression increased both in 30-minute and 3-hour teeth separation group. The expression became maximum at 24 hours. Then it gradually decreased and became similar level with the control group at 1-week after the wedge insertion. Similarly ALP expression increased after the wedge insertion and was maximum at 24 hours and then gradually decreased to the levels similar with the control group. These results suggest that when immunohistochemical expression of Runx2 as well as ALP was used as an index, no severe damage occur upon clinical application of wedge insertion. PMID:22027645

In-situ polymerized PLOT columns III: divinylbenzene copolymers and dimethacrylate homopolymers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shen, T. C.; Fong, M. M.

1994-01-01

Studies of divinylbenzene copolymers and dimethacrylate homopolymers indicate that the polymer pore size controls the separation of water and ammonia on porous-layer-open-tubular (PLOT) columns. To a lesser degree, the polarity of the polymers also affects the separation of a water-ammonia gas mixture. Our results demonstrate that the pore size can be regulated by controlling the cross-linking density or the chain length between the cross-linking functional groups. An optimum pore size will provide the best separation of water and ammonia.

Effects of Clown Doctors on Child and Caregiver Anxiety at the Entrance to the Surgery Care Unit and Separation from Caregivers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arriaga, Patrícia; Pacheco, Catarina

2016-01-01

This study investigated the effects of hospital Clown Doctors intervention on child and caregiver preoperative anxiety at the entrance to the surgery care unit and separation from caregivers. A total of 88 children (aged 4-12 years) were assigned to one of the following two groups: Clown Doctors intervention or control group (standard care).…

Conveyor Performance based on Motor DC 12 Volt Eg-530ad-2f using K-Means Clustering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arifin, Zaenal; Artini, Sri DP; Much Ibnu Subroto, Imam

2017-04-01

To produce goods in industry, a controlled tool to improve production is required. Separation process has become a part of production process. Separation process is carried out based on certain criteria to get optimum result. By knowing the characteristics performance of a controlled tools in separation process the optimum results is also possible to be obtained. Clustering analysis is popular method for clustering data into smaller segments. Clustering analysis is useful to divide a group of object into a k-group in which the member value of the group is homogeny or similar. Similarity in the group is set based on certain criteria. The work in this paper based on K-Means method to conduct clustering of loading in the performance of a conveyor driven by a dc motor 12 volt eg-530-2f. This technique gives a complete clustering data for a prototype of conveyor driven by dc motor to separate goods in term of height. The parameters involved are voltage, current, time of travelling. These parameters give two clusters namely optimal cluster with center of cluster 10.50 volt, 0.3 Ampere, 10.58 second, and unoptimal cluster with center of cluster 10.88 volt, 0.28 Ampere and 40.43 second.

Densely quaternized poly(arylene ether)s with distinct phase separation for highly anion-conductive membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Yuanfang; Wang, Bingxi; Li, Xiao; Chen, Dongyang; Zhang, Weiying

2018-05-01

To develop high performance anion exchange membranes (AEMs), a novel bisphenol monomer bearing eight benzylmethyl groups at the outer edge of the molecule was synthesized, which after condensation polymerization with various amounts of 4,4‧-dihydroxydiphenylsulfone and 4,4‧-difluorobenzophenone yielded novel poly(arylene ether)s with densely located benzylmethyl groups. These benzylmethyl groups were then converted to quaternary ammonium groups by radical-initiated bromination and quaternization in tandem, leading to the emergence of densely quaternized poly(arylene ether sulfone)s (QA-PAEs) with controlled ion exchange capacities (IECs) ranging from 1.61 to 2.32 mmol g-1. Both small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies revealed distinct phase separation in the QA-PAEs. The QA-PAE-40 with an IEC of 2.32 mmol g-1 exhibited a Br- conductivity of 9.2 mS cm-1 and a SO42- conductivity of 14.0 mS cm-1 at room temperature, much higher than those of a control membrane with a similar IEC but without obvious phase separation. Therefore, phase separation of AEMs was validated to be advantageous for the efficient conducting of anions. The experimental results also showed that the QA-PAEs were promising AEM materials, especially for non-alkaline applications.

Patients with schizophrenia do not preserve automatic grouping when mentally re-grouping figures: shedding light on an ignored difficulty.

PubMed

Giersch, Anne; van Assche, Mitsouko; Capa, Rémi L; Marrer, Corinne; Gounot, Daniel

2012-01-01

Looking at a pair of objects is easy when automatic grouping mechanisms bind these objects together, but visual exploration can also be more flexible. It is possible to mentally "re-group" two objects that are not only separate but belong to different pairs of objects. "Re-grouping" is in conflict with automatic grouping, since it entails a separation of each item from the set it belongs to. This ability appears to be impaired in patients with schizophrenia. Here we check if this impairment is selective, which would suggest a dissociation between grouping and "re-grouping," or if it impacts on usual, automatic grouping, which would call for a better understanding of the interactions between automatic grouping and "re-grouping." Sixteen outpatients with schizophrenia and healthy controls had to identify two identical and contiguous target figures within a display of circles and squares alternating around a fixation point. Eye-tracking was used to check central fixation. The target pair could be located in the same or separate hemifields. Identical figures were grouped by a connector (grouped automatically) or not (to be re-grouped). Attention modulation of automatic grouping was tested by manipulating the proportion of connected and unconnected targets, thus prompting subjects to focalize on either connected or unconnected pairs. Both groups were sensitive to automatic grouping in most conditions, but patients were unusually slowed down for connected targets while focalizing on unconnected pairs. In addition, this unusual effect occurred only when targets were presented within the same hemifield. Patients and controls differed on this asymmetry between within- and across-hemifield presentation, suggesting that patients with schizophrenia do not re-group figures in the same way as controls do. We discuss possible implications on how "re-grouping" ties in with ongoing, automatic perception in healthy volunteers.

Learning feedback and feedforward control in a mirror-reversed visual environment.

PubMed

Kasuga, Shoko; Telgen, Sebastian; Ushiba, Junichi; Nozaki, Daichi; Diedrichsen, Jörn

2015-10-01

When we learn a novel task, the motor system needs to acquire both feedforward and feedback control. Currently, little is known about how the learning of these two mechanisms relate to each other. In the present study, we tested whether feedforward and feedback control need to be learned separately, or whether they are learned as common mechanism when a new control policy is acquired. Participants were trained to reach to two lateral and one central target in an environment with mirror (left-right)-reversed visual feedback. One group was allowed to make online movement corrections, whereas the other group only received visual information after the end of the movement. Learning of feedforward control was assessed by measuring the accuracy of the initial movement direction to lateral targets. Feedback control was measured in the responses to sudden visual perturbations of the cursor when reaching to the central target. Although feedforward control improved in both groups, it was significantly better when online corrections were not allowed. In contrast, feedback control only adaptively changed in participants who received online feedback and remained unchanged in the group without online corrections. Our findings suggest that when a new control policy is acquired, feedforward and feedback control are learned separately, and that there may be a trade-off in learning between feedback and feedforward controllers. Copyright © 2015 the American Physiological Society.

Learning feedback and feedforward control in a mirror-reversed visual environment

PubMed Central

Kasuga, Shoko; Telgen, Sebastian; Ushiba, Junichi; Nozaki, Daichi

2015-01-01

When we learn a novel task, the motor system needs to acquire both feedforward and feedback control. Currently, little is known about how the learning of these two mechanisms relate to each other. In the present study, we tested whether feedforward and feedback control need to be learned separately, or whether they are learned as common mechanism when a new control policy is acquired. Participants were trained to reach to two lateral and one central target in an environment with mirror (left-right)-reversed visual feedback. One group was allowed to make online movement corrections, whereas the other group only received visual information after the end of the movement. Learning of feedforward control was assessed by measuring the accuracy of the initial movement direction to lateral targets. Feedback control was measured in the responses to sudden visual perturbations of the cursor when reaching to the central target. Although feedforward control improved in both groups, it was significantly better when online corrections were not allowed. In contrast, feedback control only adaptively changed in participants who received online feedback and remained unchanged in the group without online corrections. Our findings suggest that when a new control policy is acquired, feedforward and feedback control are learned separately, and that there may be a trade-off in learning between feedback and feedforward controllers. PMID:26245313

14 CFR 27.1143 - Engine controls.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Engine controls. 27.1143 Section 27.1143... STANDARDS: NORMAL CATEGORY ROTORCRAFT Powerplant Powerplant Controls and Accessories § 27.1143 Engine controls. (a) There must be a separate power control for each engine. (b) Power controls must be grouped...

14 CFR 27.1143 - Engine controls.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 1 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Engine controls. 27.1143 Section 27.1143... STANDARDS: NORMAL CATEGORY ROTORCRAFT Powerplant Powerplant Controls and Accessories § 27.1143 Engine controls. (a) There must be a separate power control for each engine. (b) Power controls must be grouped...

14 CFR 27.1143 - Engine controls.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 1 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Engine controls. 27.1143 Section 27.1143... STANDARDS: NORMAL CATEGORY ROTORCRAFT Powerplant Powerplant Controls and Accessories § 27.1143 Engine controls. (a) There must be a separate power control for each engine. (b) Power controls must be grouped...

14 CFR 27.1143 - Engine controls.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Engine controls. 27.1143 Section 27.1143... STANDARDS: NORMAL CATEGORY ROTORCRAFT Powerplant Powerplant Controls and Accessories § 27.1143 Engine controls. (a) There must be a separate power control for each engine. (b) Power controls must be grouped...

14 CFR 27.1143 - Engine controls.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 1 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Engine controls. 27.1143 Section 27.1143... STANDARDS: NORMAL CATEGORY ROTORCRAFT Powerplant Powerplant Controls and Accessories § 27.1143 Engine controls. (a) There must be a separate power control for each engine. (b) Power controls must be grouped...

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) activation in cutaneous wounds after topical application of aloe vera gel.

PubMed

Takzaree, Nasrin; Hadjiakhondi, Abbas; Hassanzadeh, Gholamreza; Rouini, Mohammad Reza; Manayi, Azadeh; Zolbin, Masoumeh Majidi

2016-12-01

Aloe vera is a medicinal plant used to treat various skin diseases. The effects of using aloe vera gel on the healing process were investigated by microscopic methods, cell counting, and TGF-β gene expression in the wound bed. Sixty Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g were placed under anesthesia in sterile conditions. A square 1.5 cm × 1.5 cm wound was made on the back of the neck. The rats were divided into control and 2 experimental groups. Additionally, the control and experimental groups were separated into 3 subgroups corresponding to 4, 7, and 14 days of study. In the first experimental group, aloe vera was used twice on the wound. The second experimental group received aloe vera overtreatment once on the wound. The positive control group received daily application of 1% phenytoein cream following surgical wound creation. The control group did not receive any treatment. This tissue was examined using histological staining (H&E) and Masson's Trichrome. Wound surface and wound healing were evaluated separately. TGF-β gene expression was analyzed by RT-PCR. Results showed that fibroblasts in both experimental groups were significantly increased, thereby acceleration wound healing. Application of aloe vera gel will increase TGF-β gene expression, ultimately accelerating the wound healing process.

Potential risk for healthy siblings to develop schizophrenia: evidence from pattern classification with whole-brain connectivity.

PubMed

Liu, Meijie; Zeng, Ling-Li; Shen, Hui; Liu, Zhening; Hu, Dewen

2012-03-28

Recent resting-state functional connectivity MRI studies using group-level statistical analysis have demonstrated the inheritable characters of schizophrenia. The objective of the present study was to use pattern classification as a means to investigate schizophrenia inheritance based on the whole-brain resting-state functional connectivity at the individual subject level. One-against-one pattern classifications were made amongst three groups (i.e. patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, healthy siblings, and healthy controls after preprocessing), resulting in an 80.4% separation between patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls, a 77.6% separation between schizophrenia patients and their healthy siblings, and a 78.7% separation between healthy siblings and healthy controls, respectively. These results suggest that the healthy siblings of schizophrenia patients have an altered resting-state functional connectivity pattern compared with healthy controls. Thus, healthy siblings may have a potential higher risk for developing schizophrenia compared with the general population. Moreover, this pattern differed from that of schizophrenia patients and may contribute to the normal behavior exhibition of healthy siblings in daily life.

Classification of Forefoot Plantar Pressure Distribution in Persons with Diabetes: A Novel Perspective for the Mechanical Management of Diabetic Foot?

PubMed Central

Deschamps, Kevin; Matricali, Giovanni Arnoldo; Roosen, Philip; Desloovere, Kaat; Bruyninckx, Herman; Spaepen, Pieter; Nobels, Frank; Tits, Jos; Flour, Mieke; Staes, Filip

2013-01-01

Background The aim of this study was to identify groups of subjects with similar patterns of forefoot loading and verify if specific groups of patients with diabetes could be isolated from non-diabetics. Methodology/Principal Findings Ninety-seven patients with diabetes and 33 control participants between 45 and 70 years were prospectively recruited in two Belgian Diabetic Foot Clinics. Barefoot plantar pressure measurements were recorded and subsequently analysed using a semi-automatic total mapping technique. Kmeans cluster analysis was applied on relative regional impulses of six forefoot segments in order to pursue a classification for the control group separately, the diabetic group separately and both groups together. Cluster analysis led to identification of three distinct groups when considering only the control group. For the diabetic group, and the computation considering both groups together, four distinct groups were isolated. Compared to the cluster analysis of the control group an additional forefoot loading pattern was identified. This group comprised diabetic feet only. The relevance of the reported clusters was supported by ANOVA statistics indicating significant differences between different regions of interest and different clusters. Conclusion/s Significance There seems to emerge a new era in diabetic foot medicine which embraces the classification of diabetic patients according to their biomechanical profile. Classification of the plantar pressure distribution has the potential to provide a means to determine mechanical interventions for the prevention and/or treatment of the diabetic foot. PMID:24278219

Electronic system for high power load control. [solar arrays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, E. L. (Inventor)

1980-01-01

Parallel current paths are divided into two groups, with control devices in the current paths of one group each having a current limiting resistor, and the control devices in the other group each having no limiting resistor, so that when the control devices of the second group are turned fully on, a short circuit is achieved by the arrangement of parallel current paths. Separate but coordinated control signals are provided to turn on the control devices of the first group and increase their conduction toward saturation as a function of control input, and when fully on, or shortly before, to turn on the control devices of the second group and increase their conduction toward saturation as a function of the control input as that input continues to increase. Electronic means may be used to generate signals. The system may be used for 1-V characteristic measurements of solar arrays as well as for other load control purposes.

Patients with Schizophrenia Do Not Preserve Automatic Grouping When Mentally Re-Grouping Figures: Shedding Light on an Ignored Difficulty

PubMed Central

Giersch, Anne; van Assche, Mitsouko; Capa, Rémi L.; Marrer, Corinne; Gounot, Daniel

2012-01-01

Looking at a pair of objects is easy when automatic grouping mechanisms bind these objects together, but visual exploration can also be more flexible. It is possible to mentally “re-group” two objects that are not only separate but belong to different pairs of objects. “Re-grouping” is in conflict with automatic grouping, since it entails a separation of each item from the set it belongs to. This ability appears to be impaired in patients with schizophrenia. Here we check if this impairment is selective, which would suggest a dissociation between grouping and “re-grouping,” or if it impacts on usual, automatic grouping, which would call for a better understanding of the interactions between automatic grouping and “re-grouping.” Sixteen outpatients with schizophrenia and healthy controls had to identify two identical and contiguous target figures within a display of circles and squares alternating around a fixation point. Eye-tracking was used to check central fixation. The target pair could be located in the same or separate hemifields. Identical figures were grouped by a connector (grouped automatically) or not (to be re-grouped). Attention modulation of automatic grouping was tested by manipulating the proportion of connected and unconnected targets, thus prompting subjects to focalize on either connected or unconnected pairs. Both groups were sensitive to automatic grouping in most conditions, but patients were unusually slowed down for connected targets while focalizing on unconnected pairs. In addition, this unusual effect occurred only when targets were presented within the same hemifield. Patients and controls differed on this asymmetry between within- and across-hemifield presentation, suggesting that patients with schizophrenia do not re-group figures in the same way as controls do. We discuss possible implications on how “re-grouping” ties in with ongoing, automatic perception in healthy volunteers. PMID:22912621

Quantification of annular dilatation and papillary muscle separation in functional mitral regurgitation: role of anterior mitral leaflet length as reference.

PubMed

Jorapur, Vinod; Voudouris, Apostolos; Lucariello, Richard J

2005-07-01

We hypothesized that anterior mitral leaflet length (ALL) does not differ significantly between normal subjects and patients with functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) and hence may be used as a reference measurement to quantify annular dilatation and papillary muscle separation. We prospectively studied 50 controls, 15 patients with systolic left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) with significant FMR, and 15 patients with LVD without significant FMR. Significant MR was defined as an effective regurgitant orifice area > or = 0.2 cm2 as measured by the flow convergence method. Annular diameter, interpapillary distance, and ALL were measured, and the following ratios were derived: annular diameter indexed to ALL (ADI) and interpapillary distance indexed to ALL (IPDI). There was no significant difference in ALL among the three groups. The mean ADI was 1.26 times controls in patients with LVD without significant FMR compared to 1.33 times controls in patients with LVD with significant FMR (P = 0.06, no significant difference between groups). The mean IPDI was 1.42 times controls in patients with LVD without significant FMR compared to 2.1 times controls in patients with LVD with significant FMR (P < 0.0001, significant difference between groups). There was no significant difference in ALL between controls and patients with LVD. ALL can be used as a reference measurement to quantify annular dilatation and papillary muscle separation in patients with FMR. Interpapillary distance but not annular diameter indexed to ALL correlates with severity of FMR.

Dietary Soy Supplement on Fibromyalgia Symptoms: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Early Phase Trial

PubMed Central

Wahner-Roedler, Dietlind L.; Thompson, Jeffrey M.; Luedtke, Connie A.; King, Susan M.; Cha, Stephen S.; Elkin, Peter L.; Bruce, Barbara K.; Townsend, Cynthia O.; Bergeson, Jody R.; Eickhoff, Andrea L.; Loehrer, Laura L.; Sood, Amit; Bauer, Brent A.

2011-01-01

Most patients with fibromyalgia use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Properly designed controlled trials are necessary to assess the effectiveness of these practices. This study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, early phase trial. Fifty patients seen at a fibromyalgia outpatient treatment program were randomly assigned to a daily soy or placebo (casein) shake. Outcome measures were scores of the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) at baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention. Analysis was with standard statistics based on the null hypothesis, and separation test for early phase CAM comparative trials. Twenty-eight patients completed the study. Use of standard statistics with intent-to-treat analysis showed that total FIQ scores decreased by 14% in the soy group (P = .02) and by 18% in the placebo group (P < .001). The difference in change in scores between the groups was not significant (P = .16). With the same analysis, CES-D scores decreased in the soy group by 16% (P = .004) and in the placebo group by 15% (P = .05). The change in scores was similar in the groups (P = .83). Results of statistical analysis using the separation test and intent-to-treat analysis revealed no benefit of soy compared with placebo. Shakes that contain soy and shakes that contain casein, when combined with a multidisciplinary fibromyalgia treatment program, provide a decrease in fibromyalgia symptoms. Separation between the effects of soy and casein (control) shakes did not favor the intervention. Therefore, large-sample studies using soy for patients with fibromyalgia are probably not indicated. PMID:18990724

14 CFR 23.1149 - Propeller speed and pitch controls.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Propeller speed and pitch controls. 23.1149... Powerplant Controls and Accessories § 23.1149 Propeller speed and pitch controls. (a) If there are propeller speed or pitch controls, they must be grouped and arranged to allow— (1) Separate control of each...

14 CFR 23.1149 - Propeller speed and pitch controls.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Propeller speed and pitch controls. 23.1149... Powerplant Controls and Accessories § 23.1149 Propeller speed and pitch controls. (a) If there are propeller speed or pitch controls, they must be grouped and arranged to allow— (1) Separate control of each...

[The establishment of the arsenic poisoning rats model caused by corn flour baked by high-arsenic coal].

PubMed

Yao, Mao-lin; Zhang, Ai-hua; Yu, Chun; Xu, Yu-yan; Hu, Yong; Xiao, Ting-ting; Wang, Lei

2013-09-01

To establish coal arsenic poisoning rat model by feeding the rats with the corn powder baked by high arsenic coal as the main raw material. Fifty Wistar rats, healthy, were randomly divided into 5 groups according to the figures of their weights, including control group, drinking arsenic poisoning water group, low, medium and high arsenic contaminated grain group, 10 rats for each.Rats in control group and drinking arsenic poisoning water group were fed with standard feed without any arsenic containing. Rats in water group would drink 100 mg/L As2O3 solution and the rats in arsenic grain groups would be fed with the arsenic contaminated grain at the dose of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively. The duration would last for 3 months.General situation and weight were observed. At the same time, the arsenic contents of urine, hair, liver and kidney of the rats in each group were detected, as well as the histopathology changes of liver and kidney, and the ultra structure of liver was observed. The arsenic contents of urine (median(min-max)) of the rats in the arsenic water group, low, medium and high arsenic grain groups were separately 3055.59 (722.43-6389.05), 635.96(367.85-1551.31), 1453.84 (593.27-5302.94) and 3101.11 (666.64-6858.61) µg/g Cr; while the arsenic contents of hair of the rats in the above groups were separately (23.07 ± 10.38), (8.87 ± 3.31), (12.43 ± 6.65) and (25.68 ± 7.16) µg/g; the arsenic contents of liver of the rats in the above groups were separately (5.68 ± 3.13), (2.64 ± 1.52), (3.89 ± 1.76) and (5.34 ± 2.78) µg/g; and the arsenic contents of kidney were separately (6.90 ± 1.94), (3.48 ± 1.96), (5.03 ± 2.08) and (7.02 ± 1.62) µg/g; which were all significantly higher than those in the control group (86.70 (49.71-106.104) µg/g Cr,(1.28 ± 0.37) µg/g, (1.01 ± 0.34) µg/g and (1.82 ± 1.09) µg/g, respectively). The difference showed significance (P < 0.05). Under electron microscope detection, we observed the reduction of mitochondrial, the blurred mitochondrial cristae, some disappeared ridges, the reduced rough endoplasmic reticulum, and irregular uneven nuclear in the liver cells of rats in arsenic contaminated grain group. The contents of aspartate transaminase (AST) and total bile acid (TBA) in medium and high arsenic contaminated grain group were respectively (196.17 ± 46.18), (212.40 ± 35.14) U/L and (11.74 ± 4.07), (19.19 ± 4.68)µmol/L, which were higher than it in the control group (separately (143.10 ± 29.13) U/L and (6.23 ± 2.95)µmol/L). The contents of glutathione-S-transferases(GST), γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT)and blood urea nitrogen (BUN)in high arsenic contaminated grain group were separately (196.21 ± 47.38)U/L, (1.71 ± 0.66)U/L, (9.54 ± 1.95)mmol/L, which were higher than that in the control group ((134.93 ± 24.80 )U/L, (0.75 ± 0.36)U/L, (7.67 ± 1.02)mmol/L, respectively). The contents of cholinesterase (CHE) in low, medium and high arsenic contaminated grain group were separately (259.90 ± 52.71)U/L, (263.44 ± 66.06)U/L and (244.90 ± 36.14)U/L, the contents of total protein(TP) in rats of high arsenic contaminated grain group were (62.64 ± 5.50)g/L, which was all lower than that in the control group ((448.33 ± 59.67)U/L, (69.38 ± 4.24)g/L, respectively). The contents of TBA in high arsenic contaminated grain group ( (19.19 ± 4.68) µmol/L) was higher than that in drinking water arsenic poisoning group ((15.15 ± 2.64)µmol/L). The differences of the above indexes were all significant (P < 0.05). The results showed the arsenic poisoning rat model produced by coal-burning were successfully established.

Evaluation of effects of olfactory and auditory stimulation on separation anxiety by salivary cortisol measurement in dogs.

PubMed

Shin, Yoon-Joo; Shin, Nam-Shik

2016-06-30

Separation anxiety (SA) is a serious behavioral problem in dogs. In this study, salivary cortisol was studied to determine if the owner's odor or voice could reduce SA in dogs. Twenty-eight dogs with SA were divided into three groups: group 1 (control), group 2 (with owner's clothes during the separation period; SP) and group 3 (a recording of the owner's voice was played during SP). The dog's saliva was collected after the owner and their dog were in the experimental room for 5 min (PRE). The dog was then separated from the owner for 20 min and saliva collected four times at intervals of 5 min (SP1-4). Finally, the owner was allowed back into the room to calm the dog for 5 min, after which saliva was collected (POST). Evaluation of salivary cortisol concentrations by ELISA revealed that the ratios of SP1 concentration to PRE or POST concentrations were significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 or 3. Additionally, the concentrations of SP1-PRE and SP1-POST among groups differed significantly. These findings indicate that the owner's odor or voice may be helpful to managing stress in dogs with SA.

Visceral hypersensitive rats share common dysbiosis features with irritable bowel syndrome patients.

PubMed

Zhou, Xiao-Yan; Li, Ming; Li, Xia; Long, Xin; Zuo, Xiu-Li; Hou, Xiao-Hua; Cong, Ying-Zi; Li, Yan-Qing

2016-06-14

To evaluate gut microbial dysbiosis in two visceral hypersensitive models in comparison with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients and to explore the extent to which these models capture the dysbiosis of IBS patients. Visceral hypersensitivity was developed using the maternal separation (MS) rat model and post-inflammatory rat model. The visceral sensitivity of the model groups and control group was evaluated using the abdominal withdraw reflex score and electromyography in response to graded colorectal distention. The 16S ribosomal RNA gene from fecal samples was pyrosequenced and analyzed. The correlation between dysbiosis in the microbiota and visceral hypersensitivity was calculated. Positive findings were compared to sequencing data from a published human IBS cohort. Dysbiosis triggered by neonatal maternal separation was lasting but not static. Both MS and post-inflammatory rat fecal microbiota deviated from that of the control rats to an extent that was larger than the co-housing effect. Two short chain fatty acid producing genera, Fusobacterium and Clostridium XI, were shared by the human IBS cohort and by the maternal separation rats and post-inflammatory rats, respectively, to different extents. Fusobacterium was significantly increased in the MS group, and its abundance positively correlated with the degree of visceral hypersensitivity. Porphyromonadaceae was a protective biomarker for both the rat control group and healthy human controls. The dysbiosis MS rat model and the post-inflammatory rat model captured some of the dysbiosis features of IBS patients. Fusobacterium, Clostridium XI and Porphyromonadaceae were identified as targets for future mechanistic research.

Developmental Risk Factors in Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder

PubMed Central

Newman, Michelle G.; Shin, Ki Eun; Zuellig, Andrea R.

2016-01-01

Background There is a lack of clarity regarding specific risk factors discriminating generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) from panic disorder (PD). Goal This study investigated whether GAD and PD could be discriminated through differences in developmental etiological factors including childhood parental loss/separation, psychological disorders, and maternal and paternal attachment. Method Twenty people with adult generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), 20 with adult panic disorder (PD), 11 with adult comorbid GAD and PD, and 21 adult non-anxious controls completed diagnostic interviews to assess symptoms of mental disorders in adulthood and childhood. Participants also reported on parental attachment, loss, and separation. Results Childhood diagnoses of GAD and PD differentiated clinical groups from controls as well as from each other, suggesting greater likelihood for homotypic over heterotypic continuity. Compared to controls, specific phobia was associated with all three clinical groups, and childhood depression, social phobia, and PTSD were uniquely associated with adult GAD. Both maternal and paternal attachment also differentiated clinical groups from controls. However, higher levels of subscales reflecting maternal insecure avoidant attachment (e.g., no memory of early childhood experiences and balancing/forgiving current state of mind) emerged as more predictive of GAD relative to PD. There were no group differences in parental loss or separation. Conclusions These results support differentiation of GAD and PD based on developmental risk factors. Recommendations for future research and implications of the findings for understanding the etiology and symptomatology of GAD and PD are discussed. PMID:27466747

Developmental risk factors in generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder.

PubMed

Newman, Michelle G; Shin, Ki Eun; Zuellig, Andrea R

2016-12-01

There is a lack of clarity regarding specific risk factors discriminating generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) from panic disorder (PD). This study investigated whether GAD and PD could be discriminated through differences in developmental etiological factors including childhood parental loss/separation, psychological disorders, and maternal and paternal attachment. Twenty people with adult generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), 20 with adult panic disorder (PD), 11 with adult comorbid GAD and PD, and 21 adult non-anxious controls completed diagnostic interviews to assess symptoms of mental disorders in adulthood and childhood. Participants also reported on parental attachment, loss and separation. Childhood diagnoses of GAD and PD differentiated clinical groups from controls as well as from each other, suggesting greater likelihood for homotypic over heterotypic continuity. Compared to controls, specific phobia was associated with all three clinical groups, and childhood depression, social phobia, and PTSD were uniquely associated with adult GAD. Both maternal and paternal attachment also differentiated clinical groups from controls. However, higher levels of subscales reflecting maternal insecure avoidant attachment (e.g., no memory of early childhood experiences and balancing/forgiving current state of mind) emerged as more predictive of GAD relative to PD. There were no group differences in parental loss or separation. These results support differentiation of GAD and PD based on developmental risk factors. Recommendations for future research and implications of the findings for understanding the etiology and symptomatology of GAD and PD are discussed. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Rooming-in for new mother and infant versus separate care for increasing the duration of breastfeeding.

PubMed

Jaafar, Sharifah Halimah; Ho, Jacqueline J; Lee, Kim Seng

2016-08-26

Mother-infant proximity and interactions after birth and during the early postpartum period are important for breast-milk production and breastfeeding success. Rooming-in and separate care are both traditional practices. Rooming-in involves keeping the mother and the baby together in the same room after birth for the duration of hospitalisation, whereas separate care is keeping the baby in the hospital nursery and the baby is either brought to the mother for breastfeeding or she walks to the nursery. To assess the effect of mother-infant rooming-in versus separation on the duration of breastfeeding (exclusive and total duration of breastfeeding). We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (30 May 2016) and reference lists of retrieved studies. Randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effect of mother-infant rooming-in versus separate care after hospital birth or at home on the duration of breastfeeding, proportion of breastfeeding at six months and adverse neonatal and maternal outcomes. Two review authors independently assessed the studies for inclusion and assessed trial quality. Two review authors extracted data. Data were checked for accuracy. We assessed the quality of the evidence using the GRADE approach. We included one trial (involving 176 women) in this review. This trial included four groups with a factorial design. The factorial design took into account two factors, i.e. infant location in relation to the mother and the type of infant apparel. We combined three of the groups as the intervention (rooming-in) group and the fourth group acted as the control (separate care) and we analysed the results as a single pair-wise comparison. Primary outcomesThe primary outcome, duration of any breastfeeding, was reported by authors as median values because the distribution was found to be skewed. They reported the overall median duration of any breastfeeding to be four months, with no difference found between groups. Duration of exclusive breastfeeding and the proportion of infants being exclusively breastfed at six months of age was not reported in the trial. There was no difference found between the two groups in the proportion of infants receiving any breastfeeding at six months of age (risk ratio (RR) 0.84, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.51 to 1.39; one trial; 137 women; low-quality evidence). Secondary outcomesThe mean frequency of breastfeeds per day on day four postpartum for the rooming-in group was 8.3 (standard deviation (SD) 2.2), slightly higher than the separate care group, i.e. seven times per day. However, between-group comparison of this outcome was not appropriate since every infant in the separate care group was breastfed at a fixed schedule of seven times per day (SD = 0) resulting in no estimable comparison. The rate of exclusive breastfeeding on day four postpartum before discharge from hospital was significantly higher in the rooming-in group 86% (99 of 115) compared with separate care group, 45% (17 of 38), (RR 1.92; 95% CI 1.34 to 2.76; one trial, 153 women; low-quality evidence). None of our other pre-specified secondary outcomes were reported. We found little evidence to support or refute the practice of rooming-in versus mother-infant separation. Further well-designed RCTs to investigate full mother-infant rooming-in versus partial rooming-in or separate care including all important outcomes are needed.

Effect of preoperative oral midazolam sedation on separation anxiety and emergence delirium among children undergoing dental treatment under general anesthesia.

PubMed

El Batawi, Hisham Yehia

2015-01-01

To investigate the possible effects of preoperative oral Midazolam on parental separation anxiety, emergence delirium, and post-anesthesia care unit time on children undergoing dental rehabilitation under general anesthesia. Randomized, prospective, double-blind study. Seventy-eight American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) I children were divided into two groups of 39 each. Children of the first group were premedicated with oral Midazolam 0.5 mg/kg, while children of the control group were premedicated with a placebo. Scores for parental separation, mask acceptance, postoperative emergence delirium, and time spent in the post-anesthesia care unit were compared statistically. The test group showed significantly lower parental separation scores and high acceptance rate for anesthetic mask. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding emergence delirium and time spent in post-anesthesia care unit. Preoperative oral Midazolam could be a useful adjunct in anxiety management for children suffering dental anxiety. The drug may not reduce the incidence of postoperative emergence delirium. The suggested dose does not seem to affect the post-anesthesia care unit time.

Factor Specific Differences in Locus of Control for Emotionally Disturbed and Normal Children

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kendall, Philip C.; And Others

1976-01-01

Institutionalized emotionally disturbed boys and noninstitutionalized normal boys were administered the Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale for Children. Locus of control and separate factor scores were calculated. Helplessness factor scores, but not overall locus of control scores, differentiated the two groups. (BJG)

SIR/CAR--Studies of Television and Youth Sports.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moriarty, Dick; McCabe, Ann

This study examines the fundamental thesis of whether exposure to prosocial and antisocial media-provided models significantly affects the behavior of youths (ages 7 to 17) while engaged in sports or athletics. The research group evaluated three different groups and three separate samples--prosocial, antisocial, and a control group--dividing the…

Comparison of the Effect of Dexamethasone and Tranexamic Acid, Separately or in Combination on Post-Rhinoplasty Edema and Ecchymosis.

PubMed

Mehdizadeh, Mohammad; Ghassemi, Alireza; Khakzad, Mohammad; Mir, Mehrafza; Nekoohesh, Leili; Moghadamnia, Aliakbar; Bijani, Ali; Mehrbakhsh, Zahra; Ghanepur, Hosein

2018-02-01

Dexamethasone and tranexamic acid are used to decrease post-rhinoplasty periorbital edema and ecchymosis. We compared the impact of each medication separately or in combination in this regard. A prospective, randomized triple-blinded study was undertaken on 60 patients who underwent primary open rhinoplasty. They were divided into four groups: Group D (n = 15) received 8 mg dexamethasone, group T (n = 15) received 10 mg/kg tranexamic acid, group DT (n = 15) received both 8 mg dexamethasone and 10 mg/kg tranexamic acid, and group P (n = 15) received neither medication and served as the placebo control group. The medications were given intravenously (IV) 1 h before and three doses every 8 h postoperatively. Digital photographs were taken on the first, third and seventh postoperative days. One expert examiner blinded to the study evaluated the periorbital edema and ecchymosis on a scale of 0-4. Periorbital edema and ecchymosis were examined in all groups. In group D, group T and group DT, periorbital edema and ecchymosis ratings were significantly lower compared with the control group (p < 0.01). No statistically significant difference was seen in preventing or decreasing both periorbital edema and ecchymosis among group D, group T and group DT. Tranexamic acid and dexamethasone, separately or in combination, had similar effects in reducing periorbital edema and ecchymosis in open rhinoplasty. Combined application did not show a significantly higher beneficial effect in this regard. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

A Powerful, Potential Outcomes Method for Estimating Any Estimand across Multiple Groups

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pattanayak, Cassandra W.; Rubin, Donald B.; Zell, Elizabeth R.

2013-01-01

In educational research, outcome measures are often estimated across separate studies or across schools, districts, or other subgroups to assess the overall causal effect of an active treatment versus a control treatment. Students may be partitioned into such strata or blocks by experimental design, or separated into studies within a…

Cognitive Profiles of Mathematical Problem Solving Learning Disability for Different Definitions of Disability

PubMed Central

Tolar, Tammy D.; Fuchs, Lynn; Fletcher, Jack M.; Fuchs, Douglas; Hamlett, Carol L.

2014-01-01

Three cohorts of third-grade students (N = 813) were evaluated on achievement, cognitive abilities, and behavioral attention according to contrasting research traditions in defining math learning disability (LD) status: low achievement versus extremely low achievement and IQ-achievement discrepant versus strictly low-achieving LD. We use methods from these two traditions to form math problem solving LD groups. To evaluate group differences, we used MANOVA-based profile and canonical analyses to control for relations among the outcomes and regression to control for group definition variables. Results suggest that basic arithmetic is the key distinguishing characteristic that separates low-achieving problem solvers (including LD, regardless of definition) from typically achieving students. Word problem solving is the key distinguishing characteristic that separates IQ-achievement-discrepant from strictly low-achieving LD students, favoring the IQ-achievement-discrepant students. PMID:24939971

Rap system of stress stimulation can promote bone union after lower tibial bone fracture: a clinical research.

PubMed

Yao, Jian-fei; Shen, Jia-zuo; Li, Da-kun; Lin, Da-sheng; Li, Lin; Li, Qiang; Qi, Peng; Lian, Ke-jian; Ding, Zhen-qi

2012-01-01

Lower tibial bone fracture may easily cause bone delayed union or nonunion because of lacking of dynamic mechanical load. Research Group would design a new instrument as Rap System of Stress Stimulation (RSSS) to provide dynamic mechanical load which would promote lower tibial bone union postoperatively. This clinical research was conducted from January 2008 to December 2010, 92 patients(male 61/female 31, age 16-70 years, mean 36.3 years) who suffered lower tibial bone closed fracture were given intramedullary nail fixation and randomly averagely separated into experimental group and control group(according to the successively order when patients went for the admission procedure). Then researchers analysed the clinical healing time, full weight bearing time, VAS (Visual Analogue Scales) score and callus growth score of Lane-Sandhu in 3,6,12 months postoperatively. The delayed union and nonunion rates were compared at 6 and 12 months separately. All the 92 patients had been followed up (mean 14 months). Clinical bone healing time in experimental group was 88.78±8.80 days but control group was 107.91±9.03 days. Full weight bearing time in experimental group was 94.07±9.81 days but control group was 113.24±13.37 days respectively (P<0.05). The delayed union rate in 6 months was 4.3% in experimental group but 10.9% in control group(P<0.05). The nonunion rate in 12 months was 6.5% in experimental group but 19.6% in control group(P<0.05). In 3, 6, 12 months postoperatively, VAS score and Lane-Sandhu score in experimental group had more significantly difference than them in control group. RSSS can intermittently provide dynamic mechanical load and stimulate callus formation, promote lower tibial bone union, reduce bone delayed union or nonunion rate. It is an adjuvant therapy for promoting bone union after lower tibial bone fracture.

75 FR 66797 - Watts Regulator, Including On-Site Leased Workers From Employment Control, D/B/A Employment...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-29

... parent firm, Employment Control, D/B/A Employment Staffing. Accordingly, the Department is amending this... group threatened with total or partial separation from employment on date of certification through two...

Visceral hypersensitive rats share common dysbiosis features with irritable bowel syndrome patients

PubMed Central

Zhou, Xiao-Yan; Li, Ming; Li, Xia; Long, Xin; Zuo, Xiu-Li; Hou, Xiao-Hua; Cong, Ying-Zi; Li, Yan-Qing

2016-01-01

AIM: To evaluate gut microbial dysbiosis in two visceral hypersensitive models in comparison with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients and to explore the extent to which these models capture the dysbiosis of IBS patients. METHODS: Visceral hypersensitivity was developed using the maternal separation (MS) rat model and post-inflammatory rat model. The visceral sensitivity of the model groups and control group was evaluated using the abdominal withdraw reflex score and electromyography in response to graded colorectal distention. The 16S ribosomal RNA gene from fecal samples was pyrosequenced and analyzed. The correlation between dysbiosis in the microbiota and visceral hypersensitivity was calculated. Positive findings were compared to sequencing data from a published human IBS cohort. RESULTS: Dysbiosis triggered by neonatal maternal separation was lasting but not static. Both MS and post-inflammatory rat fecal microbiota deviated from that of the control rats to an extent that was larger than the co-housing effect. Two short chain fatty acid producing genera, Fusobacterium and Clostridium XI, were shared by the human IBS cohort and by the maternal separation rats and post-inflammatory rats, respectively, to different extents. Fusobacterium was significantly increased in the MS group, and its abundance positively correlated with the degree of visceral hypersensitivity. Porphyromonadaceae was a protective biomarker for both the rat control group and healthy human controls. CONCLUSION: The dysbiosis MS rat model and the post-inflammatory rat model captured some of the dysbiosis features of IBS patients. Fusobacterium, Clostridium XI and Porphyromonadaceae were identified as targets for future mechanistic research. PMID:27298564

A problem unstuck? Evaluating the effectiveness of sticker prompts for encouraging household food waste recycling behaviour.

PubMed

Shearer, Linzi; Gatersleben, Birgitta; Morse, Stephen; Smyth, Matthew; Hunt, Sally

2017-02-01

This Randomised Control Trial (RCT) investigated the effectiveness of using stickers as a visual prompt to encourage the separate collection of household food waste for recycling in two local authorities in South East England. During a baseline period of up to 15weeks, separately collected food waste was weighed (in tonnes) and averaged across households in both treatment (N=33,716 households within 29 defined areas) and control groups (N=30,568 households within 26 areas). A sticker prompt was then affixed to the lids of refuse bins in the treatment group area only. Weights for both groups were subsequently measured across a 16-week experimental period. Results showed that, in the control group, there was no change in the average weight of food waste captured for recycling between the baseline and experimental period. However, there was a significant increase (20.74%) in the treatment group, and this change in behaviour persisted in the longer term. Sticker prompts therefore appear to have a significant and sustained impact on food waste recycling rates, while being simple, practically feasible and inexpensive (£0.35 per household) for local authorities to implement at scale. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Inpatient Choledocholithiasis Requiring ERCP and Cholecystectomy: Outcomes of a Combined Single Inpatient Procedure Versus Separate-Session Procedures.

PubMed

Passi, Monica; Inamdar, Sumant; Hersch, David; Dowling, Oonagh; Sejpal, Divyesh V; Trindade, Arvind J

2018-03-01

Separate-session endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERCP) and laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the usual method for management of inpatient choledocholithiasis. Our goal was to compare single operative-session LC and ERCP to a multi-session approach for both the same hospitalization and within 30 days after; there is limited data comparing the three groups. A retrospective review on inpatients with choledocholithiasis that underwent ERCP and LC was performed. Single operative-session ERCP + LC (SOS group) and separate hospitalization ERCP + LC (DH group) were compared against the control cohort: separate-session ERCP + LC performed during the same hospitalization (SH group). Among the 214 cases, 37 (17%) had LC + ERCP performed under a single operative session (SOS), 130 (60.7%) cases had LC + ERCP performed in separate operative sessions during the same hospitalization (SH), and 47 (22%) cases had LC + ERCP performed in different hospitalizations, within 30 days (DH). There was no statistically significant difference in efficacy or adverse events. The SOS group had a statistically significant mean shorter length of hospital stay as compared to the SH and DH groups (5.46 vs 7.15 vs 9.38; p = 0.05 and 0.02). There was a statistically significant reduction in the total cost of care in the SOS group versus the SH group ($59,221 vs $75, 808; p = 0.007). The SOS approach is safe, efficacious, and cost-efficient when compared to separate operative sessions. This approach can be considered in situations where it is preferable for the patient to undergo a single session of anesthesia, without compromising technical success and safety.

Behavioral assessment of intermittent wheel running and individual housing in mice in the laboratory.

PubMed

Pham, Therese M; Brené, Stefan; Baumans, Vera

2005-01-01

Physical cage enrichment--exercise devices for rodents in the laboratory--often includes running wheels. This study compared responses of mice in enriched physical and social conditions and in standard social conditions to wheel running, individual housing, and open-field test. The study divided into 6 groups, 48 female BALB/c mice group housed in enriched and standard conditions. On alternate days, the study exposed 2 groups to individual running wheel cages. It intermittently separated from their cage mates and housed individually 2 groups with no running wheels; 2 control groups remained in enriched or standard condition cages. There were no significant differences between enriched and standard group housed mice in alternate days' wheel running. Over time, enriched, group housed mice ran less. Both groups responded similarly to individual housing. In open-field test, mice exposed to individual housing without running wheel moved more and faster than wheel running and home cage control mice. They have lower body weights than group housed and wheel running mice. Intermittent withdrawal of individual housing affects the animals more than other commodities. Wheel running normalizes some effects of intermittent separation from the enriched, social home cage.

A Qualitative Assessment of Weight Control among Rural Kansas Women

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ely, Andrea C.; Befort, Christie; Banitt, Angela; Gibson, Cheryl; Sullivan, Debra

2009-01-01

Objective: To explore weight control beliefs, attitudes, knowledge, and practices among rural Kansas women, and to characterize the relationship of these women with their primary-care providers around weight control. Design: Qualitative research using focus groups. Setting: Three separate communities of rural Kansas. Participants: Six focus groups…

The Effect of Contextual and Conceptual Rewording on Mathematical Problem-Solving Performance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Haghverdi, Majid; Wiest, Lynda R.

2016-01-01

This study shows how separate and combined contextual and conceptual problem rewording can positively influence student performance in solving mathematical word problems. Participants included 80 seventh-grade Iranian students randomly assigned in groups of 20 to three experimental groups involving three types of rewording and a control group. All…

Effect of preoperative oral midazolam sedation on separation anxiety and emergence delirium among children undergoing dental treatment under general anesthesia

PubMed Central

El Batawi, Hisham Yehia

2015-01-01

Aim: To investigate the possible effects of preoperative oral Midazolam on parental separation anxiety, emergence delirium, and post-anesthesia care unit time on children undergoing dental rehabilitation under general anesthesia. Methods: Randomized, prospective, double-blind study. Seventy-eight American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) I children were divided into two groups of 39 each. Children of the first group were premedicated with oral Midazolam 0.5 mg/kg, while children of the control group were premedicated with a placebo. Scores for parental separation, mask acceptance, postoperative emergence delirium, and time spent in the post-anesthesia care unit were compared statistically. Results: The test group showed significantly lower parental separation scores and high acceptance rate for anesthetic mask. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding emergence delirium and time spent in post-anesthesia care unit. Conclusions: Preoperative oral Midazolam could be a useful adjunct in anxiety management for children suffering dental anxiety. The drug may not reduce the incidence of postoperative emergence delirium. The suggested dose does not seem to affect the post-anesthesia care unit time. PMID:25992332

Dentate gyrus supports slope recognition memory, shades of grey-context pattern separation and recognition memory, and CA3 supports pattern completion for object memory.

PubMed

Kesner, Raymond P; Kirk, Ryan A; Yu, Zhenghui; Polansky, Caitlin; Musso, Nick D

2016-03-01

In order to examine the role of the dorsal dentate gyrus (dDG) in slope (vertical space) recognition and possible pattern separation, various slope (vertical space) degrees were used in a novel exploratory paradigm to measure novelty detection for changes in slope (vertical space) recognition memory and slope memory pattern separation in Experiment 1. The results of the experiment indicate that control rats displayed a slope recognition memory function with a pattern separation process for slope memory that is dependent upon the magnitude of change in slope between study and test phases. In contrast, the dDG lesioned rats displayed an impairment in slope recognition memory, though because there was no significant interaction between the two groups and slope memory, a reliable pattern separation impairment for slope could not be firmly established in the DG lesioned rats. In Experiment 2, in order to determine whether, the dDG plays a role in shades of grey spatial context recognition and possible pattern separation, shades of grey were used in a novel exploratory paradigm to measure novelty detection for changes in the shades of grey context environment. The results of the experiment indicate that control rats displayed a shades of grey-context pattern separation effect across levels of separation of context (shades of grey). In contrast, the DG lesioned rats displayed a significant interaction between the two groups and levels of shades of grey suggesting impairment in a pattern separation function for levels of shades of grey. In Experiment 3 in order to determine whether the dorsal CA3 (dCA3) plays a role in object pattern completion, a new task requiring less training and using a choice that was based on choosing the correct set of objects on a two-choice discrimination task was used. The results indicated that control rats displayed a pattern completion function based on the availability of one, two, three or four cues. In contrast, the dCA3 lesioned rats displayed a significant interaction between the two groups and the number of available objects suggesting impairment in a pattern completion function for object cues. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A Comparative Study of Urban Black Argot. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Folb, Edith A.

A current vocabulary of argot terms and meanings was collected from a Black male control group in the South Central Los Angeles ghetto. This lexicon was used to elicit and compare responses from 5 male groups of youths between 15 and 20 years old. Two of the groups consisted of lower class blacks separated geographically. The other groups were…

Minnowbrook VI: 2009 Workshop on Flow Physics and Control for Internal and External Aerodynamics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

LaGraff, John E.; Povinelli, Louis A.; Gostelow, J. Paul; Glauser, Mark

2010-01-01

Topics covered include: Flow Physics and control for Internal and External Aerodynamics (not in TOC...starts on pg13); Breaking CFD Bottlenecks in Gas-Turbine Flow-Path Design; Streamwise Vortices on the Convex Surfaces of Circular Cylinders and Turbomachinery Blading; DNS and Embedded DNS as Tools for Investigating Unsteady Heat Transfer Phenomena in Turbines; Cavitation, Flow Structure and Turbulence in the Tip Region of a Rotor Blade; Development and Application of Plasma Actuators for Active Control of High-Speed and High Reynolds Number Flows; Active Flow Control of Lifting Surface With Flap-Current Activities and Future Directions; Closed-Loop Control of Vortex Formation in Separated Flows; Global Instability on Laminar Separation Bubbles-Revisited; Very Large-Scale Motions in Smooth and Rough Wall Boundary Layers; Instability of a Supersonic Boundary-Layer With Localized Roughness; Active Control of Open Cavities; Amplitude Scaling of Active Separation Control; U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory's Need for Flow Physics and Control With Applications Involving Aero-Optics and Weapon Bay Cavities; Some Issues Related to Integrating Active Flow Control With Flight Control; Active Flow Control Strategies Using Surface Pressure Measurements; Reduction of Unsteady Forcing in a Vaned, Contra-Rotating Transonic Turbine Configuration; Active Flow Control Stator With Coanda Surface; Controlling Separation in Turbomachines; Flow Control on Low-Pressure Turbine Airfoils Using Vortex Generator Jets; Reduced Order Modeling Incompressible Flows; Study and Control of Flow Past Disk, and Circular and Rectangular Cylinders Aligned in the Flow; Periodic Forcing of a Turbulent Axisymmetric Wake; Control of Vortex Breakdown in Critical Swirl Regime Using Azimuthal Forcing; External and Turbomachinery Flow Control Working Group; Boundary Layers, Transitions and Separation; Efficiency Considerations in Low Pressure Turbines; Summary of Conference; and Final Plenary Session Transcript.

Proceedings of the 2004 Workshop on CFD Validation of Synthetic Jets and Turbulent Separation Control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rumsey, Christopher L. (Compiler)

2007-01-01

The papers presented here are from the Langley Research Center Workshop on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Validation of Synthetic Jets and Turbulent Separation Control (nicknamed "CFDVAL2004"), held March 2004 in Williamsburg, Virginia. The goal of the workshop was to bring together an international group of CFD practitioners to assess the current capabilities of different classes of turbulent flow solution methodologies to predict flow fields induced by synthetic jets and separation control geometries. The workshop consisted of three flow-control test cases of varying complexity, and participants could contribute to any number of the cases. Along with their workshop submissions, each participant included a short write-up describing their method for computing the particular case(s). These write-ups are presented as received from the authors with no editing. Descriptions of each of the test cases and experiments are also included.

Effect of Oral Midazolam Premedication on Children's Co-operation Before General Anesthesia in Pediatric Dentistry.

PubMed

Kaviani, Nasser; Shahtusi, Mina; Haj Norousali Tehrani, Maryam; Nazari, Sara

2014-09-01

Premedication is expedient in reducing the psychological trauma from recalling the unpleasant pre-anesthetic phases, hence, inducing a trouble-free anesthesia. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of oral midazolam in co-operation of the subjects before general anesthesia and in recalling the pre-anesthetic phases, performed on children candidate for dental treatment under general anesthesia. In this prospective clinical trial study, 62 healthy non-cooperative children, candidate for dental treatment under general anesthesia, were randomly divided into study and control groups. The children received 20ml orange juice, 20 minutes before starting the anesthesia. The juice of the test group contained 0.5mg/kg of midazolam and that of the control group included no medication. The induction and the maintenance process of anesthesia were similar in both groups. The manner of subjects when separated from parents, their cooperation during intravenous catheterization, and recalling the pre-anesthetic events were recorded. Data were analyzed by adopting chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests. Most of the children in the test group had a comfortable separation from parents, restful IV catheterization and 90% of the subjects did not recall the pre-anesthetic events. Under the circumstances of this study, it could be concluded that 0.5mg/kg oral midazolam premedication is effective for comfortable separation of children from parents and restful IV catheterization and also forgetting the pre-anesthetic events.

An fMRI study of the brain responses of traumatized mothers to viewing their toddlers during separation and play.

PubMed

Schechter, Daniel S; Moser, Dominik A; Wang, Zhishun; Marsh, Rachel; Hao, XueJun; Duan, Yunsuo; Yu, Shan; Gunter, Benjamin; Murphy, David; McCaw, Jaime; Kangarlu, Alayar; Willheim, Erica; Myers, Michael M; Hofer, Myron A; Peterson, Bradley S

2012-11-01

This study tested whether mothers with interpersonal violence-related posttraumatic stress disorder (IPV-PTSD) vs healthy controls (HC) would show greater limbic and less frontocortical activity when viewing young children during separation compared to quiet play. Mothers of 20 children (12-42 months) participated: 11 IPV-PTSD mothers and 9 HC with no PTSD. During fMRI, mothers watched epochs of play and separation from their own and unfamiliar children. The study focused on comparison of PTSD mothers vs HC viewing children in separation vs play, and viewing own vs unfamiliar children in separation. Both groups showed distinct patterns of brain activation in response to viewing children in separation vs play. PTSD mothers showed greater limbic and less frontocortical activity (BA10) than HC. PTSD mothers also reported feeling more stressed than HC when watching own and unfamiliar children during separation. Their self-reported stress was associated with greater limbic and less frontocortical activity. Both groups also showed distinct patterns of brain activation in response to viewing their own vs unfamiliar children during separation. PTSD mothers' may not have access to frontocortical regulation of limbic response upon seeing own and unfamiliar children in separation. This converges with previously reported associations of maternal IPV-PTSD and atypical caregiving behavior following separation.

Control-group feature normalization for multivariate pattern analysis of structural MRI data using the support vector machine.

PubMed

Linn, Kristin A; Gaonkar, Bilwaj; Satterthwaite, Theodore D; Doshi, Jimit; Davatzikos, Christos; Shinohara, Russell T

2016-05-15

Normalization of feature vector values is a common practice in machine learning. Generally, each feature value is standardized to the unit hypercube or by normalizing to zero mean and unit variance. Classification decisions based on support vector machines (SVMs) or by other methods are sensitive to the specific normalization used on the features. In the context of multivariate pattern analysis using neuroimaging data, standardization effectively up- and down-weights features based on their individual variability. Since the standard approach uses the entire data set to guide the normalization, it utilizes the total variability of these features. This total variation is inevitably dependent on the amount of marginal separation between groups. Thus, such a normalization may attenuate the separability of the data in high dimensional space. In this work we propose an alternate approach that uses an estimate of the control-group standard deviation to normalize features before training. We study our proposed approach in the context of group classification using structural MRI data. We show that control-based normalization leads to better reproducibility of estimated multivariate disease patterns and improves the classifier performance in many cases. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Abnormal auditory forward masking pattern in the brainstem response of individuals with Asperger syndrome

PubMed Central

Källstrand, Johan; Olsson, Olle; Nehlstedt, Sara Fristedt; Sköld, Mia Ling; Nielzén, Sören

2010-01-01

Abnormal auditory information processing has been reported in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In the present study auditory processing was investigated by recording auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) elicited by forward masking in adults diagnosed with Asperger syndrome (AS). Sixteen AS subjects were included in the forward masking experiment and compared to three control groups consisting of healthy individuals (n = 16), schizophrenic patients (n = 16) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder patients (n = 16), respectively, of matching age and gender. The results showed that the AS subjects exhibited abnormally low activity in the early part of their ABRs that distinctly separated them from the three control groups. Specifically, wave III amplitudes were significantly lower in the AS group than for all the control groups in the forward masking condition (P < 0.005), which was not the case in the baseline condition. Thus, electrophysiological measurements of ABRs to complex sound stimuli (eg, forward masking) may lead to a better understanding of the underlying neurophysiology of AS. Future studies may further point to specific ABR characteristics in AS individuals that separate them from individuals diagnosed with other neurodevelopmental diseases. PMID:20628629

Superficial or deep implantation of motor nerve after denervation: an experimental study--superficial or deep implantation of motor nerve.

PubMed

Askar, Ibrahím; Sabuncuoglu, Bízden Tavíl

2002-01-01

Neurorraphy, conventional nerve grafting technique, and artificial nerve conduits are not enough for repair in severe injuries of peripheral nerves, especially when there is separation of motor nerve from muscle tissue. In these nerve injuries, reinnervation is indicated for neurotization. The distal end of a peripheral nerve is divided into fascicles and implanted into the aneural zone of target muscle tissue. It is not known how deeply fascicles should be implanted into muscle tissue. A comparative study of superficial and deep implantation of separated motor nerve into muscle tissue is presented in the gastrocnemius muscle of rabbits. In this experimental study, 30 white New Zealand rabbits were used and divided into 3 groups of 10 rabbits each. In the first group (controls, group I), only surgical exposure of the gastrocnemius muscle and motor nerve (tibial nerve) was done without any injury to nerves. In the superficial implantation group (group II), tibial nerves were separated and divided into their own fascicles. These fascicles were implanted superficially into the lateral head of gastrocnemius muscle-aneural zone. In the deep implantation group (group III), the tibial nerves were separated and divided into their own fascicles. These fascicles were implanted around the center of the muscle mass, into the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle-aneural zone. Six months later, histopathological changes and functional recovery of the gastrocnemius muscle were investigated. Both experimental groups had less muscular weight than in the control group. It was found that functional recovery was achieved in both experimental groups, and was better in the superficial implantation group than the deep implantation group. EMG recordings revealed that polyphasic and late potentials were frequently seen in both experimental groups. Degeneration and regeneration of myofibrils were observed in both experimental groups. New motor end-plates were formed in a scattered manner in both experimental groups. However, they were more dense in the superficial implantation group than the deep implantation group. It was concluded that superficial implantation has a more powerful contractile capacity than that of deep implantation. We believe that this might arise from the high activity of glycolytic enzymes in peripheral muscle fibers of gastrocnemius muscle, decrease in insufficient intramuscular guidance apparatus, and intramuscular microneuroma formation at the insufficient neuromuscular junction since the motor nerve had less route to muscle fibers. Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Within-Subject Reversibility of Discriminative Function in the Composite-Stimulus Control of Behavior

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weiss, Stanley J.; Kearns, David N.; Antoshina, Maria

2009-01-01

According to the composite-stimulus control model (Weiss, 1969, 1972b), an individual discriminative stimulus (S[superscript D]) is composed of that S[superscript D]'s on-state plus the off-states of all other relevant S[superscript D]s. The present experiment investigated the reversibility of composite-stimulus control. Separate groups of rats…

Improving Interference Control in ADHD Patients with Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

PubMed Central

Breitling, Carolin; Zaehle, Tino; Dannhauer, Moritz; Bonath, Björn; Tegelbeckers, Jana; Flechtner, Hans-Henning; Krauel, Kerstin

2016-01-01

The use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been suggested as a promising alternative to psychopharmacological treatment approaches due to its local and network effects on brain activation. In the current study, we investigated the impact of tDCS over the right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG) on interference control in 21 male adolescents with ADHD and 21 age matched healthy controls aged 13–17 years, who underwent three separate sessions of tDCS (anodal, cathodal, and sham) while completing a Flanker task. Even though anodal stimulation appeared to diminish commission errors in the ADHD group, the overall analysis revealed no significant effect of tDCS. Since participants showed a considerable learning effect from the first to the second session, performance in the first session was separately analyzed. ADHD patients receiving sham stimulation in the first session showed impaired interference control compared to healthy control participants whereas ADHD patients who were exposed to anodal stimulation, showed comparable performance levels (commission errors, reaction time variability) to the control group. These results suggest that anodal tDCS of the right inferior frontal gyrus could improve interference control in patients with ADHD. PMID:27147964

Improving Interference Control in ADHD Patients with Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS).

PubMed

Breitling, Carolin; Zaehle, Tino; Dannhauer, Moritz; Bonath, Björn; Tegelbeckers, Jana; Flechtner, Hans-Henning; Krauel, Kerstin

2016-01-01

The use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been suggested as a promising alternative to psychopharmacological treatment approaches due to its local and network effects on brain activation. In the current study, we investigated the impact of tDCS over the right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG) on interference control in 21 male adolescents with ADHD and 21 age matched healthy controls aged 13-17 years, who underwent three separate sessions of tDCS (anodal, cathodal, and sham) while completing a Flanker task. Even though anodal stimulation appeared to diminish commission errors in the ADHD group, the overall analysis revealed no significant effect of tDCS. Since participants showed a considerable learning effect from the first to the second session, performance in the first session was separately analyzed. ADHD patients receiving sham stimulation in the first session showed impaired interference control compared to healthy control participants whereas ADHD patients who were exposed to anodal stimulation, showed comparable performance levels (commission errors, reaction time variability) to the control group. These results suggest that anodal tDCS of the right inferior frontal gyrus could improve interference control in patients with ADHD.

The Effect of Oral Dexmedetomidine Premedication on Preoperative Cooperation and Emergence Delirium in Children Undergoing Dental Procedures.

PubMed

Keles, Sultan; Kocaturk, Ozlem

2017-01-01

The aim of this study was to detect the effect of 1  μ g/kg of oral dexmedetomidine (DEX) as premedication among children undergoing dental procedures. The study involved 100 children between 2 and 6 years of age, ASA I, who underwent full-mouth dental rehabilitation. The DEX group ( n = 50) received 1  μ g/kg DEX in apple juice, and the control group ( n = 50) received only apple juice. The patients' scores on the Ramsay Sedation Scale (RSS), parental separation anxiety scale, mask acceptance scale, and pediatric anesthesia emergence delirium scale (PAEDS) and hemodynamic parameters were recorded. The data were analyzed using chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, Student's t -test, and analysis of variance in SPSS. RSS scores were significantly higher in the DEX group than group C at 15, 30, and 45 min ( p < 0.05). More children (68% easy separation, 74% satisfactory mask acceptance) in the DEX group showed satisfactory ease of parental separation and mask acceptance behavior ( p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the PAEDS scores and mean hemodynamic parameters of both groups. Oral DEX administered at 1  μ g/kg provided satisfactory sedation levels, ease of parental separation, and mask acceptance in children but was not effective in preventing emergence delirium. The trial was registered (Protocol Registration Receipt NCT03174678) at clinicaltrials.gov.

Cardiorespiratory Fitness and the Flexible Modulation of Cognitive Control in Preadolescent Children

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pontifex, Matthew B.; Raine, Lauren B.; Johnson, Christopher R.; Chaddock, Laura; Voss, Michelle W.; Cohen, Neal J.; Kramer, Arthur F.; Hillman, Charles H.

2011-01-01

The influence of cardiorespiratory fitness on the modulation of cognitive control was assessed in preadolescent children separated into higher- and lower-fit groups. Participants completed compatible and incompatible stimulus-response conditions of a modified flanker task, consisting of congruent and incongruent arrays, while ERPs and task…

18 CFR 35.25 - Construction work in progress.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... public utility applicant to provide for separate customer groups or provide for a rate design... oil or coal burners, soot blowers, bottom ash removal systems and concomitant air pollution control..., which facility would not be necessary if the plant continued to burn gas or oil. (4) Pollution control...

18 CFR 35.25 - Construction work in progress.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... public utility applicant to provide for separate customer groups or provide for a rate design... oil or coal burners, soot blowers, bottom ash removal systems and concomitant air pollution control..., which facility would not be necessary if the plant continued to burn gas or oil. (4) Pollution control...

Effects of Project, Inquiry and Lecture-Demonstration Teaching Methods on Senior Secondary Students' Achievement in Separation of Mixtures Practical Test

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sola, Agboola Omowunmi; Ojo, Oloyede Ezekiel

2007-01-01

This study assessed and compared the relative effectiveness of three methods for teaching and conducting experiments in separation of mixtures in chemistry. A pre-test, post-test experimental design with a control group was used. Two hundred and thirty three randomly selected Senior Secondary School I (SSS I) chemistry students were drawn from…

Study of Anti-Fatigue Effect in Rats of Ferrous Chelates Including Hairtail Protein Hydrolysates

PubMed Central

Huang, Saibo; Lin, Huimin; Deng, Shang-gui

2015-01-01

The ability of ferrous chelates including hairtail protein hydrolysates to prevent and reduce fatigue was studied in rats. After hydrolysis of hairtail surimi with papain, the hairtail protein hydrolysates (HPH) were separated into three groups by range of relative molecular weight using ultrafiltration membrane separation. Hairtail proteins were then chelated with ferrous ions, and the antioxidant activity, the amino acid composition and chelation rate of the three kinds of ferrous chelates including hairtail protein hydrolysates (Fe-HPH) were determined. Among the three groups, the Fe-HPH chelate showing the best conditions was selected for the anti-fatigue animal experiment. For it, experimental rats were randomly divided into seven groups. Group A was designated as the negative control group given distilled water. Group B, the positive control group, was given glutathione. Groups C, D and E were designated as the Fe-HPH chelate treatment groups and given low, medium, and high doses, respectively. Group F was designated as HPH hydrolysate treatment group, and Group G was designated as FeCl2 treatment group. The different diets were orally administered to rats for 20 days. After that time, rats were subjected to forced swimming training after 1 h of gavage. Rats given Fe-FPH chelate had higher haemoglobin regeneration efficiency (HRE), longer exhaustive swimming time and higher SOD activity. Additionally, Fe-FPH chelate was found to significantly decrease the malondialdehyde content, visibly enhance the GSH-Px activity in liver and reduce blood lactic acid of rats. Fe-HPH chelate revealed an anti-fatigue effect, similar to or better than the positive control substance and superior to HPH or Fe when provided alone. PMID:26633476

Superhydrophobic, Hybrid, Electrospun Cellulose Acetate Nanofibrous Mats for Oil/Water Separation by Tailored Surface Modification.

PubMed

Arslan, Osman; Aytac, Zeynep; Uyar, Tamer

2016-08-03

Electrospun cellulose acetate nanofibers (CA-NF) have been modified with perfluoro alkoxysilanes (FS/CA-NF) for tailoring their chemical and physical features aiming oil-water separation purposes. Strikingly, hybrid FS/CA-NF showed that perfluoro groups are rigidly positioned on the outer surface of the nanofibers providing superhydrophobic characteristic with a water contact angle of ∼155°. Detailed analysis showed that hydrolysis/condensation reactions led to the modification of the acetylated β(1 → 4) linked d-glucose chains of CA transforming it into a superhydrophobic nanofibrous mat. Analytical data have revealed that CA-NF surfaces can be selectively controlled for fabricating the durable, robust and water resistant hybrid electrospun nanofibrous mat. The -OH groups available on the CA structure allowed the basic sol-gel reactions started by the reactive FS hybrid precursor system which can be monitored by spectroscopic analysis. Since alkoxysilane groups on the perfluoro silane compound are capable of reacting for condensation together with the CA, superhydrophobic nanofibrous mat is obtained via electrospinning. This structural modification led to the facile fabrication of the novel oil/water nanofibrous separator which functions effectively demonstrated by hexane/oil and water separation experiments. Perfluoro groups consequently modified the hydrophilic CA nanofibers into superhydrophobic character and therefore FS/CA-NF could be quite practical for future applications like water/oil separators, as well as self-cleaning or water resistant nanofibrous structures.

Nimodipine alters acquisition of a visual discrimination task in chicks.

PubMed

Deyo, R; Panksepp, J; Conner, R L

1990-03-01

Chicks 5 days old received intraperitoneal injections of nimodipine 30 min before training on either a visual discrimination task (0, 0.5, 1.0, or 5.0 mg/kg) or a test of separation-induced distress vocalizations (0, 0.5, or 2.5 mg/kg). Chicks receiving 1.0 mg/kg nimodipine made significantly fewer visual discrimination errors than vehicle controls by trials 41-60, but did not differ from controls 24 h later. Chicks in the 5 mg/kg group made significantly more errors when compared to controls both during acquisition of the task and during retention. Nimodipine did not alter separation-induced distress vocalizations at any of the doses tested, suggesting that nimodipine's effects on learning cannot be attributed to a reduction in separation distress. These data indicate that nimodipine's facilitation of learning in young subjects is dose dependent, but nimodipine failed to enhance retention.

An fMRI study of the brain responses of traumatized mothers to viewing their toddlers during separation and play

PubMed Central

Moser, Dominik A.; Wang, Zhishun; Marsh, Rachel; Hao, XueJun; Duan, Yunsuo; Yu, Shan; Gunter, Benjamin; Murphy, David; McCaw, Jaime; Kangarlu, Alayar; Willheim, Erica; Myers, Michael M.; Hofer, Myron A.; Peterson, Bradley S.

2012-01-01

This study tested whether mothers with interpersonal violence-related posttraumatic stress disorder (IPV-PTSD) vs healthy controls (HC) would show greater limbic and less frontocortical activity when viewing young children during separation compared to quiet play. Mothers of 20 children (12–42 months) participated: 11 IPV-PTSD mothers and 9 HC with no PTSD. During fMRI, mothers watched epochs of play and separation from their own and unfamiliar children. The study focused on comparison of PTSD mothers vs HC viewing children in separation vs play, and viewing own vs unfamiliar children in separation. Both groups showed distinct patterns of brain activation in response to viewing children in separation vs play. PTSD mothers showed greater limbic and less frontocortical activity (BA10) than HC. PTSD mothers also reported feeling more stressed than HC when watching own and unfamiliar children during separation. Their self-reported stress was associated with greater limbic and less frontocortical activity. Both groups also showed distinct patterns of brain activation in response to viewing their own vs unfamiliar children during separation. PTSD mothers’ may not have access to frontocortical regulation of limbic response upon seeing own and unfamiliar children in separation. This converges with previously reported associations of maternal IPV-PTSD and atypical caregiving behavior following separation. PMID:22021653

Effects of soybean oligosaccharides on antioxidant enzyme activities and insulin resistance in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

PubMed

Fei, Bei-bei; Ling, Li; Hua, Chen; Ren, Shu-yan

2014-09-01

The effects of soybean oligosaccharides (SBOS) on antioxidant enzyme activities and insulin resistance in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) were investigated. Ninety-seven pregnant women with GDM were randomly divided into two groups, the control group (51 cases) and the SBOS group (46 cases). Before the group separation, the blood sugar level in patients was maintained stable by regular diet and insulin treatment. The control group was continued with the insulin treatment, while the SBOS group was treated with the combination of insulin and SBOS. Results showed that SBOS were able to reduce oxidative stress and alleviate insulin resistance in pregnant women with GDM, which indicates that SBOS may play an important role in the control of GDM complications. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The effects of PECS teaching to Phase III on the communicative interactions between children with autism and their teachers.

PubMed

Carr, Deborah; Felce, Janet

2007-04-01

The study investigated the impact of mastery of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) to Phase III, on the communications of children with autism. Children aged between 3 and 7 years, formed a PECS intervention group and a non-intervention control group. The intervention group received 15 h of PECS teaching over 5 weeks. Three 2-h classroom observations recorded communications between the children and their teachers. These occurred: 6 weeks before teaching; during the week immediately prior to teaching; during the week immediately following teaching. For the control group, two 2-h observations were separated by a 5-week interval without PECS teaching. Communicative initiations and dyadic interactions increased significantly between the children and teachers in the PECS group but not for the control group.

A Semantic Differential Evaluation of Attitudinal Outcomes of Introductory Physical Science.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hecht, Alfred Roland

This study was designed to assess the attitudinal outcomes of Introductory Physical Science (IPS) curriculum materials used in schools. Random samples of 240 students receiving IPS instruction and 240 non-science students were assigned to separate Solomon four-group designs with non-equivalent control groups. Random samples of 60 traditional…

Classroom Research: Writing Assessment in Paired and Separate History and English Classes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Messina, Susan; White, Diane

In fall 1991, Solano Community College (California) undertook a study comparing the writing skills of students in an integrated course combining history and freshman English composition with students in unpaired history and English classes. Students were divided into three groups: the integrated class and two control groups, one taking history…

The effect of two phototherapy protocols on pain control in orthodontic procedure--a preliminary clinical study.

PubMed

Esper, Maria Angela Lacerda Rangel; Nicolau, Renata Amadei; Arisawa, Emília Angela Lo Schiavo

2011-09-01

Phototherapy with low-level coherent light (laser) has been reported as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory as well as having a positive effect in tissue repair in orthodontics. However, there are few clinical studies using low-level LED therapy (non-coherent light). The aim of the present study was to analyze the pain symptoms after orthodontic tooth movement associated with and not associated with coherent and non-coherent phototherapy. Fifty-five volunteers (mean age = 24.1 ± 8.1 years) were randomly divided into four groups: G1 (control), G2 (placebo), G3 (protocol 1: laser, InGaAlP, 660 nm, 4 J/cm(2), 0.03 W, 25 s), G4 (protocol 2: LED, GaAlAs, 640 nm with 40 nm full-bandwidth at half-maximum, 4 J/cm(2), 0.10 W, 70 s). Separators were used to induce orthodontic pain and the volunteers pain levels were scored with the visual analog scale (VAS) after the separator placement, after the therapy (placebo, laser, or LED), and after 2, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h. The laser group did not have statistically significant results in the reduction of pain level compared to the LED group. The LED group had a significant reduction in pain levels between 2 and 120 h compared to the control and the laser groups. The LED therapy showed a significant reduction in pain sensitivity (an average of 56%), after the orthodontic tooth movement when compared to the control group.

Effect of anti-smoking health education on infant size at birth: a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

MacArthur, C; Newton, J R; Knox, E G

1987-04-01

The effects of anti-smoking health education during pregnancy on smoking behaviour and the subsequent infant's size at birth were investigated in a controlled trial. It was found that the planned educational intervention was incompletely carried out and was given more effectively to primigravidae in whom subsequent reduction of smoking was more evident. The effects of educative intervention on size at birth were therefore analysed for first and later pregnancies separately. The differences in birthweight and length between the intervention and control groups were concentrated almost entirely among the first born infants who were 68 g heavier and 0.75 cm longer in the intervention group than the first born infants in the control group.

Screening of patients with bronchopulmonary diseases using methods of infrared laser photoacoustic spectroscopy and principal component analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kistenev, Yury V.; Karapuzikov, Alexander I.; Kostyukova, Nadezhda Yu.; Starikova, Marina K.; Boyko, Andrey A.; Bukreeva, Ekaterina B.; Bulanova, Anna A.; Kolker, Dmitry B.; Kuzmin, Dmitry A.; Zenov, Konstantin G.; Karapuzikov, Alexey A.

2015-06-01

A human exhaled air analysis by means of infrared (IR) laser photoacoustic spectroscopy is presented. Eleven healthy nonsmoking volunteers (control group) and seven patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, target group) were involved in the study. The principal component analysis method was used to select the most informative ranges of the absorption spectra of patients' exhaled air in terms of the separation of the studied groups. It is shown that the data of the profiles of exhaled air absorption spectrum in the informative ranges allow identifying COPD patients in comparison to the control group.

Femoral head retroposition as a potential compensatory mechanism in patients with a severe mismatch between pelvic incidence and lumbar lordosis.

PubMed

Cheng, Xiaofei; Zhang, Kai; Sun, Xiaojiang; Zhao, Changqing; Li, Hua; Zhao, Jie

2017-12-01

Severe mismatch between pelvic incidence (PI) and lumbar lordosis (LL) leads to extra anterior displacement of the gravity line. The objective of this study is to investigate whether femoral head retroposition is a separate compensatory mechanism responsible for the extra anterior displacement. Based on the values of PI and LL, 94 patients were divided into the PI-LL match group (PI-LL ≤ 0°), the mild PI-LL mismatch group (20°> PI-LL >0°), and the severe PI-LL mismatch group (PI-LL ≥ 20°). A series of parameters including PI, LL, PI-LL, thoracic kyphosis (TK), pelvic tilt (PT), sacral slope (SS), knee flexion angle (KFA), tibial obliquity angle (TOA), sagittal vertical axis (SVA), S1 overhang, femoral head shift (FHS), and pelvic shift (PS) were measured and compared among the three groups. The severe PI-LL mismatch group exhibited significantly greater PI, PI-LL, PT, KFA, SVA, PS, and FHS, and less LL and TK, compared with the control and mild PI-LL mismatch group. The mild PI-LL mismatch group had significantly greater PI-LL, PT, KFA, TOA, and S1 overhang, and less LL and SS than the control group. SS, TOA, and S1 overhang in the severe PI-LL mismatch group differed significantly from that in the control group, but did not differ significantly from that in the mild PI-LL mismatch group. Femoral head retroposition is an entirely separate compensatory mechanism and, in this study, participated in the compensation for the anterior displacement of the gravity line induced by extra-sagittal spinal malalignment in patients with severe PI-LL mismatch.

Carbohydrate-Free Peach (Prunus persica) and Plum (Prunus domestica) Juice Affects Fecal Microbial Ecology in an Obese Animal Model

PubMed Central

Markel, Melissa; Martino, Hercia S.; Minamoto, Yasushi; Steiner, Jörg M.; Byrne, David; Suchodolski, Jan S.; Mertens-Talcott, Susanne U.

2014-01-01

Background Growing evidence shows the potential of nutritional interventions to treat obesity but most investigations have utilized non-digestible carbohydrates only. Peach and plum contain high amounts of polyphenols, compounds with demonstrated anti-obesity effects. The underlying process of successfully treating obesity using polyphenols may involve an alteration of the intestinal microbiota. However, this phenomenon is not well understood. Methodology/Principal Findings Obese Zucker rats were assigned to three groups (peach, plum, and control, n = 10 each), wild-type group was named lean (n = 10). Carbohydrates in the fruit juices were eliminated using enzymatic hydrolysis. Fecal samples were obtained after 11 weeks of fruit or control juice administration. Real-time PCR and 454-pyrosequencing were used to evaluate changes in fecal microbiota. Over 1,500 different Operational Taxonomic Units at 97% similarity were detected in all rats. Several bacterial groups (e.g. Lactobacillus and members of Ruminococcacea) were found to be more abundant in the peach but especially in the plum group (plum juice contained 3 times more total polyphenolics compared to peach juice). Principal coordinate analysis based on Unifrac-based unweighted distance matrices revealed a distinct separation between the microbiota of control and treatment groups. These changes in fecal microbiota occurred simultaneously with differences in fecal short-chain acids concentrations between the control and treatment groups as well as a significant decrease in body weight in the plum group. Conclusions This study suggests that consumption of carbohydrate-free peach and plum juice has the potential to modify fecal microbial ecology in an obese animal model. The separate contribution of polyphenols and non-polyphenols compounds (vitamins and minerals) to the observed changes is unknown. PMID:25007331

Maternal Voice and Short-Term Outcomes in Preterm Infants

PubMed Central

Krueger, Charlene; Parker, Leslie; Chiu, Sheau-Huey; Theriaque, Douglas

2013-01-01

This study explored effects of exposure to maternal voice on short-term outcomes in very low birth weight preterm infants cared for within an neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) without an ongoing program of developmental care. Using a comparative design, 53 infants born during their 27th to 28th postmenstrual week were sampled by convenience. Experimental groups were exposed to maternal voice during two developmental time periods. Group 1 listened to a recording of their mothers reciting a rhyme from 28 to 34 postmenstrual weeks. Group 2 waited 4 weeks and heard the recording from 32 to 34 weeks. The control group received routine care. The primary analysis of combined experimental groups compared to the control group revealed that the experimental infants experienced significantly fewer episodes of feeding intolerance and achieved full enteral feeds quicker compared to the control group. Further, in an analysis evaluating all three groups separately, it was noted that Group 1 experienced significantly fewer episodes of feeding intolerance compared to the control group. Study findings warrant further investigation of exposure to maternal voice and the developmental timing at which exposure is begun. PMID:20112262

Two syringe spinal anesthesia technique for cesarean section: A controlled randomized study of a simple way to achieve more satisfactory block and less hypotension.

PubMed

Keera, Amr Aly Ismail; Elnabtity, Ali Mohamed Ali

2016-01-01

Multiple trials have been tried to prevent hypotension during spinal anesthesia. However, the drug choice and mode of administration is still a matter of debate. To compare the outcome of spinal injection of hyperbaric bupivacaine and fentanyl separately to standard injection of mixed fentanyl with hyperbaric bupivacaine. A randomized, controlled clinical trial. One hundred twenty-four parturient scheduled for elective cesarean section were randomly allocated into two groups, each 62 parturient: Group M received spinal anesthesia using 10 mg bupivacaine 0.5% premixed with 25 μg fentanyl in the same syringe and Group S received 25 μg fentanyl in one syringe and 10 mg bupivacaine 0.5% without barbotage in a second syringe. Patients with intraoperative pain that was controllable without the need for a shift to general anesthesia was significantly lower in Group S (3.2%) than in Group M (16.1%). The frequency of hypotension was significantly lower in Group S compared to Group M (P < 0.05). Time till the onset of sensory block was nonsignificantly shorter with nonsignificantly higher mean level of maximal sensory block in Group S compared to Group M (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the time till occurrence of hypotension, duration of hypotension, mean dose of ephedrine used for the treatment of hypotension and frequency of patients developed itching between the groups (P > 0.05). Separate intrathecal injection of fentanyl and hyperbaric bupivacaine provided a significant improvement in the quality of sensory block and significant reduction of the frequency of hypotension compared to injection of mixed medications.

Combining matched and unmatched control groups in case-control studies.

PubMed

le Cessie, Saskia; Nagelkerke, Nico; Rosendaal, Frits R; van Stralen, Karlijn J; Pomp, Elisabeth R; van Houwelingen, Hans C

2008-11-15

Multiple control groups in case-control studies are used to control for different sources of confounding. For example, cases can be contrasted with matched controls to adjust for multiple genetic or unknown lifestyle factors and simultaneously contrasted with an unmatched population-based control group. Inclusion of different control groups for a single exposure analysis yields several estimates of the odds ratio, all using only part of the data. Here the authors introduce an easy way to combine odds ratios from several case-control analyses with the same cases. The approach is based upon methods used for meta-analysis but takes into account the fact that the same cases are used and that the estimated odds ratios are therefore correlated. Two ways of estimating this correlation are discussed: sandwich methodology and the bootstrap. Confidence intervals for the pooled estimates and a test for checking whether the odds ratios in the separate case-control studies differ significantly are derived. The performance of the method is studied by simulation and by applying the methods to a large study on risk factors for thrombosis, the MEGA Study (1999-2004), wherein cases with first venous thrombosis were included with a matched control group of partners and an unmatched population-based control group.

The impact of playworks on boys' and girls' physical activity during recess.

PubMed

Bleeker, Martha; Beyler, Nicholas; James-Burdumy, Susanne; Fortson, Jane

2015-03-01

School-based programs, such as Playworks, that guide students in organized activities during recess and make improvements to the recess play yard may lead to significant increases in physical activity-especially for girls. This study builds on past research by investigating the impact of Playworks separately for girls and boys. Twenty-nine schools were randomly assigned to receive Playworks for 1 school year or serve as a control group. Postintervention physical activity data were collected via accelerometers and recess observations. Impacts were estimated separately for girls and boys using regression models. Girls in Playworks schools had significantly higher accelerometer intensity counts and spent more time in vigorous physical activity than girls in control schools. No significant differences based on accelerometer data were found for boys. A significant impact was also found on the types of activities in which girls engaged during recess; girls in the treatment group were less likely than those in the control group to be sedentary and more likely to engage in jumping, tag, and playground games. The current findings suggest that Playworks had a significant impact on some measures of girls' physical activity, but no significant impact on measures of boys' physical activity. © 2015, American School Health Association.

SELDI-TOF-MS proteomic profiling of serum, urine, and amniotic fluid in neural tube defects.

PubMed

Liu, Zhenjiang; Yuan, Zhengwei; Zhao, Qun

2014-01-01

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are common birth defects, whose specific biomarkers are needed. The purpose of this pilot study is to determine whether protein profiling in NTD-mothers differ from normal controls using SELDI-TOF-MS. ProteinChip Biomarker System was used to evaluate 82 maternal serum samples, 78 urine samples and 76 amniotic fluid samples. The validity of classification tree was then challenged with a blind test set including another 20 NTD-mothers and 18 controls in serum samples, and another 19 NTD-mothers and 17 controls in urine samples, and another 20 NTD-mothers and 17 controls in amniotic fluid samples. Eight proteins detected in serum samples were up-regulated and four proteins were down-regulated in the NTD group. Four proteins detected in urine samples were up-regulated and one protein was down-regulated in the NTD group. Six proteins detected in amniotic fluid samples were up-regulated and one protein was down-regulated in the NTD group. The classification tree for serum samples separated NTDs from healthy individuals, achieving a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 97% in the training set, and achieving a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 97% and a positive predictive value of 95% in the test set. The classification tree for urine samples separated NTDs from controls, achieving a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 94% in the training set, and achieving a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 82% and a positive predictive value of 85% in the test set. The classification tree for amniotic fluid samples separated NTDs from controls, achieving a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 89% in the training set, and achieving a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 88% and a positive predictive value of 90% in the test set. These suggest that SELDI-TOF-MS is an additional method for NTDs pregnancies detection.

Conventional En Masse Repair Versus Separate Double-Layer Double-Row Repair for the Treatment of Delaminated Rotator Cuff Tears.

PubMed

Kim, Yang-Soo; Lee, Hyo-Jin; Jin, Hong-Ki; Kim, Sung-Eun; Lee, Jin-Woo

2016-05-01

The rotator cuff tendon is known to exert a shear force between the superficial and deep layers. Owing to this characteristic, separate repair of delaminated rotator cuff tears has been introduced for the restoration of the physiological biomechanics of the rotator cuff. However, whether conventional en masse repair or separate repair is superior is controversial in terms of outcomes. To compare clinical outcomes between conventional en masse repair and separate double-layer double-row repair for the treatment of delaminated rotator cuff tears. Randomized controlled study; Level of evidence, 2. Between August 2007 and March 2014, a total of 82 patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair of a delaminated tear were enrolled and randomized into 2 groups. In group 1 (n = 48), arthroscopic conventional en masse repair was performed. In group 2 (n = 34), separate double-layer double-row repair was performed. The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, Constant score, Simple Shoulder Test score, and visual analog scale (VAS) score for pain and range of motion (ROM) were assessed before surgery; at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery; and at the last follow-up visit. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed at 12 months postoperatively to examine the retear rate and pattern. There was no significant difference between groups in the preoperative demographic data, including patient age, sex, symptom duration, tear size, and functional scores (P > .05). The mean follow-up period was 25.9 ± 1.2 months. Significant improvements in functional and pain scores were observed in both groups at the last follow-up visit. However, no significant differences in functional scores and ROM were found between the 2 groups at each time point, except that group 2 had significantly lower VAS pain scores (P < .05) at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Eight (17%) of 48 patients in group 1 and 6 (18%) of 34 patients in group 2 showed retears on MRI at 12-month follow-up (P > .05). Both conventional en masse repair and separate double-layer double-row repair were effective in improving clinical outcomes in the treatment of delaminated rotator cuff tears. Lower pain scores were seen in patients who underwent separate double-layer double-row repair. © 2016 The Author(s).

A controlled investigation of right hemispheric processing enhancement after restricted environmental stimulation (REST) with floatation.

PubMed

Raab, J; Gruzelier, J

1994-05-01

Two groups of 16 subjects, 8 of each gender, were examined on two occasions, one group before and after restricted environmental stimulation with floatation, and the other group without floatation was the control group. They were examined with a tactile object discrimination task carried out with each hand separately while blindfolded, and with a recognition memory test for words and unfamiliar faces, a test validated on neurological patients with left and right hemispheric lesions respectively. Consistent with both tasks the floatation group showed a significantly greater enhancement of right hemispheric processing after floatation than was found when retesting the controls. The results were distinguished from previous research on hypnosis where the same relative state of hemispheric imbalance was achieved with the same tasks, but largely through inhibitory influences on the left hemisphere.

Impact of Narrative Expressive Writing on Heart Rate, Heart Rate Variability, and Blood Pressure After Marital Separation.

PubMed

Bourassa, Kyle J; Allen, John J B; Mehl, Matthias R; Sbarra, David A

Divorce is a common stressor that is associated with increased risk for poor long-term physical and mental health. Using an experimental design, the current study examined the impact of expressive writing (EW) on average heart rate (HR), HR variability (HRV), and blood pressure (BP) 7.5 months later. Participants from a community sample of recently separated adults (N = 109) were assigned to one of three conditions: traditional EW, narrative EW, or a control writing condition, and were assessed three times for an average of 7.5 months. Each study visit included 27 minutes of physiological assessment; the primary outcomes at each assessment were mean-level HR, HRV, BP scores averaged across six different tasks. Participants in the traditional EW condition did not significantly differ from control participants in their later HR, HRV, or BP. However, relative to control participants, those in the narrative EW condition had significantly lower HR (B = -3.41, 95% confidence interval = -5.76 to -1.06, p = .004) and higher HRV 7.5 months later (B = 0.41, 95% confidence interval = 0.16 to 0.74, p = .001). When comparing narrative EW participants to those in the traditional EW and control writing as a single group, these effects remained and were moderately sized, Cohen d values of -0.61 and 0.60, respectively, and durable across all task conditions when analyzed in independent models. The writing condition groups did not differ in their later BP. Narrative EW decreased HR and increased HRV after marital separation but did not affect BP. We discuss the possible disconnect between psychology and physiology in response to EW, as well as possible future clinical applications after marital separation.

Perfusion Neuroimaging Abnormalities Alone Distinguish National Football League Players from a Healthy Population.

PubMed

Amen, Daniel G; Willeumier, Kristen; Omalu, Bennet; Newberg, Andrew; Raghavendra, Cauligi; Raji, Cyrus A

2016-04-25

National Football League (NFL) players are exposed to multiple head collisions during their careers. Increasing awareness of the adverse long-term effects of repetitive head trauma has raised substantial concern among players, medical professionals, and the general public. To determine whether low perfusion in specific brain regions on neuroimaging can accurately separate professional football players from healthy controls. A cohort of retired and current NFL players (n = 161) were recruited in a longitudinal study starting in 2009 with ongoing interval follow up. A healthy control group (n = 124) was separately recruited for comparison. Assessments included medical examinations, neuropsychological tests, and perfusion neuroimaging with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Perfusion estimates of each scan were quantified using a standard atlas. We hypothesized that hypoperfusion particularly in the orbital frontal, anterior cingulate, anterior temporal, hippocampal, amygdala, insular, caudate, superior/mid occipital, and cerebellar sub-regions alone would reliably separate controls from NFL players. Cerebral perfusion differences were calculated using a one-way ANOVA and diagnostic separation was determined with discriminant and automatic linear regression predictive models. NFL players showed lower cerebral perfusion on average (p < 0.01) in 36 brain regions. The discriminant analysis subsequently distinguished NFL players from controls with 90% sensitivity, 86% specificity, and 94% accuracy (95% CI 95-99). Automatic linear modeling achieved similar results. Inclusion of age and clinical co-morbidities did not improve diagnostic classification. Specific brain regions commonly damaged in traumatic brain injury show abnormally low perfusion on SPECT in professional NFL players. These same regions alone can distinguish this group from healthy subjects with high diagnostic accuracy. This study carries implications for the neurological safety of NFL players.

Perfusion Neuroimaging Abnormalities Alone Distinguish National Football League Players from a Healthy Population

PubMed Central

Amen, Daniel G.; Willeumier, Kristen; Omalu, Bennet; Newberg, Andrew; Raghavendra, Cauligi; Raji, Cyrus A.

2016-01-01

Background: National Football League (NFL) players are exposed to multiple head collisions during their careers. Increasing awareness of the adverse long-term effects of repetitive head trauma has raised substantial concern among players, medical professionals, and the general public. Objective: To determine whether low perfusion in specific brain regions on neuroimaging can accurately separate professional football players from healthy controls. Method: A cohort of retired and current NFL players (n = 161) were recruited in a longitudinal study starting in 2009 with ongoing interval follow up. A healthy control group (n = 124) was separately recruited for comparison. Assessments included medical examinations, neuropsychological tests, and perfusion neuroimaging with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Perfusion estimates of each scan were quantified using a standard atlas. We hypothesized that hypoperfusion particularly in the orbital frontal, anterior cingulate, anterior temporal, hippocampal, amygdala, insular, caudate, superior/mid occipital, and cerebellar sub-regions alone would reliably separate controls from NFL players. Cerebral perfusion differences were calculated using a one-way ANOVA and diagnostic separation was determined with discriminant and automatic linear regression predictive models. Results: NFL players showed lower cerebral perfusion on average (p < 0.01) in 36 brain regions. The discriminant analysis subsequently distinguished NFL players from controls with 90% sensitivity, 86% specificity, and 94% accuracy (95% CI 95-99). Automatic linear modeling achieved similar results. Inclusion of age and clinical co-morbidities did not improve diagnostic classification. Conclusion: Specific brain regions commonly damaged in traumatic brain injury show abnormally low perfusion on SPECT in professional NFL players. These same regions alone can distinguish this group from healthy subjects with high diagnostic accuracy. This study carries implications for the neurological safety of NFL players. PMID:27128374

[Influence of different surgeries on growth and development of alar cartilage in young-rabbit].

PubMed

Jiang, Lian; Dong, Xiqian; Song, Qinggao; Chen, Shang; Zou, Sihai

2011-01-01

The purpose of this study is to observe the affection of different clinical surgeries on alar nasal cartilages' growth and development. The experimental results can provide some theory basis for clinical surgeries. Twenty-eight New Zealand immature rabbits were used in this study, and divided into normal control group, hidden dissection group and cutting off alar nasal cartilages group randomly, which included 4,12 and 12 rabbits, separately. Arc incision were made on the mucous membrane of nasal cavity,and then dissect the alar nasal cartilages hidden or cut off the alar nasal cartilages, separately. The growth and development of the alar cartilage were observed at different stages after the surgery using histological and immuno-histochemical methods. Four weeks, eight weeks, twelve weeks and sixteen weeks after surgery, there were no significant differences in the indexes of chondrocytes between hidden dissection group and control group. In cutting off alar nasal cartilages group, fiber tissue were observed in the vacancy left after being cut off cartilages, and even mucous membrane tissue could be seen in some slices. There is no adverse influence on the growth and development of the alar cartilage after being hidden dissected. Contrarily, the restoring capability of transparent cartilage cannot counteract the injury resulted form the surgery after the alar nasal cartilages being cut off.

The effect of PDIA3 gene knockout on the mucosal immune function in IBS rats.

PubMed

Zhuang, Zhao-Meng; Wang, Xiao-Teng; Zhang, Lu; Tao, Li-Yuan; Lv, Bin

2015-01-01

To observe the changes of intestinal inflammation on PDIA3 gene knockout IBS rats and its effect on immune function. 36 SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: the control group (n = 8); IBS- empty virus group (IBS-GFP, which); IBS-PDIA3 knockout group (n = 12); IBS- the control group (n = 12). After modeling, colon and ileocecal tissue pathology in each group were observed separately. Changes of immune and inflammatory markers were measured. At the same time, ultrastructural changes in each group were observed by electron microscopy. Compared with the IBS control group, inflammation was reduced significantly in IBS-PDIA3 knockout group. IgE, IL-4 and IL-9 and the level of intestinal trypsin type were decreased significantly. Furthermore, mast cell degranulation and PAR 2 receptor reduced significantly. PDIA3 may play an important role in the development of IBS by mediating through immune responses of mucosal abnormalities. However, the mechanism needs to be confirmed in further study.

High efficiency protein separation with organosilane assembled silica coated magnetic nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, Jeong Ho; Kang, Ki Ho; Choi, Jinsub; Jeong, Young Keun

2008-10-01

This work describes the development of high efficiency protein separation with functionalized organosilanes on the surface of silica coated magnetic nanoparticles. The magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized with average particle size of 9 nm and silica coated magnetic nanoparticles were obtained by controlling the coating thicknesses on magnetic nanoparticles. The silica coating thickness could be uniformly sized with a diameter of 10-40 nm by a sol-gel approach. The surface modification was performed with four kinds of functionalized organosilanes such as carboxyl, aldehyde, amine, and thiol groups. The protein separation work with organosilane assembled silica coated magnetic nanoparticles was achieved for model proteins such as bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lysozyme (LSZ) at different pH conditions. Among the various functionalities, the thiol group showed good separation efficiency due to the change of electrostatic interactions and protein conformational structure. The adsorption efficiency of BSA and LSZ was up to 74% and 90% corresponding pH 4.65 and pH 11.

Understanding thread properties for red blood cell antigen assays: weak ABO blood typing.

PubMed

Nilghaz, Azadeh; Zhang, Liyuan; Li, Miaosi; Ballerini, David R; Shen, Wei

2014-12-24

"Thread-based microfluidics" research has so far focused on utilizing and manipulating the wicking properties of threads to form controllable microfluidic channels. In this study we aim to understand the separation properties of threads, which are important to their microfluidic detection applications for blood analysis. Confocal microscopy was utilized to investigate the effect of the microscale surface morphologies of fibers on the thread's separation efficiency of red blood cells. We demonstrated the remarkably different separation properties of threads made using silk and cotton fibers. Thread separation properties dominate the clarity of blood typing assays of the ABO groups and some of their weak subgroups (Ax and A3). The microfluidic thread-based analytical devices (μTADs) designed in this work were used to accurately type different blood samples, including 89 normal ABO and 6 weak A subgroups. By selecting thread with the right surface morphology, we were able to build μTADs capable of providing rapid and accurate typing of the weak blood groups with high clarity.

Affinity monolith-integrated poly(methyl methacrylate) microchips for on-line protein extraction and capillary electrophoresis.

PubMed

Sun, Xiuhua; Yang, Weichun; Pan, Tao; Woolley, Adam T

2008-07-01

Immunoaffinity monolith pretreatment columns have been coupled with capillary electrophoresis separation in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microchips. Microdevices were designed with eight reservoirs to enable the electrically controlled transport of selected analytes and solutions to carry out integrated immunoaffinity extraction and electrophoretic separation. The PMMA microdevices were fabricated reproducibly and with high fidelity by solvent imprinting and thermal bonding methods. Monoliths with epoxy groups for antibody immobilization were prepared by direct in situ photopolymerization of glycidyl methacrylate and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate in a porogenic solvent consisting of 70% 1-dodecanol and 30% cyclohexanol. Antifluorescein isothiocyanate was utilized as a model affinity group in the monoliths, and the immobilization process was optimized. A mean elution efficiency of 92% was achieved for the monolith-based extraction of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-tagged human serum albumin. FITC-tagged proteins were purified from a contaminant protein and then separated electrophoretically using these devices. The developed immunoaffinity column/capillary electrophoresis microdevices show great promise for combining sample pretreatment and separation in biomolecular analysis.

Affinity Monolith-Integrated Poly(methyl Methacrylate) Microchips for On-Line Protein Extraction and Capillary Electrophoresis

PubMed Central

Sun, Xiuhua; Yang, Weichun; Pan, Tao; Woolley, Adam T.

2008-01-01

Immunoaffinity monolith pretreatment columns have been coupled with capillary electrophoresis separation in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microchips. Microdevices were designed with 8 reservoirs to enable the electrically controlled transport of selected analytes and solutions to carry out integrated immunoaffinity extraction and electrophoretic separation. The PMMA microdevices were fabricated reproducibly and with high fidelity by solvent imprinting and thermal bonding methods. Monoliths with epoxy groups for antibody immobilization were prepared by direct in-situ photopolymerization of glycidyl methacrylate and ethylene dimethacrylate in a porogenic solvent consisting of 70% dodecanol and 30% hexanol. Anti-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) was utilized as a model affinity group in the monoliths, and the immobilization process was optimized. A mean elution efficiency of 92% was achieved for the monolith-based extraction of FITC-tagged human serum albumin. FITC-tagged proteins were purified from a contaminant protein and then separated electrophoretically using these devices. The developed immunoaffinity column/capillary electrophoresis microdevices show great promise for combining sample pretreatment and separation in biomolecular analysis. PMID:18479142

Bovine sperm separation by Swim-up and density gradients (Percoll and BoviPure): Effect on sperm quality, function and gene expression.

PubMed

Arias, María Elena; Andara, Katherine; Briones, Evelyn; Felmer, Ricardo

2017-06-01

This study assesses the effect of bovine sperm (obtained from three bulls) separation using density gradients (Percoll and BoviPure) and Swim-up on sperm function and gene expression. Sperm evaluations included the plasma membrane integrity (SYBR14/PI), acrosomal integrity (PNA-FITC/PI), oxidative stress (ROS; CH2FDDA), DNA fragmentation (TUNEL assay) and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔYm; TMRM) using flow cytometry. Sperm motility was evaluated by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) and gene expression using RT-qPCR. The results showed that separation by Percoll achieves a higher proportion of sperm with intact plasma and acrosomal membranes (89.8 and 87.5%, respectively) than the unseparated control (70.3 and 62.4%, respectively), as well as by Swim-up (74.9 and 63.3%, respectively) and BoviPure (83.3 and 80.4%, respectively). No differences were observed in the proportion of spermatozoa with high ΔΨm between Percoll and BoviPure (84.3% and 83.5%, respectively), which were higher than Swim-up and the unseparated control (72.8% and 43.8%, respectively). The ROS levels were higher in the spermatozoa separated by Percoll and no differences were observed in the sperm DNA integrity between all groups. The motility analysis showed that the separation methods improve (p<0.05) total and progressive motility compared to the control, with Percoll proving the most efficient in this regard. Finally, the gene expression analysis of leptin (LEP), aromatase cytochrome P450 (CYP19) and protamine I (PRM1), after validation of 6 reference genes, showed no differences between groups. In conclusion, bovine sperm separation using density gradient improves the parameters of motility and sperm function without affecting the gene expression. Copyright © 2017 Society for Biology of Reproduction & the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn. Published by Elsevier Urban & Partner Sp. z o.o. All rights reserved.

Multi-arm group sequential designs with a simultaneous stopping rule.

PubMed

Urach, S; Posch, M

2016-12-30

Multi-arm group sequential clinical trials are efficient designs to compare multiple treatments to a control. They allow one to test for treatment effects already in interim analyses and can have a lower average sample number than fixed sample designs. Their operating characteristics depend on the stopping rule: We consider simultaneous stopping, where the whole trial is stopped as soon as for any of the arms the null hypothesis of no treatment effect can be rejected, and separate stopping, where only recruitment to arms for which a significant treatment effect could be demonstrated is stopped, but the other arms are continued. For both stopping rules, the family-wise error rate can be controlled by the closed testing procedure applied to group sequential tests of intersection and elementary hypotheses. The group sequential boundaries for the separate stopping rule also control the family-wise error rate if the simultaneous stopping rule is applied. However, we show that for the simultaneous stopping rule, one can apply improved, less conservative stopping boundaries for local tests of elementary hypotheses. We derive corresponding improved Pocock and O'Brien type boundaries as well as optimized boundaries to maximize the power or average sample number and investigate the operating characteristics and small sample properties of the resulting designs. To control the power to reject at least one null hypothesis, the simultaneous stopping rule requires a lower average sample number than the separate stopping rule. This comes at the cost of a lower power to reject all null hypotheses. Some of this loss in power can be regained by applying the improved stopping boundaries for the simultaneous stopping rule. The procedures are illustrated with clinical trials in systemic sclerosis and narcolepsy. © 2016 The Authors. Statistics in Medicine Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. © 2016 The Authors. Statistics in Medicine Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Sphericity index and E-point-to-septal-separation (EPSS) to diagnose dilated cardiomyopathy in Doberman Pinschers.

PubMed

Holler, P J; Wess, G

2014-01-01

E-point-to-septal-separation (EPSS) and the sphericity index (SI) are echocardiographic parameters that are recommended in the ESVC-DCM guidelines. However, SI cutoff values to diagnose dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) have never been evaluated. To establish reference ranges, calculate cutoff values, and assess the clinical value of SI and EPSS to diagnose DCM in Doberman Pinschers. One hundred seventy-nine client-owned Doberman Pinschers. Three groups were formed in this prospective longitudinal study according to established Holter and echocardiographic criteria using the Simpson method of disk (SMOD): control group (97 dogs), DCM with echocardiographic changes (75 dogs) and "last normal" group (n = 7), which included dogs that developed DCM within 1.5 years, but were still normal at this time point. In a substudy, dogs with early DCM based upon SMOD values above the reference range but still normal M-Mode measurements were selected, to evaluate if EPSS or SI were abnormal using the established cutoff values. ROC-curve analysis determined <1.65 for the SI (sensitivity 86.8%; specificity 87.6%) and >6.5 mm for EPSS (sensitivity 100%; specificity 99.0%) as optimal cutoff values to diagnose DCM. Both parameters were significantly different between the control group and the DCM group (P < 0.001), but were not abnormal in the "last normal" group. In the substudy, EPSS was abnormal in 13/13 dogs and SI in 2/13 dogs. E-point-to-septal-separation is a valuable additional parameter for the diagnosis of DCM, which can enhance diagnostic capabilities of M-Mode and which performs similar as well as SMOD. Copyright © 2013 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Inflation of the distal cuff by saline reduces the incidence of malposition of the bronchial tube during lung separation in patients receiving nitrous oxide.

PubMed

Suzuki, Manzo; Haraguchi, Shuji; Kitamura, Akira; Shimada, Yoichi; Sakamoto, Atsuhiro

2007-12-01

A common problem during lung separation is malposition of the double-lumen tube (DLT). It was hypothesized that inflation of the distal cuff with saline instead of air may reduce the incidence of malposition of the endobronchial tube. Fifty-two patients who were scheduled to undergo thoracic surgery with lung separation by a DLT were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups: the distal cuff was inflated with 2 mL of air in the air group (n = 26), whereas the distal cuff was inflated with 1.2 mL of saline in the saline group (n = 26). Anesthesia was maintained by isoflurane, 50% oxygen and nitrous oxide mixture, and incremental injection of epidural ropivacaine, 0.75%. Respiration was controlled by pressure-controlled ventilation. The peak airway pressure was maintained between 20 to 25 cmH2O. The position of the bronchial cuff was evaluated with a fiberoptic bronchoscope just after intubation and 1 and 2 hours after intubation by using a 3-point scale: 0, in exactly the same position as the previous inspection; 1, not in exactly the same position as that in the previous inspection, but there was no possibility that the tube was malpositioned; and 2, the cuff looked as if it was going to become herniated or dislodged. Signs suggesting malposition such as air leakage, high airway pressure, or inflation of the independent lung were recorded. When repositioning was required, the anesthesiologist repositioned the DLT using bronchoscopic observation or clinical signs. The endpoint of this study was the number of patients who required repositioning during surgery. The malposition score at 1 hour and 2 hours after intubation was comparable in the 2 groups (0.6 +/- 0.6 v 0.4 +/- 0.6 and 0.5 +/- 0.8 v 0.2 +/- 0.5, mean +/- standard deviation, air group v saline group, 1 hour and 2 hours after positioning, p = 0.27 and p = 0.33, respectively). However, a significantly higher cumulative number of air-group patients required repositioning of the tube than saline-group patients (13:6, air group:saline group, p = 0.04). Inflation of the distal cuff with saline may reduce the incidence of malpositioning of DLTs during lung separation.

[Revascularization of left anterior descending artery area using a skeletonized left internal mammary artery: a comparison between sequential and separate grafting].

PubMed

Shen, J Q; Ji, Q; Ding, W J; Xia, L M; Wei, L; Wang, C S

2018-03-13

Objective: To evaluate in-hospital and mid-term outcomes of sequential versus separate grafting of in situ skeletonized left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to the left coronary system in a single-center, propensity-matched study. Methods: After propensity score matching, 120 pairs of patients undergoing first, scheduled, isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with in situ skeletonized LIMA grafting to the left anterior descending artery (LAD) territory were entered into a sequential group (sequential grafting of LIMA to the diagonal artery and then to the LAD) or a control group (separate grafting of LIMA to the LAD). The in-hospital and follow-up clinical outcomes and follow-up LIMA graft patency were compared. Results: The two propensity score-matched groups had similar in-hospital and follow-up clinical outcomes. The number of bypass conduits ranged from 3 to 6 (with a mean of 3.5), and 91.3%(219/240)of the included patients received off-pump CABG surgery. No significant differences were found between the two propensity score-matched groups in the in-hospital outcomes, including in-hospital death and the incidence of complications associated with CABG (prolonged ventilation, peroperative stroke, re-operation before discharge, and deep sternal wound infection). During follow-up, 9 patients (4 patients from the sequential group and 5 patients from the control group) died, and the all-cause mortality rate was 3.9%. No significant difference was found in the all-cause mortality rate between the 2 groups[3.4% (4/116) vs 4.3% (5/115), P =0.748]. During follow-up period, 99.1% (115/116) patency for the diagonal site and 98.3% (114/116) for the LAD site were determined by coronary computed tomographic angiography after sequential LIMA grafting, both of which were similar with graft patency of separate grafting of in situ skeletonized LIMA to the LAD. Conclusions: Revascularization of the left coronary system using a skeletonized LIMA resulted in excellent in-hospital and mid-term clinical outcomes and graft patency using sequential grafting.

Comparison of Effects of Separate and Combined Sugammadex and Lipid Emulsion Administration on Hemodynamic Parameters and Survival in a Rat Model of Verapamil Toxicity.

PubMed

Tulgar, Serkan; Kose, Halil Cihan; Demir Piroglu, Isılay; Karakilic, Evvah; Ates, Nagihan Gozde; Demir, Ahmet; Gergerli, Ruken; Guven, Selin; Piroglu, Mustafa Devrim

2016-03-25

Toxicity of calcium channel blockers leads to high patient mortality and there is no effective antidote. The benefit of using 20% lipid emulsion and sugammadex has been reported. The present study measured the effect of sugammadex and 20% lipid emulsion on hemodynamics and survival in a rat model of verapamil toxicity. In this single-blinded randomized control study, rats were separated into 4 groups of 7 rats each: Sugammadex (S), Sugammadex plus 20% lipid emulsion (SL), 20% lipid emulsion (L), and control (C). Heart rates and mean arterial pressures were monitored and noted each minute until death. Average time to death was 21.0±9.57 minutes for group C, 35.57±10.61 minutes for group S, 37.14±16.6 minutes for group L and 49.86±27.56 minutes for group SL. Time to death was significantly longer in other groups than in the control group (p<0.05). Verapamil overdose is has a comparatively high mortality rate and there is no effective antidote. Treatment generally involves gastric decontamination and symptomatic treatment to counteract the drug's negative effects. In animal studies sugammadex and lipid emulsion had a positive effect on survival in patients with calcium channel blocker toxicity. Sugammadex and intralipid increased survival in a rat model of verapamil toxicity. The combination of both drugs may decrease cardiotoxicity. Sugammadex alone or combined with 20% lipid emulsion reduce the need for inotropic agents. The mechanism requires clarification with larger studies.

Comparison of Effects of Separate and Combined Sugammadex and Lipid Emulsion Administration on Hemodynamic Parameters and Survival in a Rat Model of Verapamil Toxicity

PubMed Central

Tulgar, Serkan; Kose, Halil Cihan; Piroglu, Isılay Demir; Karakilic, Evvah; Ates, Nagihan Gozde; Demir, Ahmet; Gergerli, Ruken; Guven, Selin; Piroglu, Mustafa Devrim

2016-01-01

Background Toxicity of calcium channel blockers leads to high patient mortality and there is no effective antidote. The benefit of using 20% lipid emulsion and sugammadex has been reported. The present study measured the effect of sugammadex and 20% lipid emulsion on hemodynamics and survival in a rat model of verapamil toxicity. Material/Methods In this single-blinded randomized control study, rats were separated into 4 groups of 7 rats each: Sugammadex (S), Sugammadex plus 20% lipid emulsion (SL), 20% lipid emulsion (L), and control (C). Heart rates and mean arterial pressures were monitored and noted each minute until death. Results Average time to death was 21.0±9.57 minutes for group C, 35.57±10.61 minutes for group S, 37.14±16.6 minutes for group L and 49.86±27.56 minutes for group SL. Time to death was significantly longer in other groups than in the control group (p<0.05). Conclusions Verapamil overdose is has a comparatively high mortality rate and there is no effective antidote. Treatment generally involves gastric decontamination and symptomatic treatment to counteract the drug’s negative effects. In animal studies sugammadex and lipid emulsion had a positive effect on survival in patients with calcium channel blocker toxicity. Sugammadex and intralipid increased survival in a rat model of verapamil toxicity. The combination of both drugs may decrease cardiotoxicity. Sugammadex alone or combined with 20% lipid emulsion reduce the need for inotropic agents. The mechanism requires clarification with larger studies. PMID:27012816

Immunogenicity and safety of a combined diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, and inactivated poliovirus vaccine (DTaP-IPV) compared to separate administration of standalone DTaP and IPV vaccines: a randomized, controlled study in infants in the Republic of Korea.

PubMed

Lee, Soo Young; Hwang, Hui Sung; Kim, Jong Hyun; Kim, Hyun Hee; Lee, Hyun Seung; Chung, Eun Hee; Park, Su Eun; Ma, Sang Hyuk; Chang, Jin Keun; Guitton, Fabrice; Ortiz, Esteban; Kang, Jin Han

2011-02-11

This randomized trial enrolled 442 infants in the Republic of Korea to assess the immunogenicity and safety of a combined diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, and inactivated poliovirus vaccine (DTaP-IPV; Tetraxim™) for primary vaccination at 2, 4 and 6 months of age compared with DTaP and IPV vaccines given separately. Immunogenicity was high in both groups; seroprotection and seroconversion rates of the combined vaccine (Group A) were non-inferior to the control vaccines (Group B). All subjects were seroprotected against poliovirus types 1, 2 and 3 (≥ 81/dil) and anti-diphtheria (≥ 0.01 IU/mL); 99.0% were seroprotected against tetanus (≥ 0.1 IU/mL). At least 93.6% had anti-diphtheria antibody titers ≥ 0.1 IU/mL. Anti-pertussis toxoid (PT) and anti-filamentous haemagglutinin (FHA) seroconversion (≥ 4-fold increase in antibody titer) rates were 96.6% and 94.4% for Group A, 92.2% and 78.4% for Group B. Most solicited reactions occurred within 4 days of vaccination, resolved within 3 days and were mild. Severe solicited reactions occurred after ≤ 0.5% of doses in Group A and ≤ 0.9% in Group B. No withdrawals occurred because of adverse events. The DTaP-IPV combined vaccine given at 2, 4, and 6 months of age was well tolerated; immunogenicity was similar to the control vaccines. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparative 1H NMR Metabolomic Urinalysis of People Diagnosed with Balkan Endemic Nephropathy, and Healthy Subjects, in Romania and Bulgaria: A Pilot Study

PubMed Central

Mantle, Peter; Modalca, Mirela; Nicholls, Andrew; Tatu, Calin; Tatu, Diana; Toncheva, Draga

2011-01-01

1H NMR spectroscopy of urine has been applied to exploring metabolomic differences between people diagnosed with Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN), and treated by haemodialysis, and those without overt renal disease in Romania and Bulgaria. Convenience sampling was made from patients receiving haemodialysis in hospital and healthy controls in their village. Principal component analysis clustered healthy controls from both countries together. Bulgarian BEN patients clustered separately from controls, though in the same space. However, Romanian BEN patients not only also clustered away from controls but also clustered separately from the BEN patients in Bulgaria. Notably, the urinary metabolomic data of two people sampled as Romanian controls clustered within the Romanian BEN group. One of these had been suspected of incipient symptoms of BEN at the time of selection as a ‘healthy’ control. This implies, at first sight, that metabolomic analysis can be predictive of impending morbidity before conventional criteria can diagnose BEN. Separate clustering of BEN patients from Romania and Bulgaria could indicate difference in aetiology of this particular silent renal atrophy in different geographic foci across the Balkans. PMID:22069742

Beliefs regarding child anxiety and parenting competence in parents of children with separation anxiety disorder.

PubMed

Herren, Chantal; In-Albon, Tina; Schneider, Silvia

2013-03-01

Despite the fact that numerous developmental models have highlighted the role of parental cognitive processes in connection with anxiety disorders in children and adolescents, the role of parents' beliefs about their children and parenting remains largely unexplored. This study investigated the specific association between parental beliefs and child separation anxiety. Parents of children with a diagnosis of Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD) reported on beliefs and expectations related to their child's fears and own parenting competence. To study the potential specificity of relationships, a clinical control group of mothers of children with social phobia (SoP) and a group of mothers of children without a mental disorder (healthy controls, HC) were included. Results indicated that parents of anxious children had significantly higher levels of dysfunctional beliefs than the parents in the HC group. Mothers of children with SAD showed lower levels of parenting self-efficacy than mothers of children with SoP. They also demonstrated lower parenting self-efficacy and satisfaction compared to mothers of healthy children. Parental dysfunctional beliefs about child anxiety and paternal parenting self-efficacy were significantly positively associated with child anxiety. The effects remained significant after controlling for parental anxiety and depression. Due to the cross-sectional design of the study, causality of the found effects cannot be inferred. Data suggest that children's anxiety and parents' beliefs about their child's anxiety, coping skills and parenting are strongly associated. Further research is needed to investigate whether addressing parental cognitions in addition to parents' anxiety may improve prevention and intervention of child anxiety. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

An integrated workflow for multiplex CSF proteomics and peptidomics-identification of candidate cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease.

PubMed

Hölttä, Mikko; Minthon, Lennart; Hansson, Oskar; Holmén-Larsson, Jessica; Pike, Ian; Ward, Malcolm; Kuhn, Karsten; Rüetschi, Ulla; Zetterberg, Henrik; Blennow, Kaj; Gobom, Johan

2015-02-06

Many disease processes in the brain are reflected in the protein composition of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In addition to proteins, CSF also contains a large number of endogenous peptides whose potential as disease biomarkers largely remains to be explored. We have developed a novel workflow in which multiplex isobaric labeling is used for simultaneous quantification of endogenous CSF peptides and proteins by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. After the labeling of CSF samples, endogenous peptides are separated from proteins by ultrafiltration. The proteins retained on the filters are trypsinized, and the tryptic peptides are collected separately. We evaluated this technique in a comparative pilot study of CSF peptide and protein profiles in eight patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and eight nondemented controls. We identified several differences between the AD and control group among endogenous peptides derived from proteins known to be associated with AD, including neurosecretory protein VGF (ratios AD/controls 0.45-0.81), integral membrane protein 2B (ratios AD/controls 0.72-0.84), and metallothionein-3 (ratios AD/controls 0.51-0.61). Analysis of tryptic peptides identified several proteins that were altered in the AD group, some of which have previously been reported as changed in AD, for example, VGF (ratio AD/controls 0.70).

Neurofeedback training with virtual reality for inattention and impulsiveness.

PubMed

Cho, Baek-Hwan; Kim, Saebyul; Shin, Dong Ik; Lee, Jang Han; Lee, Sang Min; Kim, In Young; Kim, Sun I

2004-10-01

In this research, the effectiveness of neurofeedback, along with virtual reality (VR), in reducing the level of inattention and impulsiveness was investigated. Twenty-eight male participants, aged 14-18, with social problems, took part in this study. They were separated into three groups: a control group, a VR group, and a non-VR group. The VR and non-VR groups underwent eight sessions of neurofeedback training over 2 weeks, while the control group just waited during the same period. The VR group used a head-mounted display (HMD) and a head tracker, which let them look around the virtual world. Conversely, the non-VR group used only a computer monitor with a fixed viewpoint. All participants performed a continuous performance task (CPT) before and after the complete training session. The results showed that both the VR and non-VR groups achieved better scores in the CPT after the training session, while the control group showed no significant difference. Compared with the other groups, the VR group presented a tendency to get better results, suggesting that immersive VR is applicable to neurofeedback for the rehabilitation of inattention and impulsiveness.

Stimulus- and response-reinforcer contingencies in autoshaping, operant, classical, and omission training procedures in rats.

PubMed

Atnip, G W

1977-07-01

Separate groups of rats received 500 trials of lever-press training under autoshaping (food delivery followed 10-second lever presentations, or occurred immediately following a response); operant conditioning (responding was necessary for food delivery); and classical conditioning (food followed lever presentations regardless of responding). Each group then received 500 trials on an omission procedure in which food was omitted on trials with a response. Another group received 1000 trials on the omission procedure, and a fifth group, random control, received 1000 uncorrelated presentations of lever and food. The autoshaping, operant, and classical groups reached high response levels by the end of initial training. Acquisition was fastest in the autoshaping group. Responding remained consistently low in the control group. The omission group responded at a level between the control group and the other three groups. During omission training, responding in these three groups declined to the omission-group level. During omission training, the rats continued contacting the lever frequently after lever pressing had declined. Response maintenance under omission training seems not to require topographic similarity between the response and reinforcer-elicited consummatory behaviors.

Stimulus- and response-reinforcer contingencies in autoshaping, operant, classical, and omission training procedures in rats

PubMed Central

Atnip, Gilbert W.

1977-01-01

Separate groups of rats received 500 trials of lever-press training under autoshaping (food delivery followed 10-second lever presentations, or occurred immediately following a response); operant conditioning (responding was necessary for food delivery); and classical conditioning (food followed lever presentations regardless of responding). Each group then received 500 trials on an omission procedure in which food was omitted on trials with a response. Another group received 1000 trials on the omission procedure, and a fifth group, random control, received 1000 uncorrelated presentations of lever and food. The autoshaping, operant, and classical groups reached high response levels by the end of initial training. Acquisition was fastest in the autoshaping group. Responding remained consistently low in the control group. The omission group responded at a level between the control group and the other three groups. During omission training, responding in these three groups declined to the omission-group level. During omission training, the rats continued contacting the lever frequently after lever pressing had declined. Response maintenance under omission training seems not to require topographic similarity between the response and reinforcer-elicited consummatory behaviors. PMID:16812014

Apparent Frequency of Words and Pictures as a Function of Pronunciation and Imagery. Technical Report No. 238.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ghatala, Elizabeth S.; And Others

This study applied a frequency theory to measure the superiority of pictures over words in both discrimination learning and recognition memory tasks. Three groups of sixth grade students were given separate instructions before viewing slides of either common objects or words. The first group (control) was asked to study the items shown, the second…

Using a quasi-experimental research design to assess knowledge in continuing medical education programs.

PubMed

Markert, Ronald J; O'Neill, Sally C; Bhatia, Subhash C

2003-01-01

The objectives of continuing medical education (CME) programs include knowledge acquisition, skill development, clinical reasoning and decision making, and health care outcomes. We conducted a year-long medical education research study in which knowledge acquisition in our CME programs was assessed. A randomized separate-sample pretest/past-test design, a quasi-experimental technique, was used. Nine CME programs with a sufficient number of participants were identified a priori. Knowledge acquisition was compared between the control group and the intervention group for the nine individual programs and for the combined programs. A total of 667 physicians, nurses, and other health professionals participated. Significant gain in knowledge was found for six programs: Perinatology, Pain Management, Fertility Care 2, Pediatrics, Colorectal Diseases, and Alzheimer's Disease (each p < .001). Also, the intervention group differed from the control group when the nine programs were combined (p < .001), with an effect size of .84. The use of sound quasi-experimental research methodology (separate-sample pretest/post-test design), the inclusion of a representative sample of CME programs, and the analysis of nearly 700 subjects led us to have confidence in concluding that our CME participants acquired a meaningful amount of new knowledge.

Functional Neuroimaging Distinguishes Posttraumatic Stress Disorder from Traumatic Brain Injury in Focused and Large Community Datasets

PubMed Central

Tarzwell, Robert; Newberg, Andrew; Henderson, Theodore A.

2015-01-01

Background Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are highly heterogeneous and often present with overlapping symptomology, providing challenges in reliable classification and treatment. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) may be advantageous in the diagnostic separation of these disorders when comorbid or clinically indistinct. Methods Subjects were selected from a multisite database, where rest and on-task SPECT scans were obtained on a large group of neuropsychiatric patients. Two groups were analyzed: Group 1 with TBI (n=104), PTSD (n=104) or both (n=73) closely matched for demographics and comorbidity, compared to each other and healthy controls (N=116); Group 2 with TBI (n=7,505), PTSD (n=1,077) or both (n=1,017) compared to n=11,147 without either. ROIs and visual readings (VRs) were analyzed using a binary logistic regression model with predicted probabilities inputted into a Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis to identify sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. One-way ANOVA identified the most diagnostically significant regions of increased perfusion in PTSD compared to TBI. Analysis included a 10-fold cross validation of the protocol in the larger community sample (Group 2). Results For Group 1, baseline and on-task ROIs and VRs showed a high level of accuracy in differentiating PTSD, TBI and PTSD+TBI conditions. This carefully matched group separated with 100% sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for the ROI analysis and at 89% or above for VRs. Group 2 had lower sensitivity, specificity and accuracy, but still in a clinically relevant range. Compared to subjects with TBI, PTSD showed increases in the limbic regions, cingulum, basal ganglia, insula, thalamus, prefrontal cortex and temporal lobes. Conclusions This study demonstrates the ability to separate PTSD and TBI from healthy controls, from each other, and detect their co-occurrence, even in highly comorbid samples, using SPECT. This modality may offer a clinical option for aiding diagnosis and treatment of these conditions. PMID:26132293

Functional Neuroimaging Distinguishes Posttraumatic Stress Disorder from Traumatic Brain Injury in Focused and Large Community Datasets.

PubMed

Amen, Daniel G; Raji, Cyrus A; Willeumier, Kristen; Taylor, Derek; Tarzwell, Robert; Newberg, Andrew; Henderson, Theodore A

2015-01-01

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are highly heterogeneous and often present with overlapping symptomology, providing challenges in reliable classification and treatment. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) may be advantageous in the diagnostic separation of these disorders when comorbid or clinically indistinct. Subjects were selected from a multisite database, where rest and on-task SPECT scans were obtained on a large group of neuropsychiatric patients. Two groups were analyzed: Group 1 with TBI (n=104), PTSD (n=104) or both (n=73) closely matched for demographics and comorbidity, compared to each other and healthy controls (N=116); Group 2 with TBI (n=7,505), PTSD (n=1,077) or both (n=1,017) compared to n=11,147 without either. ROIs and visual readings (VRs) were analyzed using a binary logistic regression model with predicted probabilities inputted into a Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis to identify sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. One-way ANOVA identified the most diagnostically significant regions of increased perfusion in PTSD compared to TBI. Analysis included a 10-fold cross validation of the protocol in the larger community sample (Group 2). For Group 1, baseline and on-task ROIs and VRs showed a high level of accuracy in differentiating PTSD, TBI and PTSD+TBI conditions. This carefully matched group separated with 100% sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for the ROI analysis and at 89% or above for VRs. Group 2 had lower sensitivity, specificity and accuracy, but still in a clinically relevant range. Compared to subjects with TBI, PTSD showed increases in the limbic regions, cingulum, basal ganglia, insula, thalamus, prefrontal cortex and temporal lobes. This study demonstrates the ability to separate PTSD and TBI from healthy controls, from each other, and detect their co-occurrence, even in highly comorbid samples, using SPECT. This modality may offer a clinical option for aiding diagnosis and treatment of these conditions.

Determination of Selected Amino Acids in Serum of Patients with Liver Disease.

PubMed

Kanďár, Roman; Drábková, Petra; Toiflová, Tereza; Čegan, Alexander

2016-01-01

The determination of amino acids can be a reliable approach for extended diagnosis of liver diseases. This is because liver disease can be a cause of impaired amino acid metabolism. Therefore, a method for the determination of serum amino acids, applicable for clinical purposes, is necessary. The aim of this study was to find differences in the levels of selected amino acids between patients with liver disease and a control group. Samples of peripheral venous blood were obtained from a group of patients with liver disease (n = 131, 59 women at an average age of 60 years and 72 men at an average age of 52 years) and a control group (n = 105, 47 women at an average age of 62 years and 58 men at an average age of 58 years). Before the separation, the amino acids were derivatized with naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde. For the separation, reverse phase column was used. The effluent was monitored with a fluorescence detector. There were significant differences in the concentrations of some amino acids between the patients and the control group, but also between women and men. Correlations between some amino acids and markers of liver blood tests and lipid metabolism were observed. A simple, relatively rapid and selective HPLC method with fluorescence detection for the determination of selected amino acids in serum has been developed.

Language and pragmatic functions in school-age children on the autism spectrum.

PubMed

Ramberg, C; Ehlers, S; Nydén, A; Johansson, M; Gillberg, C

1996-01-01

This study examined group differences in language and pragmatic functions across sex-, age- and IQ-matched samples of Asperger syndrome (N = 22), high-functioning autism (N = 11), deficits in attention, motor control and perception (DAMP) (N = 11), and speech and language disorder (SLD) (N = 11) groups. The purpose was to explore possible differentiating features in the fields of vocabulary, comprehension and pragmatics and, in addition, to determine whether Asperger syndrome could be reliably separated from high-functioning autism on these variables. The findings suggest that Asperger syndrome may be associated with higher full-scale and verbal IQ than high-functioning autism; Asperger syndrome may not be associated with better pragmatic skills (as defined in this context) than high-functioning autism; language comprehension may not clearly separate Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism once the effects of very low IQ are partialled out; both DAMP and SLD can be distinctly separated from Asperger syndrome and autism.

Hydrogen Bond Induces Hierarchical Self-Assembly in Liquid-Crystalline Block Copolymers.

PubMed

Huang, Shuai; Pang, Linlin; Chen, Yuxuan; Zhou, Liming; Fang, Shaoming; Yu, Haifeng

2018-03-01

Microphase-separated structures of block copolymers (BCs) with a size of sub-10 nm are usually obtained by hydrogen-bond-induced self-assembly of BCs through doping with small molecules as functional additives. Here, fabrication of hierarchically self-assembled sub-10 nm structures upon microphase separation of amphiphilic liquid-crystalline BCs (LCBCs) at the existence of hydrogen bonds but without any dopants is reported. The newly introduced urethane groups in the side chain of the hydrophobic block of LCBCs interact with the ether groups of the hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) block, leading to imperfect crystallization of the PEO blocks. Both crystalline and amorphous domains coexist in the separated PEO phase, enabling a lamellar structure to appear inside the PEO nanocylinders. This provides an elegant method to fabricate controllable sub-10 nm microstructures in well-defined polymer systems without the introduction of any dopants. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Caloric restriction and spatial learning in old mice.

PubMed

Bellush, L L; Wright, A M; Walker, J P; Kopchick, J; Colvin, R A

1996-08-01

Spatial learning in old mice (19 or 24 months old), some of which had been calorically restricted beginning at 14 weeks of age, was compared to that of young mice, in two separate experiments using a Morris water maze. In the first experiment, only old mice reaching criterion performance on a cued learning task were tested in a subsequent spatial task. Thus, all old mice tested for spatial learning had achieved escape latencies equivalent to those of young controls. Despite equivalent swimming speeds, only about half the old mice in each diet group achieved criterion performance in the spatial task. In the second experiment, old and young mice all received the same number of training trials in a cued task and then in a spatial task. Immediately following spatial training, they were given a 60-s probe trial, with no platform in the pool. Both groups of old mice spent significantly less time in the quadrant where the platform had been and made significantly fewer direct crosses over the previous platform location than did the young control group. As in Experiment 1, calorie restriction failed to provide protection against aging-related deficits. However, in both experiments, some individual old mice evidenced performance in spatial learning indistinguishable from that of young controls. Separate comparisons of "age-impaired" and "age-unimpaired" old mice with young controls may facilitate the identification of neurobiological mechanisms underlying age-related cognitive decline.

An investigation of the general, reproductive and postnatal developmental toxicity of Betapol, a human milk fat equivalent.

PubMed

Spurgeon, M J; Palmer, A K; Hepburn, P A

2003-10-01

Betapol consists of triglyceride fatty acids commonly found in vegetable and animal fats. A similarity to human milk fat indicated a potential use in infant formulae as well as for food use in general. To test the potential for substantial equivalence with a related food grade oil, palm oil, Betapol was fed to rats at 15% content in the diet using an augmented two-generation study, in order to obtain information on general (6 months), reproductive and postnatal developmental toxicity in a single study rather than separate studies. For comparison there were two control groups, namely a comparative control fed a diet containing 15% of food grade oil and a negative, or laboratory standard control fed a commercial rodent breeding diet (LAD), containing 2.3-4.7% fat. It was reasoned that if Betapol fed groups showed differences from the comparative control in the direction of the negative control these would reflect differences in the nutritional value of the high fat diets. Presence of a toxicant might be indicated by differences from the comparative control group opposite to the negative control group. The group fed 15% Betapol showed occasional, statistically significant differences from the comparative control group but the direction of difference was towards the negative control group and did not indicate the presence of an unexpected toxicant.

Anxiety Symptoms in Boys with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or Chronic Multiple Tic Disorder and Community Controls

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Guttmann-Steinmetz, Sarit; Gadow, Kenneth D.; DeVincent, Carla J.; Crowell, Judy

2010-01-01

We compared symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and separation anxiety disorder (SAD) in 5 groups of boys with neurobehavioral syndromes: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) plus autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD plus chronic multiple tic disorder (CMTD), ASD only, ADHD only, and community Controls. Anxiety symptoms were…

Reducing Noise in a College Library.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Luyben, Paul D.; And Others

1981-01-01

Discusses an experiment on controlling library noise by rearrangement of furniture groupings and the separation of existing clusters of furniture. While electromechanical tests showed no significant differences, user measures indicated more acceptable noise levels. There are numerous illustrations and 30 references. (RAA)

The evolution of diagnosis-related groups (DRGs): from its beginnings in case-mix and resource use theory, to its implementation for payment and now for its current utilization for quality within and outside the hospital.

PubMed

Goldfield, Norbert

2010-01-01

Policymakers are searching for ways to control health care costs and improve quality. Diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) are by far the most important cost control and quality improvement tool that governments and private payers have implemented. This article reviews why DRGs have had this singular success both in the hospital sector and, over the past 10 years, in ambulatory and managed care settings. Last, the author reviews current trends in the development and implementation of tools that have the key ingredients of DRG success: categorical clinical model, separation of the clinical model from payment weights, separate payment adjustments for nonclinical factors, and outlier payments. Virtually all current tools used to manage health care costs and improve quality do not have these characteristics. This failure explains a key reason for the failure, for example, of the Medicare Advantage program to control health care costs. This article concludes with a discussion of future developments for DRG-type models outside the hospital sector.

Neural network-based distributed attitude coordination control for spacecraft formation flying with input saturation.

PubMed

Zou, An-Min; Kumar, Krishna Dev

2012-07-01

This brief considers the attitude coordination control problem for spacecraft formation flying when only a subset of the group members has access to the common reference attitude. A quaternion-based distributed attitude coordination control scheme is proposed with consideration of the input saturation and with the aid of the sliding-mode observer, separation principle theorem, Chebyshev neural networks, smooth projection algorithm, and robust control technique. Using graph theory and a Lyapunov-based approach, it is shown that the distributed controller can guarantee the attitude of all spacecraft to converge to a common time-varying reference attitude when the reference attitude is available only to a portion of the group of spacecraft. Numerical simulations are presented to demonstrate the performance of the proposed distributed controller.

Effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation and Kinesio Taping applications in children with cerebral palsy on postural control and sitting balance.

PubMed

Elbasan, Bulent; Akaya, Kamile Uzun; Akyuz, Mufit; Oskay, Deran

2018-02-06

Neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT), neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), and Kinesio Taping (KT) applications are separately used to improve postural control and sitting balance in children with cerebral palsy (CP). The aim of this study is to examine the combined effect of NDT, NMES and KT applications on postural control and sitting balance in children with CP. Forty five children, in 3 groups, between the ages 5-12 years were included in the study. Group 1 received NDT; group 2 received NDT + NMES; and the group 3 received NDT + NMES + KT for 6 weeks. Sitting function evaluated by the sitting section of the gross motor function measure (GMFM), and postural control assessed with the seated postural control measurement (SPCM). Seating section of GMFM was improved significantly in all the groups; however, increases in the group 3 were higher than groups 1 and 2 (p= 0.001). While significant differences were observed in all groups in the SPCM posture (p< 0.001), function (p< 0.001), and the total scores (p< 0.001); the change in the third group was higher according to the comparison of the three groups within each other. Implementation of the NMES, and KT additionally to NDT improve the sitting posture, postural control, seating function, and gross motor function in children with CP.

Separating the Laparoscopic Camera Cord From the Monopolar "Bovie" Cord Reduces Unintended Thermal Injury From Antenna Coupling: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PubMed

Robinson, Thomas N; Jones, Edward L; Dunn, Christina L; Dunne, Bruce; Johnson, Elizabeth; Townsend, Nicole T; Paniccia, Alessandro; Stiegmann, Greg V

2015-06-01

The monopolar "Bovie" is used in virtually every laparoscopic operation. The active electrode and its cord emit radiofrequency energy that couples (or transfers) to nearby conductive material without direct contact. This phenomenon is increased when the active electrode cord is oriented parallel to another wire/cord. The parallel orientation of the "Bovie" and laparoscopic camera cords cause transfer of energy to the camera cord resulting in cutaneous burns at the camera trocar incision. We hypothesized that separating the active electrode/camera cords would reduce thermal injury occurring at the camera trocar incision in comparison to parallel oriented active electrode/camera cords. In this prospective, blinded, randomized controlled trial, patients undergoing standardized laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized to separated active electrode/camera cords or parallel oriented active electrode/camera cords. The primary outcome variable was thermal injury determined by histology from skin biopsied at the camera trocar incision. Eighty-four patients participated. Baseline demographics were similar in the groups for age, sex, preoperative diagnosis, operative time, and blood loss. Thermal injury at the camera trocar incision was lower in the separated versus parallel group (31% vs 57%; P = 0.027). Separation of the laparoscopic camera cord from the active electrode cord decreases thermal injury from antenna coupling at the camera trocar incision in comparison to the parallel orientation of these cords. Therefore, parallel orientation of these cords (an arrangement promoted by integrated operating rooms) should be abandoned. The findings of this study should influence the operating room setup for all laparoscopic cases.

Marital violence and coparenting quality after separation.

PubMed

Hardesty, Jennifer L; Crossman, Kimberly A; Khaw, Lyndal; Raffaelli, Marcela

2016-04-01

Research has identified multiple predictors of coparenting quality, but few studies have investigated how intimate partner violence (IPV) affects divorcing couples' coparenting relationships. We addressed this question in a sample of 154 mothers with different marital IPV experiences. Mothers were recruited within 4 months of a divorce filing and completed two interviews 3 months apart. At Time 1, mothers reported on violence and coercive control during marriage, and postseparation behavioral (e.g., parental communication), emotional (e.g., anger), and intrusion (e.g., harassment) dynamics; at Time 2, they reported on coparenting quality (i.e., levels of support and conflict). In the overall sample, divorce and violence variables independently predicted coparenting quality. Mothers were then classified into three groups: no violence (NV; n = 74), situational couple violence (SCV; n = 46), or coercive controlling violence (CCV; n = 34). Of the 3, coparenting quality was lowest in the CCV group. While the SCV group was similar to the NV group on most divorce-related variables, the CCV group reported more hostility at separation and placed less importance on father-child relationships. Finally, patterns of association between study variables and coparenting quality showed some parallels between the SCV and NV groups. For CCV, postseparation harassment and fear were negatively associated with coparenting quality. Findings contribute to understanding predictors of coparenting quality and support the need for individualized assessments of divorce cases with attention to IPV dynamics. (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).

Marital Violence and Coparenting Quality After Separation

PubMed Central

Hardesty, Jennifer L.; Crossman, Kimberly A.; Khaw, Lyndal; Raffaelli, Marcela

2016-01-01

Research has identified multiple predictors of coparenting quality, but few studies have investigated how intimate partner violence (IPV) affects divorcing couples’ coparenting relationships. We addressed this question in a sample of 154 mothers with different marital IPV experiences. Mothers were recruited within four months of a divorce filing and completed two interviews three months apart. At Time 1, mothers reported on violence and coercive control during marriage, and postseparation behavioral (e.g., parental communication), emotional (e.g., anger), and intrusion (e.g., harassment) dynamics; at Time 2, they reported on coparenting quality (i.e., levels of support and conflict). In the overall sample, divorce and violence variables independently predicted coparenting quality. Mothers were then classified into three groups: no violence (NV; n = 74), situational couple violence (SCV; n = 46), or coercive controlling violence (CCV; n = 34). Of the three, coparenting quality was lowest in the CCV group. While the SCV group was similar to the NV group on most divorce-related variables, the CCV group reported more hostility at separation and placed less importance on father-child relationships. Finally, patterns of association between study variables and coparenting quality showed some parallels between the SCV and NV groups. For CCV, postseparation harassment and fear were negatively associated with coparenting quality. Findings contribute to understanding predictors of coparenting quality and support the need for individualized assessments of divorce cases with attention to IPV dynamics. PMID:26866837

QTCM Software Documentation. Volume 1. Programmers’s Manual

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-11-01

technologies are implemented. Since the PSNs are comprised of private companies, the OMNCS has little direct control over how they operate and the... control equipment at each node to prevent any congestion at the switches. Therefore, all call blocking is modeled to occur at the trunks rather than at the...main program is linked with separately compiled subroutines that can be grouped intoI seven distinct functional areas as follows: Control code File

The effect of chair massage on muscular discomfort in cardiac sonographers: a pilot study

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background Cardiac sonographers frequently have work-related muscular discomfort. We aimed to assess the feasibility of having sonographers receive massages during working hours in an area adjacent to an echocardiography laboratory and to assess relief of discomfort with use of the massages with or without stretching exercises. Methods A group of 45 full-time sonographers was randomly assigned to receive weekly 30-minute massage sessions, massages plus stretching exercises to be performed twice a day, or no intervention. Outcome measures were scores of the QuickDASH instrument and its associated work module at baseline and at 10 weeks of intervention. Data were analyzed with standard descriptive statistics and the separation test for early-phase comparative trials. Results Forty-four participants completed the study: 15 in the control group, 14 in the massage group, and 15 in the massage plus stretches group. Some improvement was seen in work-related discomfort by the QuickDASH scores and work module scores in the 2 intervention groups. The separation test showed separation in favor of the 2 interventions. Conclusion On the basis of the results of this pilot study, larger trials are warranted to evaluate the effect of massages with or without stretching on work-related discomfort in cardiac sonographers. Trial Registration NCT00975026 ClinicalTrials.gov PMID:20846441

Immunohistochemical expression of heat shock protein27 in the mouse dental pulp after immediate teeth separation

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Aim After immediate teeth separation, expression of HSP27 in the mouse dental pulp was examined. Immunohistochemistry was performed to examine the incidence of HSP27 expression. Materials and methods A total of 36 8-week-old ddY mice were used as experimental subjects and a wedge was inserted in between maxillary right molars. The wedge was removed 30 min or 3 h after insertion. Animals were immediately sacrificed after the removal of wedge or until 1 week later and serial sections from paraffin-embedded tissues were prepared. Immunohistochemistry was carried out to examine the expression of HSP27. The untreated side served as the control. Results In the control group, the endothelial cells and some pulp fibroblasts weakly expressed HSP27 suggesting that the expression is due to mechanical stress brought about by physiological masticatory force and pressure from the tongue. In both 30 min and 3 h experimental groups, HSP27 expression was highest at 24 h after wedge removal and the expression remained the same or started to decrease thereafter. The expression decreased at the same level as that of the control group 1 week after wedge removal. Conclusion HSP27 may serve as an indicator of stimulus strong enough to show its expression. PMID:22027643

Effects of parental separation and divorce on very young children.

PubMed

Clarke-Stewart, K A; Vandell, D L; McCartney, K; Owen, M T; Booth, C

2000-06-01

Data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care were analyzed to explore effects of marital separation on children in the first 3 years of life. The sample included 73 never-married mothers and 97 separated mothers; a comparison group of 170 was conditionally randomly selected from the 2-parent families. Children in 2-parent families performed better than children in 1-parent families on assessments of cognitive and social abilities, problem behavior, attachment security, and behavior with mother. However, controlling for mothers' education and family income reduced these differences, and associations with separated-intact marital status were nonsignificant (the effect size was .01). Thus, children's psychological development was not affected by parental separation per se; it was related to mothers' income, education, ethnicity, child-rearing beliefs, depressive symptoms, and behavior.

Effects of separate and concurrent supplementation of Nano-sized clinoptilolite and Nigella sativa on oxidative stress, anti-oxidative parameters and body weight in rats with type 2 diabetes.

PubMed

Omidi, Hossein; Khorram, Sirus; Mesgari, Mehran; Asghari-Jafarabadi, Mohammad; Tarighat-Esfanjani, Ali

2017-12-01

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of separate and concurrent supplementation of natural nano-sized clinoptilolite (NCLN) and Nigella sativa (NS) on oxidative stress (OS), anti-oxidative parameters and body weight (BW) in high-fat-diet (HFD)/streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. In this experimental study, 42 male Wistar rats were divided into diabetic (n=36) and non-diabetic (n=6) groups. The diabetic group (DG) was fed with a HFD for one month, then injected with intra-peritoneal single dose STZ (35 mg/kg BW). The DG was divided into 4 subgroups: [1] control (DC), [2] NS 1%/food, [3] NCLN 2%/food, [4] NS 1%/food + NCLN 2%/food. At the end of the 7th week, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) levels and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured. The MDA level was decreased in the NCLN (p = 0.011) and NCLN+NS (p = 0.007) groups compared to the DC group. The GPX level increased in the NS and NCLN groups compared to the DC group (p = 0.014 and p = 0.034). In addition, the level of TAC demonstrated increase in the untreated DG and NS groups, as compared to the normal control (NC) group (p DC  = 0.031 and p NS  = 0.024). Moreover, in the NS+NCLN group, the level of SOD decreased in comparison to the NS and NCLN groups (p < 0.01). At the end of the 7th week, BW decreased in the diabetic subgroups in comparison to the NC group. Treatment with NS and/or NS+NCLN insignificantly prevented severe weight loss in the fifth week of the treatment. According to results, separate supplementation of NS and NCLN was more beneficent on anti-oxidative parameters than concurrent supplementation of NS and NCLN. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

In vitro evaluation of genotoxicity of avocado (Persea americana) fruit and leaf extracts in human peripheral lymphocytes.

PubMed

Kulkarni, Paresh; Paul, Rajkumar; Ganesh, N

2010-07-01

Persea americana is much sought after both for the nutritional value of its fruit and the medicinal values of its various plant parts. A chromosomal aberration assay was undertaken to evaluate the potential genotoxicity of crude extracts from avocado fruits and leaves. Chromosomal aberrations were observed in cultured human peripheral lymphocytes exposed to separately increasing concentrations of 50% methanolic extracts of Persea americana fruit and leaves. The groups exposed to leaf and fruit extracts, respectively, showed a concentration-dependent increase in chromosomal aberrations as compared to that in a control group. The mean percentage total aberrant metaphases at 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 300 mg/kg concentrations of leaf extract were found respectively to be 58 ± 7.05, 72 ± 6.41, and 78 ± 5.98, which were significantly higher (p < 0.0001 each) than that in the control group (6 ± 3.39). The mean percentage total aberrant metaphases at 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 300 mg/kg concentrations of fruit extract were found to be 18 ± 5.49, 40 ± 10.00, and 52 ± 10.20, respectively, which were significantly higher (p = 0.033, p < 0.0001, and p < 0.0001, respectively) than that for control (6 ± 3.39). Acrocentric associations and premature centromeric separation were the two most common abnormalities observed in both the exposed groups. The group exposed to leaf extracts also showed a significant number of a variety of other structural aberrations, including breaks, fragments, dicentrics, terminal deletion, minutes, and Robertsonian translocations. The group exposed to leaf extract showed higher frequency of all types of aberrations at equal concentrations as compared to the group exposed to fruit extract.

Factors Influencing the Decisions and Actions of Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers in Three Plausible NextGen Environments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vu, Kim-Phuong L.; Strybel, Thomas Z.; Battiste, Vernol; Johnson, Walter

2011-01-01

In the current air traffic management (ATM) system, pilots and air traffic controllers have well-established roles and responsibilities: pilots fly aircraft and are concerned with energy management, fuel efficiency, and passenger comfort; controllers separate aircraft and are concerned with safety and management of traffic flows. Despite having different goals and obligations, both groups must be able to effectively communicate and interact with each other for the ATM system to work. This interaction will become even more challenging as traffic volume increases dramatically in the near future. To accommodate this increase, by 2025 the national air transportation system in the U.S. will go through a transformation that will modernize the ATM system and make it safer, more effective, and more efficient. This new system, NextGen, will change how pilots and controllers perform their tasks by incorporating advanced technologies and employing new procedures. It will also distribute responsibility between pilots, controllers and automation over such tasks as maintaining aircraft separation. The present chapter describes three plausible concepts of operations that allocate different ATM responsibilities to these groups. We describe how each concept changes the role of each operator and the types of decisions and actions performed by them.

[The neurotrophic effect of endogenous NT-3 from adult cat spared dorsal root ganglion on ganglionic neurons].

PubMed

Zhang, Wei; Zhou, Xue; Wang, Ting-hua; Wang, Te-wei; Liu, Su; Chen, Si-xiu; Ou, Ke-qun

2004-01-01

To investigate the neurotrophic effect of endogenous NT-3 from adult cat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) on ganglionic neurons. Rhizotomy of bilateral L1, L3, L5 and L7 dorsal roots of cats was performed, leaving L2, L4 and L6 DRG as spared DRGs. The separate neurons of normal (control) DRG, spared DRG and anti-NT-3 antibody blocking DRG were cultured in vitro respectively. The number of survival neurons and the length of neurites were measured and used for comparison in the control, spared DRG, and block groups. There were survival neurons and cell clusters in every group. The number of survival neurons and cell clusters of spared DRG group were much larger than those of the control and block groups. The neurite length of neurons, the neurite number and the length of cell clusters of spared DRG group were much greater than those of control and block groups. Endogenous NT-3 from spared DRG may act on ganglionic neurons to maintain survival of neuron and stimulate growth of neurite.

Quantitative evaluation of Alzheimer's disease

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duchesne, S.; Frisoni, G. B.

2009-02-01

We propose a single, quantitative metric called the disease evaluation factor (DEF) and assess its efficiency at estimating disease burden in normal, control subjects (CTRL) and probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. The study group consisted in 75 patients with a diagnosis of probable AD and 75 age-matched normal CTRL without neurological or neuropsychological deficit. We calculated a reference eigenspace of MRI appearance from reference data, in which our CTRL and probable AD subjects were projected. We then calculated the multi-dimensional hyperplane separating the CTRL and probable AD groups. The DEF was estimated via a multidimensional weighted distance of eigencoordinates for a given subject and the CTRL group mean, along salient principal components forming the separating hyperplane. We used quantile plots, Kolmogorov-Smirnov and χ2 tests to compare the DEF values and test that their distribution was normal. We used a linear discriminant test to separate CTRL from probable AD based on the DEF factor, and reached an accuracy of 87%. A quantitative biomarker in AD would act as an important surrogate marker of disease status and progression.

Controlling Separation in Turbomachines

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Evans, Simon; Himmel, Christoph; Power, Bronwyn; Wakelam, Christian; Xu, Liping; Hynes, Tom; Hodson, Howard

2010-01-01

Four examples of flow control: 1) Passive control of LP turbine blades (Laminar separation control). 2) Aspiration of a conventional axial compressor blade (Turbulent separation control). 3) Compressor blade designed for aspiration (Turbulent separation control). 4.Control of intakes in crosswinds (Turbulent separation control).

Community differentiation of the cutaneous microbiota in psoriasis.

PubMed

Alekseyenko, Alexander V; Perez-Perez, Guillermo I; De Souza, Aieska; Strober, Bruce; Gao, Zhan; Bihan, Monika; Li, Kelvin; Methé, Barbara A; Blaser, Martin J

2013-12-23

Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the skin. We sought to characterize and compare the cutaneous microbiota of psoriatic lesions (lesion group), unaffected contralateral skin from psoriatic patients (unaffected group), and similar skin loci in matched healthy controls (control group) in order to discern patterns that govern skin colonization and their relationship to clinical diagnosis. Using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we assayed the cutaneous bacterial communities of 51 matched triplets and characterized these samples using community data analysis techniques. Intragroup Unifrac β diversity revealed increasing diversity from control to unaffected to lesion specimens. Likewise, principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) revealed separation of the lesion samples from unaffected and control along the first axis, suggesting that psoriasis is a major contributor to the observed diversity. The taxonomic richness and evenness decreased in both lesion and unaffected communities compared to control. These differences are explained by the combined increased abundance of the four major skin-associated genera (Corynebacterium, Propionibacterium, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus), which present a potentially useful predictor for clinical skin type. Psoriasis samples also showed significant univariate decreases in relative abundances and strong classification performance of Cupriavidus, Flavisolibacter, Methylobacterium, and Schlegelella genera versus controls. The cutaneous microbiota separated into two distinct clusters, which we call cutaneotypes: (1) Proteobacteria-associated microbiota, and (2) Firmicutes-associated and Actinobacteria-associated microbiota. Cutaneotype 2 is enriched in lesion specimens compared to control (odds ratio 3.52 (95% CI 1.44 to 8.98), P <0.01). Our results indicate that psoriasis induces physiological changes both at the lesion site and at the systemic level, which select for specific differential microbiota among the assayed clinical skin types. These differences in microbial community structure in psoriasis patients are potentially of pathophysiologic and diagnostic significance.

Chinese version of the separation-individuation inventory.

PubMed

Tam, Wai-Cheong Carl; Shiah, Yung-Jong; Chiang, Shih-Kuang

2003-08-01

The importance of the separation-individuation process in object relations theory is well known in disciplines of psychology, counseling, and human development. Based on the Separation-Individuation Inventory of Christenson and Wilson, which measures the manifestations of disturbances in this process, a Chinese version of the inventory was developed. For college students Cronbach coefficient alpha was .89, and test-retest reliability over 28 days was .77. The scores of the inventory had positive correlations with both the number of borderline personality characteristics and the Individualism-Collectivism Scale, respectively. Also, the mean score on the inventory of patients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder was significantly higher than that of the two normal control groups (ns = 564). Thus the inventory possessed satisfactory construct validity. Cultural differences regarding the separation-individuation process need to be investigated further.

EFFECTS ON THE FETUS OF MATERNAL BENOMYL EXPOSURE IN THE PROTEIN-DEPRIVED RAT

EPA Science Inventory

The separate and combined effects of protein deprivation and benomyl ((methyl 1-butylcarbomoyl)2-benzimidazole carbamate) exposure were studied in the pregnant rat fed a diet containing 24% (control) or 8% (deficient) casein throughout gestation. Within each diet group, subgroups...

Detection of malondialdehyde in processed meat products without interference from the ingredients.

PubMed

Jung, Samooel; Nam, Ki Chang; Jo, Cheorun

2016-10-15

Our aim was to develop a method for accurate quantification of malondialdehyde (MDA) in meat products. MDA content of uncured ground pork (Control); ground pork cured with sodium nitrite (Nitrite); and ground pork cured with sodium nitrite, sodium chloride, sodium pyrophosphate, maltodextrin, and a sausage seasoning (Mix) was measured by the 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA) assay with MDA extraction by trichloroacetic acid (method A) and two high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods: i) HPLC separation of the MDA-dinitrophenyl hydrazine adduct (method B) and ii) HPLC separation of MDA (method C) after MDA extraction with acetonitrile. Methods A and B could not quantify MDA accurately in groups Nitrite and Mix. Nevertheless, MDA in groups Control, Nitrite, and Mix was accurately quantified by method C with good recovery. Therefore, direct MDA quantification by HPLC after MDA extraction with acetonitrile (method C) is useful for accurate measurement of MDA content in processed meat products. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Epstein-Barr virus infection and breast invasive ductal carcinoma in Egyptian women: A single center experience.

PubMed

El-Naby, Noha Ed Hassab; Hassan Mohamed, Hameda; Mohamed Goda, Asmaa; El Sayed Mohamed, Ahmed

2017-06-01

A controversy of the role of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in breast carcinomas has been reported in the literature. We carried on this research to explore possible association between EBV infection and breast invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) in Egyptian women attending our center. This study carried out at Sohag university hospital on 84 paraffin embedded samples of breast tissue, of them 42 breast IDC as the case group and 42 breast fibroadenomas as the control group. Nested PCRand immunohistochemistry (IHC) done separately for all samples to identify the Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1) gene and EBV latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1) respectively, in breast cancer cells and controls. Specimen considered positive when both (EBNA-1) gene and LMP-1 were detected using PCR and IHC separately for the same sample, this was achieved by 10/42 (23.81%) of breast IDC (case group) and 6/42 (14.29%) of breast fibro-adenomas (control group) (P-value=0.4). Nodal involvement was the only parameter that demonstrated a significant statistical relationship with EBV presence in cancerous tissue with p-value=0.003. Our research could not find a significant statistical association between EBV infection and breast IDC in Egyptian women attending our center, but, there might be an association between the existence of EBV and tumor aggressiveness. Copyright © 2017 National Cancer Institute, Cairo University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Engineering chiral porous metal-organic frameworks for enantioselective adsorption and separation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Yongwu; Gong, Tengfei; Zhang, Kang; Lin, Xiaochao; Liu, Yan; Jiang, Jianwen; Cui, Yong

2014-07-01

The separation of racemic molecules is of substantial significance not only for basic science but also for technical applications, such as fine chemicals and drug development. Here we report two isostructural chiral metal-organic frameworks decorated with chiral dihydroxy or -methoxy auxiliares from enantiopure tetracarboxylate-bridging ligands of 1,1‧-biphenol and a manganese carboxylate chain. The framework bearing dihydroxy groups functions as a solid-state host capable of adsorbing and separating mixtures of a range of chiral aromatic and aliphatic amines, with high enantioselectivity. The host material can be readily recycled and reused without any apparent loss of performance. The utility of the present adsorption separation is demonstrated in the large-scale resolution of racemic 1-phenylethylamine. Control experiments and molecular simulations suggest that the chiral recognition and separation are attributed to the different orientations and specific binding energies of the enantiomers in the microenvironment of the framework.

Reported parental characteristics of agoraphobics and social phobics.

PubMed

Parker, G

1979-12-01

The clinical impression that phobic patients perceive their parents as being uncaring and overprotective was investigated in a controlled study of eighty-one phobic patients. Those assigned to a social phobic group scored both parents as less caring and as overprotected, while those assigned to an agoraphobic group differed from controls only in reporting less maternal care. Intensity of phobic symptoms in the pooled sample was examined in a separate analysis. Higher agoraphobic scores were associated with less maternal care and less maternal overprotection, while higher social phobic scores were associated with greater maternal care and greater maternal overprotection.

Atmospheric-pressure plasma activation and surface characterization on polyethylene membrane separator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tseng, Yu-Chien; Li, Hsiao-Ling; Huang, Chun

2017-01-01

The surface hydrophilic activation of a polyethylene membrane separator was achieved using an atmospheric-pressure plasma jet. The surface of the atmospheric-pressure-plasma-treated membrane separator was found to be highly hydrophilic realized by adjusting the plasma power input. The variations in membrane separator chemical structure were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Chemical analysis showed newly formed carbonyl-containing groups and high surface concentrations of oxygen-containing species on the atmospheric-pressure-plasma-treated polymeric separator surface. It also showed that surface hydrophilicity primarily increased from the polar component after atmospheric-pressure plasma treatment. The surface and pore structures of the polyethylene membrane separator were examined by scanning electron microscopy, revealing a slight alteration in the pore structure. As a result of the incorporation of polar functionalities by atmospheric-pressure plasma activation, the electrolyte uptake and electrochemical impedance of the atmospheric-pressure-plasma-treated membrane separator improved. The investigational results show that the separator surface can be controlled by atmospheric-pressure plasma surface treatment to tailor the hydrophilicity and enhance the electrochemical performance of lithium ion batteries.

[Analysis of the characteristic of pharyngeal paraesthesia patients by high resolution manometry].

PubMed

Gu, Yun; Qian, Wei

2015-09-01

To discuss the pressure changing characteristics of upper esophageal sphincter (UES), lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and the esophagus kinetic characteristics of pharyngeal paraesthesia patients. To take high resolution manometry in 44 cases of pharyngeal paraesthesia patients and 23 normal subjects separately. According to the RSI score,the 44 patients were divided into group A (the group without reflux, RSI < 13, n = 25) and group B (the group with reflux, RSI ≥ 13, n = 19). The UES average resting pressure and average residual pressure of patients group were higher than the control group (P < 0.05); The UES average resting pressure and average residual pressure of group B were higher than group A (P < 0.05); The LES average resting pressure and average residual pressure of group B were lower than group A and the control group (P < 0.05); The comparison of LES average resting pressure and average residual pressure between group A and the control group was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The esophagus DCI of group B was lower than that of group A and control group (P < 0.05). The esophagus DCI comparison between group A and control group was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The pharyngeal paresthesia symptoms of'patients was associated with the increasing of UES pressure. The pharyngeal paresthesia symptoms of group with reflux was related to low pressure of LES and high pressure of UES. The last part of esophagus of group with reflux had obstacles in powers, which weaken the peristalsis and declined the ability to clear the bolus and gastric reflux material.

Evaluation of oral tilmicosin efficacy against severe cryptosporidiosis in neonatal kids under field conditions.

PubMed

Paraud, C; Pors, I; Chartier, C

2010-05-28

Many compounds have been screened for their potential anti-cryptosporidial activity in ruminants but none of them has been totally efficient in controlling the disease. Macrolide antibiotics have demonstrated some activity against Cryptosporidium spp. in humans. Tilmicosin is a macrolide antibiotic, available in France in an oral form (Pulmotil AC, Lilly France). The preventive efficacy of tilmicosin was evaluated in a goat farm experiencing severe clinical cryptosporidiosis in kids. Twenty-two kids were separated from their dams just after birth and placed in a separated pen. They were divided into 3 groups: an untreated group (10 kids), group 1 (6 kids) receiving tilmicosin at 25mg/kg BW/day and group 2 (6 kids) receiving tilmicosin at 50mg/kg BW/day. Tilmicosin was individually given by oral route from day 2 of age for 10 days. Three times a week, individual faecal samples were performed to assess the oocyst output. Clinical data, i.e. diarrhea and mortality, were recorded. In control kids, the highest prevalence and intensity of excretion were observed between day 6 and day 16 of age and mortality reached 90%. Excretion dynamic and clinical consequences were similar in both treated kid groups. Finally, tilmicosin did not demonstrate any activity against severe kid cryptosporidiosis in field conditions. (c) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of maternal alcohol and nicotine intake, individually and in combination, on fetal growth in the rat

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

Leichter, J.

1991-03-15

The effect of maternal ethanol and nicotine administration, separately and in combination, on fetal growth of rats was studied. Nicotine was administered by gavage for the entire gestational period. Alcohol was given in drinking water for 4 weeks prior to mating and 30% throughout gestation. Appropriate pair-fed and ad libitum control animals were included to separate the effect of ethanol and nicotine on the outcome of pregnancy from those produced by the confounding variables of malnutrition. Body weights of fetuses exposed to alcohol alone or in combination with nicotine were significantly lower than those of the pair-fed and ad libitummore » controls. However, the difference in fetal body weight between the alcohol plus nicotine and the alcohol alone group was not significant. Similarly, in the rats administered nicotine only, fetal weight was not significantly different compared to control animals. The results of this study indicate that maternal alcohol intake impairs fetal growth and nicotine does not, regardless whether it is administered separately or in combination with alcohol for the entire gestational period.« less

Enhancement of students’ creative thinking skills on mixture separation topic using project based student worksheet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nurisalfah, R.; Fadiawati, N.; Jalmo, T.

2018-05-01

The aim of this study is to describe the effectiveness of project based student worksheet in improving students' creative thinking skills. The research method is using quasi experiment with the matching only pre-test post-test control group design. The population in this research is all students of class VII SMP N 2 Belitang Madang Raya with class VII1 as control class and class VII4 as experiment class. The sample of this research is obtaining by purposive sampling technique. The effectiveness of project based student worksheet is based on significant post-test differences between the control class and the experiment class as well as the effect size. The results show that the using of project based student worksheet is effective in improving students' creative thinking skills on mixture separation topic.

Working memory contributes to elevated motor activity in adults with ADHD: an examination of the role of central executive and storage/rehearsal processes.

PubMed

Hudec, Kristen L; Alderson, R Matt; Kasper, Lisa J; Patros, Connor H G

2014-05-01

The relationship between working memory (WM) and objectively measured motor activity was examined in adults with ADHD and healthy controls (HCs). Thirty-five adults (ADHD = 20, HC = 15) were grouped using self-report and collateral-report measures in addition to a semistructured clinical interview. All participants completed control conditions with minimal WM demands, and separate phonological (PH) and visuospatial (VS) WM tasks with recall demands ranging from four to seven stimuli. The ADHD group exhibited significantly more motor activity relative to the HC group, and both groups exhibited greater activity during PH and VS WM tasks, relative to control conditions. Finally, the central executive (CE) and PH storage/rehearsal subsystems were associated with large-magnitude between-group differences in activity. Findings suggest that increased demands on WM, particularly the CE and PH storage/rehearsal, contribute to ADHD-related hyperactivity, though a portion of excessive motor activity in adults with ADHD may occur independently of WM demands.

Do diabetes group visits lead to lower medical care charges?

PubMed

Clancy, Dawn E; Dismuke, Clara E; Magruder, Kathryn Marley; Simpson, Kit N; Bradford, David

2008-01-01

To evaluate whether attending diabetes group visits (GVs) leads to lower medical care charges for inadequately insured patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Randomized controlled clinical trial. Data were abstracted from financial records for 186 patients with uncontrolled type 2 DM randomized to receive care in GVs or usual care for 12 months. Mann-Whitney tests for differences of means for outpatient visits (primary and specialty care), emergency department (ED) visits, and inpatient stays were performed. Separate charge models were developed for primary and specialty outpatient visits. Because GV adherence is potentially dependent on unobserved patient characteristics, treatment effect models of outpatient charges and specialty care visits were estimated using maximum likelihood methods. Mann-Whitney test results indicated that GV patients had reduced ED and total charges but more outpatient charges than usual care patients. Ordinary least squares estimations confirmed that GVs increased outpatient visit charges; however, controlling for endogeneity by estimating a treatment effect model of outpatient visit charges showed that GVs statistically significantly reduced outpatient charges (P <.001). Estimation of a separate treatment effect model of specialty care visits confirmed that GV effects on outpatient visit charges occurred via a reduction in specialty care visits. After controlling for endogeneity via estimation of a treatment effect model, GVs statistically significantly reduced outpatient visit charges. Estimation of a separate treatment effect model of specialty care visits indicated that GVs likely substitute for more expensive specialty care visits.

Pain control in orthodontics using a micropulse vibration device: A randomized clinical trial.

PubMed

Lobre, Wendy D; Callegari, Brent J; Gardner, Gary; Marsh, Curtis M; Bush, Anneke C; Dunn, William J

2016-07-01

To investigate the relationship between a micropulse vibration device and pain perception during orthodontic treatment. This study was a parallel group, randomized clinical trial. A total of 58 patients meeting eligibility criteria were assigned using block allocation to one of two groups: an experimental group using the vibration device or a control group (n  =  29 for each group). Patients used the device for 20 minutes daily. Patients rated pain intensity on a visual analog scale at appropriate intervals during the weeks after the separator or archwire appointment. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance at α  =  .05. During the 4-month test period, significant differences between the micropulse vibration device group and the control group for overall pain (P  =  .002) and biting pain (P  =  .003) were identified. The authors observed that perceived pain was highest at the beginning of the month, following archwire adjustment. The micropulse vibration device significantly lowered the pain scores for overall pain and biting pain during the 4-month study period.

Effects of aflatoxin on some haematological parameters and protective effectiveness of esterified glucomannan in Merino rams.

PubMed

Dönmez, Nurcan; Dönmez, H H; Keskin, E; Kısadere, İ

2012-01-01

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the toxic effects of aflatoxin on some hematological parameters and to determine the preventive effectiveness of added glucomannan. In the study, 32 Merino rams were used, and the rams were separated equally to four groups as control (C), glucomannan (G), glucomannan + aflatoxin (AG), and aflatoxin (A). Erythrocyte, leukocyte count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels were decreased in A group compared with the other groups, and there was a reduction in similar parameters in AG group compared to control values. On the other hand, these parameters were tended to increase in AG group compared to A group values. Aflatoxicosis caused the lymphocytopenia and monocytopenia but increased percentage of neutrophil counts. In conclusion, the results determined in the study might be important to demonstrate the effects of aflatoxicosis and glucomannan on some haematological parameters before the clinical symptoms appear.

Comparative efficacy of two battery-powered toothbrushes on dental plaque removal.

PubMed

Ruhlman, C Douglas; Bartizek, Robert D; Biesbrock, Aaron R

2002-01-01

A number of clinical studies have consistently demonstrated that power toothbrushes deliver superior plaque removal compared to manual toothbrushes. Recently, a new power toothbrush (Crest SpinBrush) has been marketed with a design that fundamentally differs from other marketed power toothbrushes. Other power toothbrushes feature a small, round head designed to oscillate for enhanced cleaning between the teeth and below the gumline. The new power toothbrush incorporates a similar round oscillating head in conjunction with fixed bristles, which allows the user to brush with optimal manual brushing technique. The objective of this randomized, examiner-blind, parallel design study was to compare the plaque removal efficacy of a positive control power toothbrush (Colgate Actibrush) to an experimental toothbrush (Crest SpinBrush) following a single use among 59 subjects. Baseline plaque scores were 1.64 and 1.40 for the experimental toothbrush and control toothbrush treatment groups, respectively. With regard to all surfaces examined, the experimental toothbrush delivered an adjusted (via analysis of covariance) mean difference between baseline and post-brushing plaque scores of 0.47, while the control toothbrush delivered an adjusted mean difference of 0.33. On average, the difference between toothbrushes was statistically significant (p = 0.013). Because the covariate slope for the experimental group was statistically significantly greater (p = 0.001) than the slope for the control group, a separate slope model was used. Further analysis demonstrated that the experimental group had statistically significantly greater plaque removal than the control group for baseline plaque scores above 1.43. With respect to buccal surfaces, using a separate slope analysis of covariance, the experimental toothbrush delivered an adjusted mean difference between baseline and post-brushing plaque scores of 0.61, while the control toothbrush delivered an adjusted mean difference of 0.39. This difference between toothbrushes was also statistically significant (p = 0.002). On average, the results on lingual surfaces demonstrated similar directional scores favoring the experimental toothbrush; however these results did not achieve statistical significance. In conclusion, the experimental Crest SpinBrush, with its novel fixed and oscillating bristle design, was found to be more effective than the positive control Colgate Actibrush, which is designed with a small round oscillating cluster of bristles.

Surface chemistry control for selective fossil resin flotation

DOEpatents

Miller, Jan D.; Yi, Ye; Yu, Qiang

1994-01-01

A froth flotation method is disclosed for separating fine particles of fossil resin from by use of frothing reagents which include an aliphatic organic compound having a polar group and containing not more than four carbon atoms. Butanol is an effective frothing reagent in this method.

Surface chemistry control for selective fossil resin flotation

DOEpatents

Miller, J.D.; Yi, Y.; Yu, Q.

1994-06-07

A froth flotation method is disclosed for separating fine particles of fossil resin by use of frothing reagents which include an aliphatic organic compound having a polar group and containing not more than four carbon atoms. Butanol is an effective frothing reagent in this method. 12 figs.

Effects of alcohol on a problem solving task.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1972-03-01

Twenty subjects were tested on two separate days on a simple problem-solving task. Half of the subjects received alcohol on the first day of testing and half on the second day of testing. A control group of 11 subjects was also tested on two days and...

Identifying the hydrochemical characteristics of rivers and groundwater by multivariate statistical analysis in the Sanjiang Plain, China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Yingjie; Tang, Changyuan; Song, Xianfang; Liu, Changming; Zhang, Yinghua

2016-06-01

Two multivariate statistical technologies, factor analysis (FA) and discriminant analysis (DA), are applied to study the river and groundwater hydrochemistry and its controlling processes in the Sanjiang Plain of the northeast China. Factor analysis identifies five factors which account for 79.65 % of the total variance in the dataset. Four factors bearing specific meanings as the river and groundwater hydrochemistry controlling processes are divided into two groups, the "natural hydrochemistry evolution" group and the "pollution" group. The "natural hydrochemistry evolution" group includes the salinity factor (factor 1) caused by rock weathering and the residence time factor (factor 2) reflecting the groundwater traveling time. The "pollution" group represents the groundwater quality deterioration due to geogenic pollution caused by elevated Fe and Mn (factor 3) and elevated nitrate (NO3 -) introduced by human activities such as agriculture exploitations (factor 5). The hydrochemical difference and hydraulic connection among rivers (surface water, SW), shallow groundwater (SG) and deep groundwater (DG) group are evaluated by the factor scores obtained from FA and DA (Fisher's method). It is showed that the river water is characterized as low salinity and slight pollution, and the shallow groundwater has the highest salinity and severe pollution. The SW is well separated from SG and DG by Fisher's discriminant function, but the SG and DG can not be well separated showing their hydrochemical similarities, and emphasize hydraulic connections between SG and DG.

Mixing apples with oranges: Visual attention deficits in schizophrenia.

PubMed

Caprile, Claudia; Cuevas-Esteban, Jorge; Ochoa, Susana; Usall, Judith; Navarra, Jordi

2015-09-01

Patients with schizophrenia usually present cognitive deficits. We investigated possible anomalies at filtering out irrelevant visual information in this psychiatric disorder. Associations between these anomalies and positive and/or negative symptomatology were also addressed. A group of individuals with schizophrenia and a control group of healthy adults performed a Garner task. In Experiment 1, participants had to rapidly classify visual stimuli according to their colour while ignoring their shape. These two perceptual dimensions are reported to be "separable" by visual selective attention. In Experiment 2, participants classified the width of other visual stimuli while trying to ignore their height. These two visual dimensions are considered as being "integral" and cannot be attended separately. While healthy perceivers were, in Experiment 1, able to exclusively respond to colour, an irrelevant variation in shape increased colour-based reaction times (RTs) in the group of patients. In Experiment 2, RTs when classifying width increased in both groups as a consequence of perceiving a variation in the irrelevant dimension (height). However, this interfering effect was larger in the group of schizophrenic patients than in the control group. Further analyses revealed that these alterations in filtering out irrelevant visual information correlated with positive symptoms in PANSS scale. A possible limitation of the study is the relatively small sample. Our findings suggest the presence of attention deficits in filtering out irrelevant visual information in schizophrenia that could be related to positive symptomatology. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Effects of herb cake-separated moxibustion on spleen in immunosuppressive rabbits:a morphology study].

PubMed

Tian, Yuefeng; Wu, Aihua; Wang, Jun; Shan, Zengtian

2016-10-12

To observe the influence of different methods of moxibustion on spleen morphology in cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressive rabbits. A total of 50 rabbits were randomly assigned into a blank group, a model group, a herbal cake-separated moxibustion group, a moxibustion group and a sham cake-separated moxibustion group, 10 rabbits in each group. Except the blank group, the rabbits in each group were treated with intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (60 mg/kg), once a day, for 7 consecutive days to establish immunosuppressive model. After the model establishment, the rabbits in the herbal cake-separated moxibustion group were treated with herbal cake-separated moxibustion at "Shenque" (CV 8), "Guanyuan" (CV 4), "Zusanli" (ST 36), "Pishu" (BL 20) and "Shenshu" (BL 23); the moxa cone was placed on the herbal cake which was made of Liuwei Dihuang decoction, three cones for each acupoint. The rabbits in the moxibustion group were treated with moxa stick moxibustion which contained equal moxa of three moxa cones. The rabbits in the sham cake-separated moxibustion group were treated with cake which was made of flour. The acupoint selection in the above three groups was identical, and the intervention was given once every other day for totally 10 times. The rabbits in the blank group and model group were immobilized for identical time without any intervention. After treatment, the rabbits were sacrificed to collect the spleen. With routine HE staining, the morphology changes of spleen were observed under microscope. In addition, the white pulp, splenic corpuscle and the counts of lymphatic cells of lymphatic sheath around the arteries were observed. Compared with the blank group, the average size of white pulp and the radius of splenic corpuscle were reduced (both P <0.01), and the lymphatic cells of lymphatic sheath around the arteries were significantly decreased in the model group ( P <0.01), but the counts of splenic nodule were increased without significant difference ( P >0.05). Compared with the model group, the averagesize of white pulp and the radius of splenic corpuscle were significantly increased in the herbal cake-separated moxibustion group and moxibustion group (all P <0.01). The lymphatic cells of lymphatic sheath around the arteries were significantly increased in the herbal cake-separated moxibustion group and sham cake-separated moxibustion group (both P <0.01). Compared with the moxibustion group, the count of lymphatic cells of lymphatic sheath around the arteries was increased in the herbal cake-separated moxibustion ( P <0.01). Compared with the sham cake-separated moxibustion group, the radius of splenic corpuscle was significant increased in the herbal cake-separated moxibustion group ( P <0.01). The improvement of herbal cake-separated moxibustion on immunologic function is superior to moxibustion and sham cake-separated moxibustion in cyclophosphamide-induced rabbits.

Attachment styles and psychopathology among adolescent children of parents with bipolar disorder.

PubMed

Erkan, Mustafa; Gencoglan, Salih; Akguc, Leyla; Ozatalay, Esin; Fettahoglu, Emine Cigil

2015-04-16

The aim of this study was to compare attachment styles and psychopathology in adolescent children of parents with bipolar disorder (BD) with a healthy control group. We studied 25 adolescents who had at least 1 parent with BD (BD group) and 28 adolescents who had no parents with BD (control group). The adolescent participants were between the ages of 12 and 17 years. We used the Adolescent Relationship Scales Questionnaire (A-RSQ) for the adolescents in the BD vs. control groups, and we used the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-age Children - present and lifetime version (K-SADS-PL). We used the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I), Clinician Version for each parent of adolescents in the BD and control groups to rule out psychopathologies. Attachment styles of participants were assessed according to A-RSQ, dismissing attachment style scores of adolescents in BD group were found significantly higher compared to the healthy control group (p<0.05). As a result of the assessments, 12 adolescents (48%) out of 25 in the BD group and 5 adolescents (18%) out of 28 in the control group were given DSM-IV Axis I diagnosis, which is a statistically significant result (p<0.05). However, when psychiatric diagnoses were assessed separately, the difference was not statistically significant. We found that the adolescent children of parents with BD have increased risk of developing mental illnesses, and that these adolescents adopt dismissing attachment styles.

Cadmium Increases the Sensitivity of Adolescent Female Mice to Nicotine-Related Behavioral Deficits

PubMed Central

Adeniyi, Philip Adeyemi; Olatunji, Babawale Peter; Ishola, Azeez Olakunle; Ajonijebu, Duyilemi Chris; Ogundele, Olalekan Michael

2014-01-01

This study investigates spatial and nonspatial working memory, anxiety related behavior, and motor activities in cadmium and/or nicotine exposed female adolescent mice. P28 female adolescent mice (albino strain) were divided into four groups of five (n = 5) mice each. A set of mice (Nic) received subcutaneous nicotine (2.0 mg/kg) while a separate set (Cd) was treated with 2.0 mg/kg cadmium (subcutaneous). For the combined treatments of cadmium and nicotine, we administered 2.0 mg/kg Nicotine and 2.0 mg/kg of Cd. Subsequently, a separate group of animals (n = 5; control) received normal saline. The total duration of treatment for all groups was 28 days (P28–P56). At P56, the treatment was discontinued, after which the animals were examined in behavioural tests. Nicotine and cadmium increased the metabolism and food intake in the female adolescent mice. This also corresponded to an increase in weight when compared with the control. However, a combined nicotine-cadmium treatment induced a decline in weight of the animals versus the control. Also, nicotine administration increased the motor function, while cadmium and nicotine-cadmium treatment caused a decline in motor activity. Both nicotine and cadmium induced a reduction in memory index; however, nicotine-cadmium treatment induced the most significant decrease in nonspatial working memory. PMID:25477708

Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Analysis of Mucosal Thickening in Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Maxillary Sinuses.

PubMed

Kula, Katherine; Hale, Lindsay N; Ghoneima, Ahmed; Tholpady, Sunil; Starbuck, John M

2016-11-01

  To compare maxillary mucosal thickening and sinus volumes of unilateral cleft lip and palate subjects (UCLP) with noncleft (nonCLP) controls.   Randomized, retrospective study of cone-beam computed tomographs (CBCT).   University.   Fifteen UCLP subjects and 15 sex- and age-matched non-CLP controls, aged 8 to 14 years.   Following institutional review board approval and reliability tests, Dolphin three-dimensional imaging software was used to segment and slice maxillary sinuses on randomly selected CBCTs. The surface area (SA) of bony sinus and airspace on all sinus slices was determined using Dolphin and multiplied by slice thickness (0.4 mm) to calculate volume. Mucosal thickening was the difference between bony sinus and airspace volumes. The number of slices with bony sinus and airspace outlines was totaled. Right and left sinus values for each group were pooled (t tests, P > .05; n = 30 each group). All measures were compared (principal components analysis, multivariate analysis of variance, analysis of variance) by group and age (P ≤ .016 was considered significant).   Principal components analysis axis 1 and 2 explained 89.6% of sample variance. Principal components analysis showed complete separation based on the sample on axis 1 only. Age groups showed some separation on axis 2. Unilateral cleft lip and palate subjects had significantly smaller bony sinus and airspace volumes, fewer bony and airspace slices, and greater mucosal thickening and percentage mucosal thickening when compared with controls. Older subjects had significantly greater bony sinus and airspace volumes than younger subjects.   Children with UCLP have significantly more maxillary sinus mucosal thickening and smaller sinuses than controls.

Hip strength and star excursion balance test deficits of patients with chronic ankle instability.

PubMed

McCann, Ryan S; Crossett, Ian D; Terada, Masafumi; Kosik, Kyle B; Bolding, Brenn A; Gribble, Phillip A

2017-11-01

To examine isometric hip strength in those with and without CAI, and determine the degree of Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) variance explained by isometric hip strength. Single-blinded, cross-sectional, case-control study. Thirty individuals with CAI, 29 lateral ankle sprain (LAS) copers, and 26 healthy controls participated. We assessed dynamic postural control with the SEBT anterior (SEBT-ANT), posteromedial (SEBT-PM), and posterolateral (SEBT-PL) reaches, and isometric hip extension (EXT), abduction (ABD) and external rotation (ER) strength with hand-held dynamometry. The CAI and LAS coper groups' involved limbs and randomly selected limbs in controls were tested. Separate Kruskal-Wallis tests compared SEBT scores and isometric hip strength between groups. Backwards linear regression models determined the degree of SEBT variance explained by isometric hip strength. Statistical significance was set a priori at P<0.05. The CAI group had lower SEBT-ANT scores compared to LAS copers (P=0.03) and controls (P=0.03). The CAI group had lower ABD compared to LAS copers (P=0.03) and controls (P=0.02). The CAI group had lower ER compared to LAS copers (P=0.01) and controls (P=0.01). ER (R 2 =0.25, P=0.01) and ABD (R 2 =0.25, P=0.01) explained 25% of the CAI group's SEBT-PM and SEBT-PL variances, respectively. The CAI group had deficient dynamic postural control and isometric hip strength compared to LAS copers and controls. Additionally, the CAI group's isometric hip strength significantly influenced dynamic postural control performance. Future CAI rehabilitation strategies should consider hip muscular strengthening to facilitate improvements in dynamic postural control. Copyright © 2017 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Monitoring of Technology Transfer to the USSR.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-08-01

nizational options for improving the present system for monitor- ing technology transfer. (Cont. on reverse side) DO ,FN 1473 EDITION OF INOV SS...imposition of military control in Poland , a further curtailment of the exchange activi- ties followed. In particular, three agreements (in existence in 1981...its own, P. Poland is also in a separate Country Group W. North Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Cuba are in Country Group Z. Department of Commerce

Revascularization of Left Coronary System Using a Skeletonized Left Internal Mammary Artery　- Sequential vs. Separate Grafting.

PubMed

Ji, Qiang; Shi, YunQing; Xia, LiMin; Ma, RunHua; Shen, JinQiang; Lai, Hao; Ding, WenJun; Wang, ChunSheng

2017-12-25

To evaluate in-hospital and mid-term outcomes of sequential vs. separate grafting of in situ skeletonized left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to the left coronary system in a single-center, propensity-matched study.Methods and Results:After propensity score-matching, 120 pairs of patients undergoing first scheduled isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with in situ skeletonized LIMA grafting to the left anterior descending artery (LAD) territory were entered into a sequential group (sequential grafting of LIMA to the diagonal artery and then to the LAD) or a control group (separate grafting of LIMA to the LAD). The in-hospital and follow-up clinical outcomes and follow-up LIMA graft patency were compared. Both propensity score-matched groups had similar in-hospital and follow-up clinical outcomes. Sequential LIMA grafting was not found to be an independent predictor of adverse events. During a follow-up period of 27.0±7.3 months, 99.1% patency for the diagonal site and 98.3% for the LAD site were determined by coronary computed tomographic angiography after sequential LIMA grafting, both of which were similar with graft patency of separate grafting of in situ skeletonized LIMA to the LAD. Revascularization of the left coronary system using a skeletonized LIMA resulted in excellent in-hospital and mid-term clinical outcomes and graft patency using sequential grafting.

Health and Safety Intervention with First-Time Mothers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Culp, Anne McDonald; Culp, R. E.; Anderson, J. W.; Carter, S.

2007-01-01

A health education program was evaluated which used child development specialists as home visitors and served a population of first-time mothers living in rural communities. The evaluation compared health and safety outcomes between intervention and control groups. The research staff, separate from the intervention staff, collected data in the…

Hair Mineral Content as a Predictor of Learning Disabilities.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marlowe, Mike; And Others

1984-01-01

This study investigated the relationship between hair mineral elements and childhood learning disabilities and determined which minerals, if any, separated 26 learning disabled children with 24 normal controls. The learning disabled group had significantly raised hair-lead concentrations. There were also differences in the mean levels of 10 other…

Histological evaluation of the cleaning effectiveness of two reciprocating single-file systems in severely curved root canals: Reciproc versus WaveOne.

PubMed

Carvalho, Maira de Souza; Junior, Emílio Carlos Sponchiado; Bitencourt Garrido, Angela Delfina; Roberti Garcia, Lucas da Fonseca; Franco Marques, André Augusto

2015-01-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the cleaning effectiveness achieved with two reciprocating single-file systems in severely curved root canals: Reciproc and WaveOne. Twenty-five mesial roots of mandibular molars were randomly separated into two groups, according to the instrumentation system used. The negative control group consisted of five specimens that were not instrumented. The mesial canals (buccal and lingual) in Reciproc Group were instrumented with file R25 and the WaveOne group with the Primary file. The samples were submitted to histological processing and analyzed under a digital microscope. The WaveOne group presented a larger amount of debris than the Reciproc Group, however, without statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). A larger amount of debris in the control group was observed, with statistically significant difference to Reciproc and WaveOne groups (P < 0.05). The two reciprocating single-file instrumentation systems presented similar effectiveness for root canal cleaning.

Comparison of a math fact rehearsal and a mnemonic strategy approach for improving math fact fluency.

PubMed

Nelson, Peter M; Burns, Matthew K; Kanive, Rebecca; Ysseldyke, James E

2013-12-01

The current study used a randomized controlled trial to compare the effects of a practice-based intervention and a mnemonic strategy intervention on the retention and application of single-digit multiplication facts with 90 third- and fourth-grade students with math difficulties. Changes in retention and application were assessed separately using one-way ANCOVAs in which students' pretest scores were included as the covariate. Students in the practice-based intervention group had higher retention scores (expressed as the total number of digits correct per minute) relative to the control group. No statistically significant between-group differences were observed for application scores. Practical and theoretical implications for interventions targeting basic multiplication facts are discussed. © 2013.

The effect of excess weight on circulating inflammatory cytokines in drug-naïve first-episode psychosis individuals.

PubMed

Juncal-Ruiz, María; Riesco-Dávila, Laura; de la Foz, Víctor Ortiz-García; Ramírez-Bonilla, Mariluz; Martínez-García, Obdulia; Irure-Ventura, Juan; Leza, Juan Carlos; López-Hoyos, Marcos; Crespo-Facorro, Benedicto

2018-02-28

Low-grade inflammation has been repeatedly associated with both excess weight and psychosis. However, no previous studies have addressed the direct effect of body mass index (BMI) on basal serum cytokines in individuals with first-episode psychosis (FEP). The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of BMI on basal serum cytokine levels in FEP patients and control subjects, separating the total sample into two groups: normal-weight and overweight individuals. This is a prospective and open-label study. We selected 75 FEP patients and 75 healthy controls with similar characteristics to patients according to the following variables: sex, age, and cannabis and tobacco consumption. Both controls and patients were separated into two groups according to their BMI: subjects with a BMI under 25 were considered as normal weight and those with a BMI equal to or more than 25 were considered as overweight. Serum levels of 21 cytokines/chemokines were measured at baseline using the Human High Sensitivity T Cell Magnetic Bead Panel protocol from the Milliplex® Map Kit. We compared the basal serum levels of the 21 cytokines between control and patient groups according to their BMI. In the normal-weight group, IL-8 was the only cytokine that was higher in patients than in the control group (p = 0.001), whereas in the overweight group, serum levels of two pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, p = 0.000; IL-1β, p = 0.003), two chemokines (IL-8, p = 0.001; MIP-1β, p = 0.001), four Th-1 and Th-2 cytokines (IL-13, p = 0.009; IL-2, p = 0.001; IL-7, p = 0.001; IL-12p70, p = 0.010), and one Type-3 cytokine (IL-23, p = 0.010) were higher in patients than in controls. Most differences in the basal serum cytokine levels between patients and healthy volunteers were found in the overweight group. These findings suggest that excess weight can alter the homeostasis of the immune system and therefore may have an additive pro-inflammatory effect on the one produced by psychosis in the central nervous system.

Reducing motion sickness - A comparison of autogenic-feedback training and an alternative cognitive task

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Toscano, W. B.; Cowings, P. S.

1982-01-01

Eighteen men were randomly assigned to three groups matched for susceptibility to Coriolis motion sickness. All subjects were given six Coriolis Sickness Susceptibility Index (CSSI) tests separated by 5-d intervals. Treatment Group I subjects were taught to control their own autonomic responses before the third, fourth, and fifth CSSI tests (6 h total training). Group II subjects were given 'sham' training in an alternative cognitive task under conditions otherwise identical to those of Group I. Group III subjects received no treatment. Results showed that Group I subjects could withstand the stress of Coriolis acceleration significantly longer after training. Neither of the other two groups changed significantly.

Comparison of education group strategies and home visits in type 2 diabetes mellitus: clinical trial.

PubMed

Santos, Jéssica Caroline Dos; Cortez, Daniel Nogueira; Macedo, Maísa Mara Lopes; Reis, Edna Afonso; Reis, Ilka Afonso; Torres, Heloísa Carvalho

2017-12-21

to compare the adherence and empowerment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus for self-care practices and glycemic control in group education strategies and home visits. Clinical trial with ten randomized clusters, performed with 238 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus distributed in group education, home visit, and control group. Socio-demographic data, glycated hemoglobin and those obtained from the self-care and empowerment questionnaires were collected. Statistical analysis was performed separately by educational strategy. the mean age of the patients was 57.8 years old (SD = 9.4 years old), with a predominantly female participation (66.4%). Both strategies presented similar results regarding adherence to self-care practices and patient empowerment. There was also a reduction in glycated hemoglobin levels; however, only in the education group, the difference presented statistical significance (p <0.001). the strategies were effective; however, group education presented better glycemic control results in relation to the home visit. International registry: NCT02132338 and national: RBR-92j38t in the clinical trials registry.

A genetic screen for modifiers of UFO meristem activity identifies three novel FUSED FLORAL ORGANS genes required for early flower development in Arabidopsis.

PubMed

Levin, J Z; Fletcher, J C; Chen, X; Meyerowitz, E M

1998-06-01

In a screen to identify novel genes required for early Arabidopsis flower development, we isolated four independent mutations that enhance the Ufo phenotype toward the production of filamentous structures in place of flowers. The mutants fall into three complementation groups, which we have termed FUSED FLORAL ORGANS (FFO) loci. ffo mutants have specific defects in floral organ separation and/or positioning; thus, the FFO genes identify components of a boundary formation mechanism(s) acting between developing floral organ primordia. FFO1 and FFO3 have specific functions in cauline leaf/stem separation and in first- and third-whorl floral organ separation, with FFO3 likely acting to establish and FFO1 to maintain floral organ boundaries. FFO2 acts at early floral stages to regulate floral organ number and positioning and to control organ separation within and between whorls. Plants doubly mutant for two ffo alleles display additive phenotypes, indicating that the FFO genes may act in separate pathways. Plants doubly mutant for an ffo gene and for ufo, lfy, or clv3 reveal that the FFO genes play roles related to those of UFO and LFY in floral meristem initiation and that FFO2 and FFO3 may act to control cell proliferation late in inflorescence development.

[Alpha competitive structure in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with/without learning disabilities].

PubMed

Sun, Li; Wang, Yu-feng; He, Hua; Chen, Jin

2007-10-18

To explore the alpha competitive structure in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with/without learning disabilities (LD). According to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria, the study involved ADHD children with LD, pure ADHD children and normal controls. Each group consisted of 68 subjects. All subjects were between the ages of 7 and 14 years, and the groups were matched by sex, age and ADHD subtypes. EEG data were recorded during an eye-closed resting period and then were analyzed with EEG-encephaloflutuographic technology (EEG-ET). (1) The pure ADHD children showed significantly more 8 Hz activity (25.84%+/-14.81%) than that of the normal control group (16.50%+/-11.42%, P=0.000); The main frequency of alpha band was 10 Hz in the pure ADHD children, while the energy distribution among alpha components was diffuse. (2) ADHD children with LD showed significantly more 8 Hz and 13 Hz activity (25.11%+/-11.88%, 1.14%+/-1.14%, separately) than that of the normal control (16.50%+/-11.42%, 0.74%+/-0.97%, P=0.000, P=0.009, separately); The dominant probability of 10 Hz (27.80%+/-13.28%) in this group was significantly lower than that of the control group (36.06%+/-17.21%, P=0.011); The energy distribution among alpha components was diffuse in ADHD children with LD, whose main frequency of alpha band was 9 Hz; The entropy value of the ADHD children with LD was significantly higher than that of the control group in the right brain and the left parietal region, temporal region, occipital region (P<0.01). In the right temporal region and right occipital region, the entropy value of the ADHD children with LD was significantly higher than that of the pure ADHD children (P<0.05). The pathogenic mechanisms are different between ADHD children with or without LD. The pure ADHD children show more maturational lag pattern in the central nervous system, while ADHD children with LD have a developmental deviation from normal children, whose brain function is in a lower efficient state.

Effect of laser phototherapy on human alveolar bone repair: micro tomographic and histomorphometrical analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Romão, Marcia M. A.; Marques, Márcia M.; Cortes, Arthur R. G.; Horliana, Anna C. R. T.; Moreira, Maria S.; Lascala, Cesar A.

2015-06-01

The immediate dental implant placement in the molars region is critical, because of the high amount of bone loss and the discrepancy between the alveolar crest thickness and the dental implant platform. Laser phototherapy (LPT) improves bone repair thus could accelerate the implant placement. Twenty patients were selected for the study. Ten patients were submitted to LPT with GaAlAs diode laser (808nm) during molar extraction, immediately after, 24h, 48h, 72h, 96h and 7 days. The irradiations were applied in contact and punctual mode (100mW, 0.04cm2, 0.75J/cm2, 30s per point, 3J per point). The control group (n=10) received the same treatment; however with the power of the laser off. Forty days later samples of the tissue formed inside the sockets were obtained for further microtomography (microCTs) and histomorphometry analyses. Data were compared by the Student t test, whereas those from the different microCT parameters were compared by the Pearson correlation test (p<0.05). The relative bone volume, as well as area was significantly higher (p<0.001) in the lased than the control group. In the control group there were negative correlations between number and thickness, and between number and separation of trabecula (p<0.01). Between thickness and separation of trabecula the correlation was positive (p<0.01). The laser group showed significant negative correlation between the number and the thickness of trabecula (p<0.01). LPT accelerated bone repair. By the Pearson correlation test it was possible to infer that the lased group presented a more homogeneous trabecular configuration, which would allow earlier dental implant placement.

Temperament and character profiles of Japanese university students with depressive episodes and ideas of suicide or self-harm: a PHQ-9 screening study.

PubMed

Mitsui, Nobuyuki; Asakura, Satoshi; Shimizu, Yusuke; Fujii, Yutaka; Kako, Yuki; Tanaka, Teruaki; Oba, Koji; Inoue, Takeshi; Kusumi, Ichiro

2013-11-01

The aim of our study was to reveal the personality traits of individuals with major and other depressive episodes among the young adult population. Furthermore, character traits of individuals with ideas of suicide or self-harm were also investigated in this study. The subjects of this study were 1421 university students who completed the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). The subjects were divided into three separate groups: the major depressive episode group (N = 41), the other depressive episode group (N = 97), and the non-depressive controls (N = 1283). This separation was achieved using the PHQ-9 algorithm diagnosis. We compared the TCI scores using an analysis of variance. Moreover, the Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to determine the diagnosis, ideas of suicide or self-harm, and analysis of character profiles. The major depressive episode group had significantly higher HA (P < 0.001), lower RD (P < 0.001), lower SD (P < 0.001), and lower C (P < 0.001) scores than non-depressive controls. The other depressive episode group had significantly higher HA scores (P < 0.001) and lower SD scores (P < 0.001) than non-depressive controls. The Cochran-Armitage trend test revealed that the prevalence of depressive episodes decreased as the character profiles matured (χ(2)(trend) = 57.2, P < 0.0001). The same tendency was observed in individuals who had ideas of suicide or self-harm (χ(2)(trend) = 49.3, P < 0.0001). High HA and low SD scores were common personality traits among young adults with major depressive episodes. Furthermore, the immaturity of character profiles was clearly associated with depressive episodes and ideas of suicide or self-harm. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Visual outcomes after balanced salt solution infiltration during lenticule separation in small-incision lenticule extraction for myopic astigmatism.

PubMed

Liu, Ting; Zhu, Xiaomin; Chen, Kaijian; Bai, Ji

2017-07-01

To evaluate the refractive outcomes of balanced salt solution infiltration during small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE).This randomized prospective study enrolled 52 patients (104 eyes) with myopic astigmatism. Patients underwent SMILE to correct the myopic astigmatism in Daping Hospital of the Third Military Medical University between January and July 2013. One eye of each patient received traditional SMILE (control group) and the other received a modified SMILE procedure (liquid infiltration group). The corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), postoperative uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), refraction, wavefront aberration, intraocular pressure (IOP), modulation transfer function (MTF) cut-off frequency, and objective scattering index (OSI) were evaluated.UDVA in the liquid infiltration group was significantly higher than that in the control group at 1 day postoperatively, but not at 1 month after surgery. Moreover, OSI and MTF cut-off frequency in the liquid infiltration group were higher than those in the control group at early follow-up. However, no significant intergroup difference was observed in the OSI and MTF cut-off frequency at 3 months after surgery. In addition, the predictability was better in the liquid infiltration group than in the control group. The changes of horizontal coma in the liquid infiltration group were lesser than those in the control group. However, no intergroup difference was observed in the reduction of IOP at 1 month after surgery.The modified SMILE procedure results in better visual outcomes than did the traditional SMILE procedure when used for treating myopic astigmatism.

Transplantation of spinal cord-derived neural stem cells for ALS: Analysis of phase 1 and 2 trials.

PubMed

Glass, Jonathan D; Hertzberg, Vicki S; Boulis, Nicholas M; Riley, Jonathan; Federici, Thais; Polak, Meraida; Bordeau, Jane; Fournier, Christina; Johe, Karl; Hazel, Tom; Cudkowicz, Merit; Atassi, Nazem; Borges, Lawrence F; Rutkove, Seward B; Duell, Jayna; Patil, Parag G; Goutman, Stephen A; Feldman, Eva L

2016-07-26

To test the safety of spinal cord transplantation of human stem cells in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with escalating doses and expansion of the trial to multiple clinical centers. This open-label trial included 15 participants at 3 academic centers divided into 5 treatment groups receiving increasing doses of stem cells by increasing numbers of cells/injection and increasing numbers of injections. All participants received bilateral injections into the cervical spinal cord (C3-C5). The final group received injections into both the lumbar (L2-L4) and cervical cord through 2 separate surgical procedures. Participants were assessed for adverse events and progression of disease, as measured by the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised, forced vital capacity, and quantitative measures of strength. Statistical analysis focused on the slopes of decline of these phase 2 trial participants alone or in combination with the phase 1 participants (previously reported), comparing these groups to 3 separate historical control groups. Adverse events were mostly related to transient pain associated with surgery and to side effects of immunosuppressant medications. There was one incident of acute postoperative deterioration in neurologic function and another incident of a central pain syndrome. We could not discern differences in surgical outcomes between surgeons. Comparisons of the slopes of decline with the 3 separate historical control groups showed no differences in mean rates of progression. Intraspinal transplantation of human spinal cord-derived neural stem cells can be safely accomplished at high doses, including successive lumbar and cervical procedures. The procedure can be expanded safely to multiple surgical centers. This study provides Class IV evidence that for patients with ALS, spinal cord transplantation of human stem cells can be safely accomplished and does not accelerate the progression of the disease. This study lacks the precision to exclude important benefit or safety issues. © 2016 American Academy of Neurology.

The Impact of Musical Training on Hand Biomechanics in String Musicians.

PubMed

Gorniak, Stacey L; Collins, Evan D; Goldie Staines, Kimberly; Brooks, Forrest A; Young, Ricardo V

2018-04-01

The effects of musical training on the body in professional musicians remain an understudied area, particularly in reference to understanding and managing orthopedic/neuromuscular deviations and injuries in this population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate hand/finger fine motor function in musicians via physical examination as well as laboratory-based evaluations. Thirteen healthy noninjured young elite string musicians participated in this study. Performance of musicians was compared with healthy age-matched, sex-matched, and handedness-matched nonmusician controls. Musicians exhibited decreased intrinsic muscle strength compared with controls; however, no change in extrinsic muscle strength was found between groups. No between-group differences in overall force control were found; however, Group × Hand (right vs left) interactions were found in force control. These data suggest that musicians are a unique population with respect to: (1) fine motor control of the hand; and (2) exhibit changes in differential hand use. This suggests cortical reorganization of string musicians, such that this population should be studied separately from typical healthy controls with respect to hand function.

Control of Mechanical Properties of Thermoplastic Polyurethane Elastomers by Restriction of Crystallization of Soft Segment

PubMed Central

Kojio, Ken; Furukawa, Mutsuhisa; Nonaka, Yoshiteru; Nakamura, Sadaharu

2010-01-01

Mechanical properties of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers based on either polyether or polycarbonate (PC)-glycols, 4,4’-dipheylmethane diisocyanate (1,1’-methylenebis(4-isocyanatobenzene)), 1,4-butanediol, were controlled by restriction of crystallization of polymer glycols. For the polyether glycol based-polyurethane elastomers (PUEs), poly(oxytetramethylene) glycol (PTMG), and PTMG incorporating dimethyl groups (PTG-X) and methyl side groups (PTG-L) were employed as a polymer glycol. For the PC-glycol, the randomly copolymerized PC-glycols with hexamethylene (C6) and tetramethylene (C4) units between carbonate groups with various composition ratios (C4/C6 = 0/100, 50/50, 70/30 and 90/10) were employed. The degree of microphase separation and mechanical properties of both the PUEs were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic viscoelastic property measurements and tensile testing. Mechanical properties could be controlled by changing the molar ratio of two different monomer components. PMID:28883371

Exploring the Diagnostic Potential of Immune Biomarker Co-expression in Gulf War Illness.

PubMed

Broderick, Gordon; Fletcher, Mary Ann; Gallagher, Michael; Barnes, Zachary; Vernon, Suzanne D; Klimas, Nancy G

2018-01-01

Complex disorders like Gulf War illness (GWI) often defy diagnosis on the basis of a single biomarker and may only be distinguishable by considering the co-expression of multiple markers measured in response to a challenge. We demonstrate the practical application of such an approach using an example where blood was collected from 26 GWI, 13 healthy control subjects, and 9 unhealthy controls with chronic fatigue at three points during a graded exercise challenge. A 3-way multivariate projection model based on 12 markers of endocrine and immune function was constructed using a training set of n = 10 GWI and n = 11 healthy controls. These groups were separated almost completely on the basis of two co-expression patterns. In a separate test set these same features allowed for discrimination of new GWI subjects (n = 16) from unhealthy (n = 9) and healthy control subjects with a sensitivity of 70% and a specificity of 90%.

Separate housing for one month after calving improves production and health in primiparous cows but not in multiparous cows.

PubMed

Østergaard, S; Thomsen, P T; Burow, E

2010-08-01

The hypothesis was that dairy cows housed for 1 mo after calving in a separate group with herd mates would produce more milk and would be healthier than cows integrated in a group of all lactating cows immediately after calving. The experiment was conducted with 489 cows in 6 commercial loose-housing dairy herds where cows were randomly selected for treatment (separate housing) or control. Cows selected for treatment were housed for 1 mo after calving in a separate section, and controls were housed in the remaining section of the barn for lactating cows. Data were compared for milk yield, somatic cell count, medical treatments, reproductive performance, culling, mortality, and clinical observation of scores for body condition, leg and udder hygiene, lameness, hock lesions, other cutaneous lesions, vaginal discharge, and condition of the hair coat. The analysis of the effect of separate housing showed that primiparous cows produced more milk [approximately 230 kg of energy-corrected milk from 0 to 305 d in milk (DIM)], whereas multiparous and especially parity 3+ cows produced less milk (approximately 394 kg of energy-corrected milk from 0 to 305 DIM) during the lactation. Separate housing had no effect on mortality or reproductive efficiency. In primiparous cows, the number of medical treatments for ketosis was reduced by separate housing [hazard ratio 0.33, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.13-0.83]. Clinical evaluations showed that separate housing decreased the scores for hock lesions in cows at 0 to 30 DIM (odds ratio 0.41, CI: 0.19-0.91), whereas the scoring of leg cleanliness showed more dirty legs in separated cows at 0 to 30 DIM (odds ratio 3.61, CI: 2.01-6.47) compared with cows integrated into the herd immediately. The body condition score in separated cows was reduced from 0 to 30 DIM (score reduced by 0.16, CI: 0.07-0.25) and from 31 to 60 DIM (score reduced by 0.13, CI: 0.04-0.23) compared with cows integrated immediately. We concluded that separate housing for 1 mo after calving increased milk yield in primiparous cows but not in multiparous cows, which produced less milk. The hypothesis about fewer health problems could only be confirmed with regard to fewer primiparous cows being treated for ketosis. Copyright (c) 2010 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The effect of problem solving and decision making skills on tendency to depression and anxiety in patients with type 2 diabetes.

PubMed

Abazarian, Elaheh; Baboli, M Teimourzadeh; Abazarian, Elham; Ghashghaei, F Esteki

2015-01-01

Diabetes is the most prevalent disease that has involved 177 million people all over the world and, due to this, these patients suffer from depression and anxiety and they should use special methods for controlling the same. The aim of this research is the study of the effect of problem solving and decision making skill on the rate of the tendency to depression and anxiety. This research is a quasi-experimental (case-control) study. Statistically, the population of the present study was all diabetic patients of Qaemshahr who were controlled by physicians in 2011-2012. Thirty files were selected randomly from them and divided into two 15 patients' groups (control and subject group) randomly. The measurement tools were Back depression inventory (21 items) and Zank anxiety questionnaire that were distributed among two groups. Then, the subject group participated in eight sessions of teaching problem solving and decision making courses separately, and the second group (control group) did not receive any instruction. Finally, both groups had passed post-test and the data obtained from the questionnaires were studied by variance analysis statistical methods. The results showed that teaching problem solving and decision making skills was very effective in reducing diabetic patients' depression and anxiety and resulted in reducing their depression and anxiety.

The effect of problem solving and decision making skills on tendency to depression and anxiety in patients with type 2 diabetes

PubMed Central

Abazarian, Elaheh; Baboli, M Teimourzadeh; Abazarian, Elham; Ghashghaei, F Esteki

2015-01-01

Background: Diabetes is the most prevalent disease that has involved 177 million people all over the world and, due to this, these patients suffer from depression and anxiety and they should use special methods for controlling the same. The aim of this research is the study of the effect of problem solving and decision making skill on the rate of the tendency to depression and anxiety. Materials and Methods: This research is a quasi-experimental (case-control) study. Statistically, the population of the present study was all diabetic patients of Qaemshahr who were controlled by physicians in 2011-2012. Thirty files were selected randomly from them and divided into two 15 patients’ groups (control and subject group) randomly. The measurement tools were Back depression inventory (21 items) and Zank anxiety questionnaire that were distributed among two groups. Then, the subject group participated in eight sessions of teaching problem solving and decision making courses separately, and the second group (control group) did not receive any instruction. Results: Finally, both groups had passed post-test and the data obtained from the questionnaires were studied by variance analysis statistical methods. Conclusion: The results showed that teaching problem solving and decision making skills was very effective in reducing diabetic patients’ depression and anxiety and resulted in reducing their depression and anxiety. PMID:26261814

Cedar-a large scale multiprocessor

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

Gajski, D.; Kuck, D.; Lawrie, D.

1983-01-01

This paper presents an overview of Cedar, a large scale multiprocessor being designed at the University of Illinois. This machine is designed to accommodate several thousand high performance processors which are capable of working together on a single job, or they can be partitioned into groups of processors where each group of one or more processors can work on separate jobs. Various aspects of the machine are described including the control methodology, communication network, optimizing compiler and plans for construction. 13 references.

[Clinical study on analgesic mechanism of bitongxiao in treating neck pain due to cervical spondylitis].

PubMed

Li, J X; Xiang, C J; Liu, X Q

2001-07-01

To study the analgesic mechanism of Bitongxiao (BTX, a Chinese herbal decoction) in treating neck pain due to cervical spondylitis (CS). BTX and Jingfukang (JFK) granule were used to treat the treated and the control group separately in 102 CS cases. Plasma leucine enkephalin (LEK), substance P (SP) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) before and after treatment were assayed by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Twelve patients in the treated group were clinically cured, 36 markedly effectively, 3 effectively and 1 ineffectively, while in the control group they were 5, 33, 14 and 0 cases respectively. The cured and marked effective rate in the treated group was 92.3%, while that in the control group 72.0%. After treatment the pain score (VAS) of both groups were significantly reduced, but the reduction was higher in the treated group than that in the control. Before treatment, plasma LEK in all patients was abnormally low, but after treatment, it raised obviously more in the treated group than that in the control (P < 0.05). Plasma SP of both groups were obviously elevated, and PGE2 revealed unaltered after treatment. BTX has strong, fast-acting and long-lasting analgesic effect with no side-effects, it could elevate the lowered plasma LEK level in cervical spondylitis patients and increase plasma SP level. The analgesic mechanism of BTX might be associated with its effect on LEK, SP or other endorphins, directly acting on the pain modulation system.

Schema vs. primitive perceptual grouping: the relative weighting of sequential vs. spatial cues during an auditory grouping task in frogs.

PubMed

Farris, Hamilton E; Ryan, Michael J

2017-03-01

Perceptually, grouping sounds based on their sources is critical for communication. This is especially true in túngara frog breeding aggregations, where multiple males produce overlapping calls that consist of an FM 'whine' followed by harmonic bursts called 'chucks'. Phonotactic females use at least two cues to group whines and chucks: whine-chuck spatial separation and sequence. Spatial separation is a primitive cue, whereas sequence is schema-based, as chuck production is morphologically constrained to follow whines, meaning that males cannot produce the components simultaneously. When one cue is available, females perceptually group whines and chucks using relative comparisons: components with the smallest spatial separation or those closest to the natural sequence are more likely grouped. By simultaneously varying the temporal sequence and spatial separation of a single whine and two chucks, this study measured between-cue perceptual weighting during a specific grouping task. Results show that whine-chuck spatial separation is a stronger grouping cue than temporal sequence, as grouping is more likely for stimuli with smaller spatial separation and non-natural sequence than those with larger spatial separation and natural sequence. Compared to the schema-based whine-chuck sequence, we propose that spatial cues have less variance, potentially explaining their preferred use when grouping during directional behavioral responses.

Behavioral Assessment of Emotion Discrimination, Emotion Regulation, and Cognitive Control in Childhood, Adolescence, and Adulthood

PubMed Central

Tottenham, Nim; Hare, Todd A.; Casey, B. J.

2011-01-01

Emotion discrimination, emotion regulation, and cognitive control are three related, yet separable processes that emerge over the course of development. The current study tested 100 children, adolescents, and adults on an Emotional Go/Nogo task, illustrating the ability of this paradigm to identify the unique developmental patterns for each of these three processes in the context of both positive (happy) and negative emotions (fear, sad, and anger), across three different age groups. Consistent with previous literature, our findings show that emotion discrimination and regulatory abilities (both cognitive control and emotion regulation) improve steadily for each age group, with each age group showing unique patterns of performance. The findings suggest that emotion regulation is constructed from basic cognition control and emotion discrimination skills. The patterns of behavior from the Emotional Go/Nogo task provide normative benchmark data across a wide range of emotions that can be used for future behavioral and neuroimaging studies that examine the developmental construction of emotion regulatory processes. PMID:21716604

Microgravity Fluid Separation Physics: Experimental and Analytical Results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shoemaker, J. Michael; Schrage, Dean S.

1997-01-01

Effective, low power, two-phase separation systems are vital for the cost-effective study and utilization of two-phase flow systems and flow physics of two-phase flows. The study of microgravity flows have the potential to reveal significant insight into the controlling mechanisms for the behavior of flows in both normal and reduced gravity environments. The microgravity environment results in a reduction in gravity induced buoyancy forces acting on the discrete phases. Thus, surface tension, viscous, and inertial forces exert an increased influence on the behavior of the flow as demonstrated by the axisymmetric flow patterns. Several space technology and operations groups have studied the flow behavior in reduced gravity since gas-liquid flows are encountered in several systems such as cabin humidity control, wastewater treatment, thermal management, and Rankine power systems.

[In vitro toxicity of naturally occurring silica nanoparticles in C1 coal in bronchial epithelial cells].

PubMed

Li, Guangjian; Huang, Yunchao; Liu, Yongjun; Guo, Lv; Zhou, Yongchun; Yang, Kun; Chen, Ying; Zhao, Guangqiang; Lei, Yujie

2012-10-01

China's Xuan Wei County in Yunnan Province have the world's highest incidence of lung cancer in nonsmoking women-20 times higher than the rest of China. Previous studies showed, this high lung cancer incidence may be associated with the silica particles embedded in the production combustion from the C1 coal. The aim of this study is to separate the silica particles from production combustion from the C1 bituminous coal in Xuan Wei County of Yunnan Province, and study in vitro toxicity of naturally occurring silica particles on BEAS-2B. ①Separating the silica particles from combustion products of C1 bituminous coal by physical method, observing the morphology by Scanning Electron Microscope, analysis elements by SEM-EDX, observed the single particle morphology by Transmission Electron Microscope, analyed its particle size distribution by Laser particle size analyzer, the surface area of silica particles were determined by BET nitrogen adsorption analysis; ②Cell viability of the experimental group (silica; naturally occurring), control group (silica; industrial produced and crystalline silica) was detected by assay used the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) method, and the reactive oxygen species (ROS), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were determined after 24 h-72 h exposed to these particles. ①The physical method can separate silica particles from production combustion from the C1 bituminous coal, which have different size, and from 30 nm to 120 nm particles accounted for 86.8%, different morphology, irregular surface area and containing trace of aluminum, calcium and iron and other elements; ②Under the same concentration, the experiment group have higher toxicity on BEAS-2B than control groups. Physical method can separate silica particles from production combustion from the C1 bituminous coal and not change the original morphology and containing trace; ②Naturally occurring silica nanoparticles have irregular morphology, surface area, and containing complex trace elements may has greater toxicity than the silica nanoparticle of industrial produced and crystalline silica.

Attachment Styles and Psychopathology among Adolescent Children of Parents with Bipolar Disorder

PubMed Central

Erkan, Mustafa; Gencoglan, Salih; Akguc, Leyla; Ozatalay, Esin; Fettahoglu, Emine Cigil

2015-01-01

Background The aim of this study was to compare attachment styles and psychopathology in adolescent children of parents with bipolar disorder (BD) with a healthy control group. Material/Methods We studied 25 adolescents who had at least 1 parent with BD (BD group) and 28 adolescents who had no parents with BD (control group). The adolescent participants were between the ages of 12 and 17 years. We used the Adolescent Relationship Scales Questionnaire (A-RSQ) for the adolescents in the BD vs. control groups, and we used the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-age Children – present and lifetime version (K-SADS-PL). We used the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I), Clinician Version for each parent of adolescents in the BD and control groups to rule out psychopathologies. Results Attachment styles of participants were assessed according to A-RSQ, dismissing attachment style scores of adolescents in BD group were found significantly higher compared to the healthy control group (p<0.05). As a result of the assessments, 12 adolescents (48%) out of 25 in the BD group and 5 adolescents (18%) out of 28 in the control group were given DSM-IV Axis I diagnosis, which is a statistically significant result (p<0.05). However, when psychiatric diagnoses were assessed separately, the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions We found that the adolescent children of parents with BD have increased risk of developing mental illnesses, and that these adolescents adopt dismissing attachment styles. PMID:25877235

Effects of sleeping position on back pain in physically active seniors: A controlled pilot study.

PubMed

Desouzart, Gustavo; Matos, Rui; Melo, Filipe; Filgueiras, Ernesto

2015-01-01

The increase in life expectancy of elderly population has aroused the interest of different knowledge areas in understanding the variables that are involved in the aging process, linking them to other concepts such as active aging, healthy aging and the bio-psycho-social changes. This paper presents the results of the first controlled, experimental pilot study that aimed to analyze the relationship between the perception of back pain and the sleeping position adopted by physically active female seniors. Twenty female seniors (mean age 62.70 ± 3.827) participated in this study. The individuals were separated in 2 groups (Experimental and Control Group). For the carrying out of this study, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to measure the intensity of back pain in the spine before and after four consecutive weeks an Intervention program. Individuals in the Experimental Group were instructed regarding the recommended way to sleep position (Intervention program) according to the pathological problems or the amount of pain reported. The Experimental Group (N = 10) presented significantly (p = 0.009) fewer complaints of back pain after an Intervention program in comparison to individuals who did not receive this type of information (Control Group).

An Intervention Study on Mental Computation for Second Graders in Taiwan

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yang, Der-Ching; Huang, Ke-Lun

2014-01-01

The authors compared the mental computation performance and mental strategies used by an experimental Grade 2 class and a control Grade 2 class before and after instructional intervention. Results indicate that students in the experimental group had better performance on mental computation. The use of mental strategies (counting, separation,…

Diagnostic Efficiency of "DSM-IV" Indicators for Binge Eating Episodes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

White, Marney A.; Grilo, Carlos M.

2011-01-01

Ceach indicator criterion in separate analyses comparing BED, BN, and combined BED + BN groups relative to controls. Results: PPPs and NPPs suggest all of the indicators have predictive value, with "eating alone because embarrassed" (PPP = 0.80) "and feeling disgusted" (NPP = 0.93) performing as the best inclusion and exclusion criteria,…

Staying Healthy in Child Care: Preventing Infectious Diseases in Child Care.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thomson, Beth, Ed.

This guide provides explanations of control methods for infection and diseases in child care with an emphasis on prevention and health. The guide consists of two parts. The first part covers the following topics on preventing illness in children: how infections spread; handwashing; separation into age groups; nappy changing and toileting; cleaning…

Oxygenated phosphine fumigation for control of light brown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), eggs on cut-flowers

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Light brown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana, eggs were subjected to oxygenated phosphine fumigation treatments on cut flowers to determine efficacy and safety. Five cut flower species: roses, lilies, tulips, gerbera daisy, and pompon chrysanthemums, were fumigated in separate groups with 2500 ppm ...

Oral Interpretation as a Pedagogical Tool in Teaching Literary Comprehension and Appreciation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ford-Brown, Lisa A.

A study investigated whether there was a significant difference in the comprehension and appreciation of literature studied through oral interpretation when compared to silent reading. Two hundred and sixty-three third, fourth, and fifth graders from Terre Haute, Indiana were separated into experimental and control groups, and were given pre- and…

Self-Reported Weight Perceptions, Dieting Behavior, and Breakfast Eating among High School Adolescents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zullig, Keith; Ubbes, Valerie A.; Pyle, Jennifer; Valois, Robert F.

2006-01-01

This study explored the relationships among weight perceptions, dieting behavior, and breakfast eating in 4597 public high school adolescents using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Adjusted multiple logistic regression models were constructed separately for race and gender groups via SUDAAN (Survey Data…

Infectious laryngotracheitis virus in chickens

PubMed Central

Ou, Shan-Chia; Giambrone, Joseph J

2012-01-01

Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) is an important respiratory disease of chickens and annually causes significant economic losses in the poultry industry world-wide. ILT virus (ILTV) belongs to alphaherpesvirinae and the Gallid herpesvirus 1 species. The transmission of ILTV is via respiratory and ocular routes. Clinical and post-mortem signs of ILT can be separated into two forms according to its virulence. The characteristic of the severe form is bloody mucus in the trachea with high mortality. The mild form causes nasal discharge, conjunctivitis, and reduced weight gain and egg production. Conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nested PCR, real-time PCR, and loop-mediated isothermal amplification were developed to detect ILTV samples from natural or experimentally infected birds. The PCR combined with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) can separate ILTVs into several genetic groups. These groups can separate vaccine from wild type field viruses. Vaccination is a common method to prevent ILT. However, field isolates and vaccine viruses can establish latent infected carriers. According to PCR-RFLP results, virulent field ILTVs can be derived from modified-live vaccines. Therefore, modified-live vaccine reversion provides a source for ILT outbreaks on chicken farms. Two recently licensed commercial recombinant ILT vaccines are also in use. Other recombinant and gene-deficient vaccine candidates are in the developmental stages. They offer additional hope for the control of this disease. However, in ILT endemic regions, improved biosecurity and management practices are critical for improved ILT control. PMID:24175219

Profiles of White Matter Tract Pathology in Frontotemporal Dementia

PubMed Central

Mahoney, Colin J; Ridgway, Gerard R; Malone, Ian B; Downey, Laura E; Beck, Jonathan; Kinnunen, Kirsi M; Schmitz, Nicole; Golden, Hannah L; Rohrer, Jonathan D; Schott, Jonathan M; Rossor, Martin N; Ourselin, Sebastien; Mead, Simon; Fox, Nick C; Warren, Jason D

2014-01-01

Despite considerable interest in improving clinical and neurobiological characterisation of frontotemporal dementia and in defining the role of brain network disintegration in its pathogenesis, information about white matter pathway alterations in frontotemporal dementia remains limited. Here we investigated white matter tract damage using an unbiased, template-based diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) protocol in a cohort of 27 patients with the behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) representing both major genetic and sporadic forms, in relation both to healthy individuals and to patients with Alzheimer's disease. Widespread white matter tract pathology was identified in the bvFTD group compared with both healthy controls and Alzheimer's disease group, with prominent involvement of uncinate fasciculus, cingulum bundle and corpus callosum. Relatively discrete and distinctive white matter profiles were associated with genetic subgroups of bvFTD associated with MAPT and C9ORF72 mutations. Comparing diffusivity metrics, optimal overall separation of the bvFTD group from the healthy control group was signalled using radial diffusivity, whereas optimal overall separation of the bvFTD group from the Alzheimer's disease group was signalled using fractional anisotropy. Comparing white matter changes with regional grey matter atrophy (delineated using voxel based morphometry) in the bvFTD cohort revealed co-localisation between modalities particularly in the anterior temporal lobe, however white matter changes extended widely beyond the zones of grey matter atrophy. Our findings demonstrate a distributed signature of white matter alterations that is likely to be core to the pathophysiology of bvFTD and further suggest that this signature is modulated by underlying molecular pathologies. PMID:24510641

Outcome Evaluation of Family Eats.

PubMed

Cullen, Karen Weber; Thompson, Debbe; Chen, Tzu-An

2017-02-01

This article presents the results of a randomized clinical trial evaluating the eight-session Family Eats web-based intervention promoting healthy home food environments for African American families. African American families ( n = 126) with 8- to 12-year-old children completed online baseline questionnaires and were randomized into intervention or control groups. Data collection occurred at baseline, immediately postintervention (Post 1), and 4 months later (Post 2), for parents and children, separately. There were two group by time intervention effects: Control group parents reported a significantly greater frequency of drinking 100% fruit juice at Post 1 compared with intervention group parents. Parent menu planning skills were significantly higher at Post 2 for the intervention group compared with the control group. Significant positive changes overtime were noted for both groups for home fruit/vegetable availability, food preparation practices, and healthy restaurant selection. Intervention group children reported a significant increase in home juice availability at Post 1 compared with the control group; home fruit availability improved for both groups. There was no difference in log on rates by group: 84% and 86% for those who completed Post 1 and Post 2 measurements, respectively. Sixty-four participants completed the evaluation survey: 17 control (50%) and 47 intervention (51%) participants. All participants reported liking the program components; all but one gave it an A or B grade. An Internet-delivered nutrition intervention for families was successful in achieving change in some mediating variables, with good log on rates. Future research with Family Eats should include larger sample sizes, with longer follow-up and a more objective measure of diet.

Meeting Postpartum Women’s Family Planning Needs Through Integrated Family Planning and Immunization Services: Results of a Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial in Rwanda

PubMed Central

Dulli, Lisa S; Eichleay, Marga; Rademacher, Kate; Sortijas, Steve; Nsengiyumva, Théophile

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT Objective The primary objective of this study was to test the effectiveness of integrating family planning service components into infant immunization services to increase modern contraceptive method use among postpartum women. Methods The study was a separate sample, parallel, cluster-randomized controlled trial. Fourteen randomly selected primary health facilities were equally allocated to intervention (integrated family planning and immunization services at the same time and location) and control groups (standard immunization services only). At baseline (May–June 2010), we interviewed postpartum women attending immunization services for their infant aged 6 to 12 months using a structured questionnaire. A separate sample of postpartum women was interviewed 16 months later after implementation of the experimental health service intervention. We used linear mixed regression models to test the study hypothesis that postpartum women attending immunization services for their infants aged 6–12 months in the intervention facilities will be more likely to use a modern contraceptive method than postpartum women attending immunization services for their infants aged 6–12 months in control group facilities. Results We interviewed and analyzed data for 825 women from the intervention group and 829 women from the control group. Results showed the intervention had a statistically significant, positive effect on modern contraceptive method use among intervention group participants compared with control group participants (regression coefficient, 0.15; 90% confidence interval [CI], 0.04 to 0.26). Although we conducted a 1-sided significance test, this effect was also significant at the 2-sided test with alpha = .05. Among those women who did not initiate a contraceptive method, awaiting the return of menses was the most common reason cited for non-use of a method. Women in both study groups overwhelmingly supported the concept of integrating family planning service components into infant immunization services (97.9% in each group), and service data collected during the intervention period did not indicate that the intervention had any negative effect on infant immunization service uptake. Conclusion Integrating family planning service components into infant immunization services can be an acceptable and effective strategy to increase contraceptive use among postpartum women. Additional research is needed to examine the extent to which this integration strategy can be replicated in other health care settings. Future research should also explore persistent misconceptions regarding the relationship between return of menses and return to fertility during the postpartum period. PMID:27016545

Association of young and advanced age of pregnant women with the risk of isolated congenital abnormalities in Hungary - a population-based case-matched control study.

PubMed

Csermely, Gyula; Susánszky, Éva; Czeizel, Andrew E

2015-03-01

To analyze the possible association of maternal age with the risk of all congenital abnormalities (CAs) in a population-based large case-matched control data set. The Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities included 21,494 cases with isolated CA and their 34,311 matched controls. First the distribution of maternal age groups in 24 CA-groups and their matched controls was compared. In the second step, young (19 years or less) and advanced (35 years or more) age groups were compared. Finally, the subgroups of neural-tube defects, congenital heart defects and abdominal wall's CA were evaluated separately. A higher risk of gastroschisis, congenital heart defects, particularly left-sided obstructive defects, undescended testis and clubfoot was found in the youngest age group (19 years or less) of cases. The higher proportion of pregnant women with advanced age (i.e. 35 years or more) showed only a borderline excess in cases with clubfoot. The so-called U-shaped risk of maternal age distribution was found in cases with clubfoot and in the total group of isolated CAs. The maternal age is a contributing factor to the origin of some isolated CAs mainly in young pregnant women.

Sentence imitation as a marker of SLI in Czech: disproportionate impairment of verbs and clitics.

PubMed

Smolík, Filip; Vávru, Petra

2014-06-01

The authors examined sentence imitation as a potential clinical marker of specific language impairment (SLI) in Czech and its use to identify grammatical markers of SLI. Children with SLI and the age- and language-matched control groups (total N = 57) were presented with a sentence imitation task, a receptive vocabulary task, and digit span and nonword repetition tasks. Sentence imitations were scored for accuracy and error types. A separate count of inaccuracies for individual part-of-speech categories was performed. Children with SLI had substantially more inaccurate imitations than the control groups. The differences in the memory measures could not account for the differences between children with SLI and the control groups in imitation accuracy, even though they accounted for the differences between the language-matched and age-matched control groups. The proportion of grammatical errors was larger in children with SLI than in the control groups. The categories that were most affected in imitations of children with SLI were verbs and clitics. Sentence imitation is a sensitive marker of SLI. Verbs and clitics are the most vulnerable categories in Czech SLI. The pattern of errors suggests that impaired syntactic representations are the most likely source of difficulties in children with SLI.

"He Could Scare Me Without Laying a Hand on Me": Mothers' Experiences of Nonviolent Coercive Control During Marriage and After Separation.

PubMed

Crossman, Kimberly A; Hardesty, Jennifer L; Raffaelli, Marcela

2016-03-01

Studies demonstrate the negative effects of violent coercive control but few examine coercive control without violence. This study describes the characteristics of nonviolent coercive control among 8 divorcing mothers and compares them with 47 mothers who experienced violent coercive control or no violence/no control. Mothers with nonviolent coercive control reported more coping strategies, risk, harassment, and perceived threat than mothers with no violence/no control; similar levels of fear and control during marriage as mothers with violent coercive control; and more postseparation fear than both groups. Findings highlight the need to include nonviolent coercive control in screening methods and research measures. © The Author(s) 2015.

Cluster analysis of cognitive performance in elderly and demented subjects.

PubMed

Giaquinto, S; Nolfe, G; Calvani, M

1985-06-01

48 elderly normals, 14 demented subjects and 76 young controls were tested for basic cognitive functions. All the tests were quantified and could therefore be subjected to statistical analysis. The results show a difference in the speed of information processing and in memory load between the young controls and elderly normals but the age groups differed in quantitative terms only. Cluster analysis showed that the elderly and the demented formed two distinctly separate groups at the qualitative level, the basic cognitive processes being damaged in the demented group. Age thus appears to be only a risk factor for dementia and not its cause. It is concluded that batteries based on precise and measurable tasks are the most appropriate not only for the study of dementia but for rehabilitation purposes too.

A new two-roll electrostatic separator for recycling of metals and nonmetals from waste printed circuit board.

PubMed

Jiang, Wu; Jia, Li; Zhen-Ming, Xu

2009-01-15

The electrostatic separation is an effective method for recycling waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). The efficiency of electrostatic separation processes depends on the ability of the separator. As a classical one, the roll-type corona-electrostatic separator has some advantages in recycling metals and plastics from waste printed circuit board (PCB). However, its industry application still faces some problems, such as: the further disposal of the middling products of the separation process; the balance of the production capacity and the good separation efficiency; the separation of the fine granular mixture and the stability of the separation process. A new "two-roll-type corona-electrostatic separator" was built to overcome the limitation of the classical one. The experimental data were discussed and the results showed that the outcome of the separation process was improved by using the new separator. Compared with the classical machine, the mass of conductive products increases 8.9% (groups 2 and 3) and10.2% (group 4) while the mass of the middling products decreases 45% (groups 2 and 3) and 31.7% (group 4), respectively. The production capacity of the new machine increases, and the stability of the separation process is enhanced.

Rate dependent effects of acute nicotine on risk taking in young adults are not related to ADHD diagnosis

PubMed Central

Ryan, Katherine K.; Dube, Sarahjane L.; Potter, Alexandra S.

2012-01-01

Beneficial effects of nicotine on cognition and behavioral control are hypothesized to relate to the high rates of cigarette smoking in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Given that ADHD is associated with both impulsivity and elevated risk taking, we hypothesized that nicotine modulates risk taking, as it does impulsivity. 26 non-smoking young adults (15 controls with normal impulsivity and 11 ADHD with high impulsivity) received 7 mg transdermal nicotine, 20 mg oral mecamylamine, and placebo on separate days, followed by the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART). Statistical analyses found no group differences in baseline risk taking. Reexamination of the data using a median split on baseline risk taking, to create high (HRT) and low (LRT) risk taking groups, revealed significant effects of nicotinic drugs that differed by group. Nicotine reduced risk taking in HRT and mecamylamine increased risk taking in LRT. This finding supports the hypothesis that nicotinic receptor function modulates risk taking broadly, beyond those with ADHD, and is consistent with rate dependent cholinergic modulation of other cognitive functions. Further, the results demonstrate that high impulsivity is separable from high risk taking in young adults with ADHD, supporting the utility of these differential behavioral phenotypes for neurobiological studies. PMID:23159875

Parental Divorce and Initiation of Alcohol Use in Early Adolescence

PubMed Central

Jackson, Kristina M.; Rogers, Michelle L.; Sartor, Carolyn E.

2016-01-01

Parental divorce/separation is among the most commonly endorsed adverse childhood events and has been shown to increase subsequent risk of alcohol dependence and problems across adolescence and early adulthood, but its influence on early stages of alcohol involvement has only recently been explored. The present study examined whether time to first full drink was accelerated among youth who experienced parental divorce/separation. To determine specificity of risk, models controlled for perceived stress as well as family history of alcoholism, current parental drinking, and internalizing and externalizing problems. Developmental specificity in terms of timing of both parental divorce and first drink was also examined. Participants were 931 middle-school students who were enrolled in a prospective study on drinking initiation and progression (52% female; 23% non-White, 11% Hispanic). Students indicated whether and at what age they had consumed a full drink of alcohol. Parental divorce/separation was coded from a parent-reported life events inventory and was grouped based on age experienced (ages 0–5, ages 6–9, age 10+). Cox proportional-hazard models showed increased risk for onset of drinking as a function of divorce/separation, even controlling for stress, parental alcohol involvement, and psychopathology. There was no evidence for developmental specificity of the divorce/separation effect based on when it occurred nor in timing of first drink. However, the effect of parental divorce/separation on initiation was magnified at higher levels of parental drinking. Given the rates of parental divorce/separation and its association with increased risk of early drinking, investigation of the mechanisms underlying this link is clearly warranted. PMID:27322803

Estimating Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness With the Test-Negative Design Using Alternative Control Groups: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PubMed

Feng, Shuo; Cowling, Benjamin J; Kelly, Heath; Sullivan, Sheena G

2018-02-01

One important assumption in case-control studies is that control selection should be independent of exposure. Nevertheless, it has been hypothesized that virus interference might lead to a correlation between receipt of influenza vaccination and increased risk of infection with other respiratory viruses. We investigated whether such a phenomenon might affect a study design commonly used to estimate influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE). We searched publications in MEDLINE, PubMed, and Web of Science. We identified 12 studies using the test-negative design (2011-2017) that reported VE estimates separately derived by 3 alternative control groups: 1) all patients testing negative for influenza (FLU), VEFLU-; 2) patients who tested positive for other/another respiratory virus (ORV), VEORV+; and 3) patients who tested negative for all viruses in the panel (PAN), VEPAN-. These included VE estimates from 7 countries for all age groups from 2003/2004 to 2013/2014. We observed no difference in vaccination coverage between the ORV-positive and PAN-negative control groups. A total of 63 VEFLU- estimates, 62 VEORV+ estimates, and 33 VEPAN- estimates were extracted. Pooled estimates of the difference in VE (ΔVE) were very similar between groups. In meta-regression, no association was found between the selection of control group and VE estimates. In conclusion, we did not find any differences in VE estimates based on the choice of control group. © The Author(s) 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Effects of acute alcohol consumption and vitamin E co-treatment on oxidative stress parameters in rats tongue.

PubMed

Carrard, V C; Pires, A S; Mendez, M; Mattos, F; Moreira, J C F; Sant'Ana Filho, M

2009-06-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of acute alcohol consumption and vitamin E co-treatment upon oxidative stress parameters in rats tongue. Thirty-eight, Wistar rats were separated into five groups (alcohol, alcohol/vitamin E, control, Tween, vitamin E). Alcohol and alcohol vitamin E groups had the standard diet, and 40% alcohol on drinking water. Other groups were fed with the same standard diet and water ad libitum. Vitamin E was given by gavage to vitamin E and alcohol/vitamin E rats twice a week. Alcohol and control groups were subjected to saline gavage and Tween group to 5% Tween 80 solution, the vitamin E vehicle. At day 14, the animals were anesthetized and specimens were obtained from tongue. Lipid peroxidation (TBARS), protein oxidative damage, catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were quantified. Alcohol group decreased TBARS in relation to control group and alcohol vitamin-treated animals decreased TBARS when compared to Tween and vitamin E groups. SOD activity was lower and CAT activity was higher in animals treated with both alcohol and vitamin E. These results suggest that short-term alcohol consumption decreases lipid peroxidation levels. Alternatively, alcohol/vitamin E group increased CAT, showing the toxicity of this association.

An internet-based self-help intervention for older adults after marital bereavement, separation or divorce: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Brodbeck, Jeannette; Berger, Thomas; Znoj, Hans Joerg

2017-01-13

Marital bereavement and separation or divorce are among the most stressful critical life events in later life. These events require a dissolution of social and emotional ties, adjustments in daily routine and changes in identity and perspectives for the future. After a normative grief or distress reaction, most individuals cope well with the loss. However, some develop a prolonged grief reaction. Internet-based self-help interventions have proved beneficial for a broad range of disorders, including complicated grief. Based on the task model and the dual-process model of coping with bereavement, we developed a guided internet-based self-help intervention for individuals who experienced marital bereavement, separation or divorce at least 6 months prior to enrolment. The intervention consists of 10 text-based self-help sessions and one supportive email a week. The primary purpose of this study is the evaluation of the feasibility and efficacy of the intervention compared with a waiting control group. The secondary purpose is to compare the effects in bereaved and separated participants. Furthermore, we aim to analyze other predictors, moderators and mediators of the outcome, such as age, psychological distress and intensity of use of the intervention. The design is a randomized controlled trial with a waiting control condition of 12 weeks and a 24-weeks follow-up. At least 72 widowed or separated participants will be recruited via our study website and internet forums. Primary outcomes are reductions in grief symptoms, depression and psychological distress. Secondary outcome measures are related to loneliness, satisfaction with life, embitterment and the sessions. The trial will provide insights into the acceptance and efficacy of internet-based interventions among adults experiencing grief symptoms, psychological distress and adaptation problems in daily life after spousal bereavement, separation or divorce. Findings will add to existing knowledge by (1) evaluating an internet-based intervention specifically designed for spousal bereavement and its consequences; (2) testing whether this intervention is equally effective for individuals after separation or divorce; and (3) suggesting adaptations to improve the efficacy of the intervention, selective indication and adaptations for different needs. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02900534 . Registered on 1 September 2016.

Effect of controlled exercise on middle gluteal muscle fibre composition in Thoroughbred foals.

PubMed

Eto, D; Yamano, S; Kasashima, Y; Sugiura, T; Nasu, T; Tokuriki, M; Miyata, H

2003-11-01

Most racehorses are trained regularly from about age 18 months; therefore, little information is available on the effect of training in Thoroughbred foals. Well-controlled exercise could improve muscle potential ability for endurance running. Thoroughbred foals at age 2 months were separated into control and training (treadmill exercise) groups and samples obtained from the middle gluteal muscle at 2 and 12 months post partum. Muscle fibre compositions were determined by histochemical and electrophoretical techniques and succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) activity was analysed in each fibre type. All fibre types were hypertrophied with growth and type I and IIA fibres were significantly larger in the training than the control group at age 12 months. A significant increase of SDH activity was found in type IIX muscle fibres in the training group. Training in young Thoroughbred horses can facilitate muscle fibre hypertrophy and increase the oxidative capacity of type IIX fibres, which could potentially enhance stamina at high speeds. To apply this result to practical training, further studies are needed to determine more effective and safe intensities of controlled exercise.

Subsonic/Transonic Configuration Aerodynamics.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-09-01

incompressible, d’une m~thode de singularit6s d~veloppde h l’Arospatiale (solution quasi -exacte), b) - d’une mdthode de differences finies non conservative...un nl - non - -s-e n, iona airea was 0 . 0 1,3Y15 AO-A094 0Gb ADVISORY GROUP FOR AEROSPACE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT--ETC F/6 20,4 PASUBSONIC/TRANSONIC...in a program for development of "Wings with Controlled Separation", conducted by a working group of same name (members: DVVLR, MBB, VFW) and

Specific and cross over effects of massage for muscle soreness: randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Jay, Kenneth; Sundstrup, Emil; Søndergaard, Stine D; Behm, David; Brandt, Mikkel; Særvoll, Charlotte A; Jakobsen, Markus D; Andersen, Lars L

2014-02-01

Muscle soreness can negatively interfere with the activities of daily living as well as sports performance. In the working environment, a common problem is muscle tenderness, soreness and pain, especially for workers frequently exposed to unilateral high repetitive movements tasks. The aim of the study is therefore to investigate the acute effect of massage applied using a simple device Thera-band roller Massager on laboratory induced hamstring muscle soreness, and the potential cross over effect to the non-massaged limb. 22 healthy untrained men (Mean age 34 +/- 7 years; mean height 181.7 +/- 6.9 cm; mean weight 80.6 +/- 6.4 kg; BMI: 24.5 +/- 1.3) with no prior history of knee, low back or neck injury or other adverse health issues were recruited. Participants visited the researchers on two separate occasions, separated by 48 hours, each time providing a soreness rating (modified visual analog scale 0-10), and being tested for pressure pain threshold (PPT) and active range of motion (ROM) of the hamstring muscles. During the first visit, delayed onset muscular soreness of the hamstring muscles was induced by 10 x 10 repetitions of the stiff-legged dead-lift. On the second visit participants received either 1) 10 minutes of roller massage on one leg, while the contralateral leg served as a cross over control, or 2) Resting for 10 minutes with no massage at all. Measurement of soreness, PPT and ROM were taken immediately before and at 0, 10, 30 and 60 min. after treatment. There was a significant group by time interaction for soreness (p < 0.0001) and PPT (p = 0.0007), with the massage group experiencing reduced soreness and increasing PPT compared with the control group. There was no group by time interaction for ROM (p = 0.18). At 10 min. post massage there was a significant reduction in soreness of the non-massaged limb in the cross over control group compared to controls but this effect was lost 30 minutes post massage. Massage with a roller device reduces muscle soreness and is accompanied by a higher PPT of the affected muscle. 2c; outcomes research.

Efficacy of ultrasound-guided thoracentesis catheter drainage for pleural effusion

PubMed Central

Cao, Weitian; Wang, Yi; Zhou, Ningming; Xu, Bing

2016-01-01

The factors influencing the efficacy of ultrasound-guided thoracentesis catheter drainage were investigated in the present study. A retrospective analysis of clinical data from 435 patients who presented with a pleural effusion was performed. Patients were divided into a control group and an intervention group. Thirty-seven patients in the control group were given standard care using pleural puncture to draw the excess fluid. The 398 patients in the intervention group were treated using ultrasound-guided thoracentesis catheter drainage. The rate of successful drainage of a pleural effusion was significantly higher (P<0.05), while the rate of complication was lower, in the ultrasound-guided thoracentesis cases compared to standard care treatment. In conclusion, ultrasound-guided thoracentesis catheter drainage is an efficient, safe and minimally invasive procedure to alleviate pleural effusion. The efficacy of the procedure is related to the separation of pleural effusion, drainage tube type and tube diameter. PMID:28105155

Strength and coordination training are both effective in reducing the postural tremor amplitude of older adults.

PubMed

Keogh, Justin W L; Morrison, Steve; Barrett, Rod

2010-01-01

The current study investigated the effect of 2 different types of unilateral resistance training on the postural tremor output of 19 neurologically healthy men age 70-80 yr. The strength- (n = 7) and coordination-training (n = 7) groups trained twice a week for 6 wk, performing dumbbell biceps curls, wrist flexions, and wrist extensions, while the control group (n = 5) maintained their normal activities. Changes in index-finger tremor (RMS amplitude, peak, and proportional power) and upper limb muscle coactivation were assessed during 4 postural conditions that were performed separately with the trained and untrained limbs. The 2 training groups experienced significantly greater reductions in mean RMS tremor amplitude, peak, and proportional tremor power 8-12 Hz and upper limb muscle coactivation, as well as greater increases in strength, than the control group. These results further demonstrate the benefits of resistance training for improving function in older adults.

European Population Genetic Substructure: Further Definition of Ancestry Informative Markers for Distinguishing Among Diverse European Ethnic Groups

PubMed Central

Tian, Chao; Kosoy, Roman; Nassir, Rami; Lee, Annette; Villoslada, Pablo; Klareskog, Lars; Hammarström, Lennart; Garchon, Henri-Jean; Pulver, Ann E.; Ransom, Michael; Gregersen, Peter K.; Seldin, Michael F.

2009-01-01

The definition of European population genetic substructure and its application to understanding complex phenotypes is becoming increasingly important. In the current study using over 4000 subjects genotyped for 300 thousand SNPs we provide further insight into relationships among European population groups and identify sets of SNP ancestry informative markers (AIMs) for application in genetic studies. In general, the graphical description of these principal components analyses (PCA) of diverse European subjects showed a strong correspondence to the geographical relationships of specific countries or regions of origin. Clearer separation of different ethnic and regional populations was observed when northern and southern European groups were considered separately and the PCA results were influenced by the inclusion or exclusion of different self-identified population groups including Ashkenazi Jewish, Sardinian and Orcadian ethnic groups. SNP AIM sets were identified that could distinguish the regional and ethnic population groups. Moreover, the studies demonstrated that most allele frequency differences between different European groups could be effectively controlled in analyses using these AIM sets. The European substructure AIMs should be widely applicable to ongoing studies to confirm and delineate specific disease susceptibility candidate regions without the necessity to perform additional genome-wide SNP studies in additional subject sets. PMID:19707526

European population genetic substructure: further definition of ancestry informative markers for distinguishing among diverse European ethnic groups.

PubMed

Tian, Chao; Kosoy, Roman; Nassir, Rami; Lee, Annette; Villoslada, Pablo; Klareskog, Lars; Hammarström, Lennart; Garchon, Henri-Jean; Pulver, Ann E; Ransom, Michael; Gregersen, Peter K; Seldin, Michael F

2009-01-01

The definition of European population genetic substructure and its application to understanding complex phenotypes is becoming increasingly important. In the current study using over 4,000 subjects genotyped for 300,000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), we provide further insight into relationships among European population groups and identify sets of SNP ancestry informative markers (AIMs) for application in genetic studies. In general, the graphical description of these principal components analyses (PCA) of diverse European subjects showed a strong correspondence to the geographical relationships of specific countries or regions of origin. Clearer separation of different ethnic and regional populations was observed when northern and southern European groups were considered separately and the PCA results were influenced by the inclusion or exclusion of different self-identified population groups including Ashkenazi Jewish, Sardinian, and Orcadian ethnic groups. SNP AIM sets were identified that could distinguish the regional and ethnic population groups. Moreover, the studies demonstrated that most allele frequency differences between different European groups could be controlled effectively in analyses using these AIM sets. The European substructure AIMs should be widely applicable to ongoing studies to confirm and delineate specific disease susceptibility candidate regions without the necessity of performing additional genome-wide SNP studies in additional subject sets.

Impact of the ConRed program on different cyberbulling roles.

PubMed

Del Rey, Rosario; Casas, José A; Ortega, Rosario

2016-01-01

This article presents results from an evaluation of the ConRed cyberbullying intervention program. The program's impacts were separately determined for the different roles within cyberbullying that students can take, i.e., cyber-victims, cyber-bullies, cyber-bully/victims, and bystanders. The ConRed program is a theory-driven program designed to prevent cyberbullying and improve cyberbullying coping skills. It involves students, teachers, and families. During a 3-month period, external experts conducted eight training sessions with students, two with teachers and one with families. ConRed was evaluated through a quasi-experimental design, in which students from three secondary schools were separated into experimental and control groups. The sample comprised 875 students, aged between 11 and 19 years. More students (n = 586) were allocated to the experimental groups at the specific insistence of the management of all schools; the remainder (n = 289) formed the control. Repeated measures MANOVA showed that cyber victims, cyber aggressors and cyberbully/victims reduced their involvement in cyberbullying. Moreover, cyber-victims and bystanders adjusted their perceptions about their control of personal information on the Internet, and cyber aggressors and bystanders reduced their Internet dependence. The ConRed program had stronger effects on male participants, especially in heightening their affective empathy. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

ACTN3 R577X polymorphism and explosive leg-muscle power in elite basketball players.

PubMed

Garatachea, Nuria; Verde, Zoraida; Santos-Lozano, Alejandro; Yvert, Thomas; Rodriguez-Romo, Gabriel; Sarasa, Francisco J; Hernández-Sánchez, Sonsoles; Santiago, Catalina; Lucia, Alejandro

2014-03-01

To determine the association of the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism with leg-muscle explosive power in Spanish (white) elite basketball players and controls. 100 (60 men) elite basketball players (cases) and 283 nonathletic controls. The authors assessed power performance by means of the vertical-squat and countermovement-jump tests. Genotype distributions did not differ between groups (cases: 37.0% [RR], 42.0% [RX], and 21.0% [XX]; controls: 31.8% [RR], 49.8% [RX], and 18.4% [XX]; P = .353). The authors did not observe any effect of the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism on study phenotypes in either group, including when they performed the analyses separately in men and women. They found no association between the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism and the likelihood of being an elite basketball player using the dominant or the recessive model, and the results remained unaltered when the analyses were adjusted for sex, weight, height, and age or when performed for men and women separately. Although the ACTN3 R577X is associated with explosive muscle performance and this phenotype is important in the sport of basketball (ie, during jumps), the authors found no association with leg explosive power in elite basket players or with the status of being this type of athlete.

Influence of rotational speed, torque and operator's proficiency on ProFile failures.

PubMed

Yared, G M; Bou Dagher, F E; Machtou, P

2001-01-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of rotational speed, torque, and operator experience with a specific Ni-Ti rotary instrumentation technique on the incidence of locking, deformation and separation of instruments. ProFile Ni-Ti rotary instruments (PRI) sizes 40-15 with a 6% taper were used in a crown-down technique. In one group of canals (n = 300) speeds of 150, 250 and 350 rpm (subgroups 1, 2 and 3) were used. Each one of the subgroups included 100 canals. In a second group (n = 300) torque was set at 20, 30 and 55 Ncm (subgroups 4, 5 and 6). In the third group (n = 300) three operators with varying experience (subgroups 7, 8 and 9) were also compared. Each subgroup included the use of 10 sets of PRI and 100 canals of extracted human molars. Each set of PRI was used in up to 10 canals and then sterilized before each case. NaOCl 2.5% was used as an irrigant. The number of locked, deformed, and separated instruments for the different groups, and within each part of the study was analysed statistically for significance with chi-squared tests. In group 1 only one instrument was deformed in the 150-rpm group and no instruments separated or locked. In the 250-rpm group instrument separation did not occur, however, a high incidence of locking, deformation and separation was noted in the 350-rpm group. In general, instrument sizes 30-15 locked, deformed and separated. Chi-squared statistics showed a significant difference between the 150 and 350 rpm groups but no difference between the 150 and 250 rpm groups with regard to instrument separation. Overall, there was a trend toward a higher incidence of instrument deformation and separation in smaller instruments. Locking and separation occurred during the final passage of the instruments, in the last (tenth) canal in each subgroup. In the second group, neither separation nor deformation and locking occurred during the use of the ProFile instruments, at 150 rpm, and at the different torque values. In the third group, chi-squared analysis demonstrated that significantly more instruments separated with the least experienced operator. Instrument locking, deformation, and separation did not occur with the most experienced operator. Preclinical training in the use of the PRI technique with crown-down at 150 rpm were crucial in avoiding instrument separation and reducing the incidence of instrument locking and deformation.

A genetic screen for modifiers of UFO meristem activity identifies three novel FUSED FLORAL ORGANS genes required for early flower development in Arabidopsis.

PubMed Central

Levin, J Z; Fletcher, J C; Chen, X; Meyerowitz, E M

1998-01-01

In a screen to identify novel genes required for early Arabidopsis flower development, we isolated four independent mutations that enhance the Ufo phenotype toward the production of filamentous structures in place of flowers. The mutants fall into three complementation groups, which we have termed FUSED FLORAL ORGANS (FFO) loci. ffo mutants have specific defects in floral organ separation and/or positioning; thus, the FFO genes identify components of a boundary formation mechanism(s) acting between developing floral organ primordia. FFO1 and FFO3 have specific functions in cauline leaf/stem separation and in first- and third-whorl floral organ separation, with FFO3 likely acting to establish and FFO1 to maintain floral organ boundaries. FFO2 acts at early floral stages to regulate floral organ number and positioning and to control organ separation within and between whorls. Plants doubly mutant for two ffo alleles display additive phenotypes, indicating that the FFO genes may act in separate pathways. Plants doubly mutant for an ffo gene and for ufo, lfy, or clv3 reveal that the FFO genes play roles related to those of UFO and LFY in floral meristem initiation and that FFO2 and FFO3 may act to control cell proliferation late in inflorescence development. PMID:9611175

[Advantages and disadvantages of warfarin and pradaxa therapy for venous thromboembolism].

PubMed

Sukovatykh, B S; Belikov, L N; Savchuk, O F; Sukovatykh, M B

2014-01-01

An analysis of complex examination of 110 patients with venous thromboembolism was made. The patients were separated into 2 groups. The first group included 60 patients, who had the start heparin therapy during 7 days with the following 6-month warfarin therapy. Warfarin was substituted by pradaxa (dabigatran) for 50 patients of the second group. The efficacy of pradaxa could be compared with warfarin. However, pradaxa had a number of advantages such as the predictable anticoagulant effect, standard dosages. This medicine is more predictable and doesn't require a control of homeostasis and an adjustment of drug dosage.

Effects of the Medicare Alzheimer's Disease Demonstration on Medicare Expenditures

PubMed Central

Newcomer, Robert; Miller, Robert; Clay, Ted; Fox, Patrick

1999-01-01

Applicants were randomized either into a group with a limited Medicare community care service benefit and case management or into a control group receiving their regular medical care. Analyses assess whether or not community care management affected health care use. A tendency toward reduced expenditures was observed for the treatment group, combining all demonstration sites, and when observing each separately. These differences were or approached statistical significance in two sites for Medicare Part A and Parts A and B expenditures averaged over 3 years. Expenditure reductions approached budget neutrality with program costs in two sites. PMID:11482124

Influence of nanoparticles on color stability, microhardness, and flexural strength of acrylic resins specific for ocular prosthesis.

PubMed

Andreotti, Agda Marobo; Goiato, Marcelo Coelho; Moreno, Amália; Nobrega, Adhara Smith; Pesqueira, Aldiéris Alves; dos Santos, Daniela Micheline

2014-01-01

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of adding nanoparticles to N1 acrylic resin intended for artificial sclera, in terms of the color stability, microhardness, and flexural strength of the resin. Three hundred samples of N1 acrylic resin were used: 100 samples for color stability and microhardness tests (each test was performed on the opposite side of each sample), and 200 samples for flexural strength testing (100 samples before and after 1,008 hours of accelerated aging). Samples for each test were separated into ten groups (n=10), ie, without nanoparticles (control group) or with nanoparticles of zinc oxide, titanium dioxide (TiO₂), and barium sulfate at weight concentrations of 1%, 2%, and 2.5% (nanoparticle groups). Data were subjected to statistical analysis with nested analysis of variance and Tukey's test (P<0.05 significance level). Among the nanoparticle groups, the TiO₂ groups showed better color stability at all concentrations. Microhardness values increased after artificial aging, except for the control and zinc oxide groups. After aging, the 1%-2% TiO₂ groups had significantly higher microhardness values compared with the other nanoparticle groups. Before aging, there was a significant difference in flexural strength between the control and nanoparticle groups. After aging, the control and TiO₂ groups, regardless of concentration, showed the lowest flexural strength values. Incorporation of nanoparticles directly influenced the acrylic resin properties, with TiO₂ being the most influential nanoparticle in terms of the evaluated properties.

Simpson's paradox - aggregating and partitioning populations in health disparities of lung cancer patients.

PubMed

Fu, P; Panneerselvam, A; Clifford, B; Dowlati, A; Ma, P C; Zeng, G; Halmos, B; Leidner, R S

2015-12-01

It is well known that non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a heterogeneous group of diseases. Previous studies have demonstrated genetic variation among different ethnic groups in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in NSCLC. Research by our group and others has recently shown a lower frequency of EGFR mutations in African Americans with NSCLC, as compared to their White counterparts. In this study, we use our original study data of EGFR pathway genetics in African American NSCLC as an example to illustrate that univariate analyses based on aggregation versus partition of data leads to contradictory results, in order to emphasize the importance of controlling statistical confounding. We further investigate analytic approaches in logistic regression for data with separation, as is the case in our example data set, and apply appropriate methods to identify predictors of EGFR mutation. Our simulation shows that with separated or nearly separated data, penalized maximum likelihood (PML) produces estimates with smallest bias and approximately maintains the nominal value with statistical power equal to or better than that from maximum likelihood and exact conditional likelihood methods. Application of the PML method in our example data set shows that race and EGFR-FISH are independently significant predictors of EGFR mutation. © The Author(s) 2011.

Abatement of waste gases and water during the processes of semiconductor fabrication.

PubMed

Wen, Rui-mei; Liang, Jun-wu

2002-10-01

The purpose of this article is to examine the methods and equipment for abating waste gases and water produced during the manufacture of semiconductor materials and devices. Three separating methods and equipment are used to control three different groups of electronic wastes. The first group includes arsine and phosphine emitted during the processes of semiconductor materials manufacture. The abatement procedure for this group of pollutants consists of adding iodates, cupric and manganese salts to a multiple shower tower (MST) structure. The second group includes pollutants containing arsenic, phosphorus, HF, HCl, NO2, and SO3 emitted during the manufacture of semiconductor materials and devices. The abatement procedure involves mixing oxidants and bases in an oval column with a separator in the middle. The third group consists of the ions of As, P and heavy metals contained in the waste water. The abatement procedure includes adding CaCO3 and ferric salts in a flocculation-sedimentation compact device equipment. Test results showed that all waste gases and water after the abatement procedures presented in this article passed the discharge standards set by the State Environmental Protection Administration of China.

Benefit of a 360-degree horizontal turn following premedication with simethicone on image quality during gastroendoscopy: a randomized controlled trial

PubMed Central

Wang, Chunhua; Liu, Haiyan; Wang, Xiuming; Shen, Xiaochun; Yang, Yingying; Sun, Wenjing; Yan, Qingjun; Cao, Yan; Wang, Xueqin; Lan, Chunhui; Chen, Dongfeng

2015-01-01

Objectives: To investigate whether a 360-degree horizontal turn after oral premedication with simethicone improves the mucosal visibility during gastroendoscopic examination, and to determine the proper time to turn over the patient. Methods: This study involved 993 patients scheduled for gastroendoscopy. Just before gastroendoscopy, after oral premedication with simethicone, patients were randomly assigned to three groups: in Group A, patients waited for 20 min before gastroendoscopy; in Group B, patients were separately waited for 5/10/15/20 min and were then turned 360 degrees just before gastroendoscopy; in Group C, patients were immediately turned 360 degrees and then separately waited for 5/10/15/20 min before examination. The sum of the gastric mucosal visibility scores (MVS) was calculated after the examination. The MVS and proportion of images with higher visibility scores for the mucosal surface. Lower scores indicate better visibility of the mucosal surface. Results: In Groups B and Groups C, when waiting time more than 10 min had lower mean total MVS than Group A. The MVS of four subgroups of Group B were not different from those of Group C. Conclusion: Oral premedication with simethicone and immediately make a body posture change (turning over 360 degrees) then waiting for 10min can increase the image quality during gastroendoscopy and effectively decrease the premedication time. PMID:26064342

Benefit of a 360-degree horizontal turn following premedication with simethicone on image quality during gastroendoscopy: a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Wang, Chunhua; Liu, Haiyan; Wang, Xiuming; Shen, Xiaochun; Yang, Yingying; Sun, Wenjing; Yan, Qingjun; Cao, Yan; Wang, Xueqin; Lan, Chunhui; Chen, Dongfeng

2015-01-01

To investigate whether a 360-degree horizontal turn after oral premedication with simethicone improves the mucosal visibility during gastroendoscopic examination, and to determine the proper time to turn over the patient. This study involved 993 patients scheduled for gastroendoscopy. Just before gastroendoscopy, after oral premedication with simethicone, patients were randomly assigned to three groups: in Group A, patients waited for 20 min before gastroendoscopy; in Group B, patients were separately waited for 5/10/15/20 min and were then turned 360 degrees just before gastroendoscopy; in Group C, patients were immediately turned 360 degrees and then separately waited for 5/10/15/20 min before examination. The sum of the gastric mucosal visibility scores (MVS) was calculated after the examination. The MVS and proportion of images with higher visibility scores for the mucosal surface. Lower scores indicate better visibility of the mucosal surface. In Groups B and Groups C, when waiting time more than 10 min had lower mean total MVS than Group A. The MVS of four subgroups of Group B were not different from those of Group C. Oral premedication with simethicone and immediately make a body posture change (turning over 360 degrees) then waiting for 10min can increase the image quality during gastroendoscopy and effectively decrease the premedication time.

Living Independently in a Home and Community of Choice: How?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Braswell, Gail; Ritter, Linda; Sufficool, Mary Jane

2009-01-01

Residents in a group home, supported apartment, or intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded (ICF/MR) are not guaranteed a place for life. Neither are they guaranteed they won't have to move if their provider needs to "rearrange" clients. Separating residence from support gives an individual control over the most basic decisions…

The use of fractal dimension analysis in estimation of blood vessels shape in transplantable mammary adenocarcinoma in Wistar rats after photodynamic therapy combined with cysteine protease inhibitors.

PubMed

Jurczyszyn, Kamil; Osiecka, Beata J; Ziółkowski, Piotr

2012-01-01

Fractal dimension analysis (FDA) is modern mathematical method widely used to describing of complex and chaotic shapes when classic methods fail. The main aim of this study was evaluating the influence of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with cystein proteases inhibitors (CPI) on the number and morphology of blood vessels inside tumor and on increase of effectiveness of combined therapy in contrast to PDT and CPI used separately. Animals were divided into four groups: control, treated using only PDT, treated using only CPI and treated using combined therapy, PDT and CPI. Results showed that time of animal survival and depth of necrosis inside tumor were significantly higher in CPI+PDT group in contrast to other groups. The higher value of fractal dimension (FD) was observed in control group, while the lowest value was found in the group which was treated by cystein protease inhibitors. The differences between FD were observed in CPI group and PDT+CPI group in comparison to control group. Our results revealed that fractal dimension analysis is a very useful tool in estimating differences between irregular shapes like blood vessels in PDT treated tumors. Thus, the implementation of FDA algorithms could be useful method in evaluating the efficacy of PDT.

The Use of Fractal Dimension Analysis in Estimation of Blood Vessels Shape in Transplantable Mammary Adenocarcinoma in Wistar Rats after Photodynamic Therapy Combined with Cysteine Protease Inhibitors

PubMed Central

Jurczyszyn, Kamil; Osiecka, Beata J.; Ziółkowski, Piotr

2012-01-01

Fractal dimension analysis (FDA) is modern mathematical method widely used to describing of complex and chaotic shapes when classic methods fail. The main aim of this study was evaluating the influence of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with cystein proteases inhibitors (CPI) on the number and morphology of blood vessels inside tumor and on increase of effectiveness of combined therapy in contrast to PDT and CPI used separately. Animals were divided into four groups: control, treated using only PDT, treated using only CPI and treated using combined therapy, PDT and CPI. Results showed that time of animal survival and depth of necrosis inside tumor were significantly higher in CPI+PDT group in contrast to other groups. The higher value of fractal dimension (FD) was observed in control group, while the lowest value was found in the group which was treated by cystein protease inhibitors. The differences between FD were observed in CPI group and PDT+CPI group in comparison to control group. Our results revealed that fractal dimension analysis is a very useful tool in estimating differences between irregular shapes like blood vessels in PDT treated tumors. Thus, the implementation of FDA algorithms could be useful method in evaluating the efficacy of PDT. PMID:22991578

Effects of Foeniculum vulgare essential oil compounds, fenchone and limonene, on experimental wound healing.

PubMed

Keskin, I; Gunal, Y; Ayla, S; Kolbasi, B; Sakul, A; Kilic, U; Gok, O; Koroglu, K; Ozbek, H

2017-01-01

We investigated the wound healing efficacy of the Foeniculum vulgare compounds, fenchone and limonene, using an excisional cutaneous wound model in rats. An excision wound was made on the back of the rat and fenchone and limonene were applied topically to the wounds once daily, separately or together, for 10 days. Tissue sections from the wounds were evaluated for histopathology. The healing potential was assessed by comparison to an untreated control group and an olive oil treated sham group. We scored wound healing based on epidermal regeneration, granulation tissue thickness and angiogenesis. After day 6, wound contraction with limonene was significantly better than for the control group. Ten days after treatment, a significant increase was observed in wound contraction and re-epithelialization in both fenchone and limonene oil treated groups compared to the sham group. Groups treated with fenchone and with fenchone + limonene scored significantly higher than the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant compared to the olive oil treated group. Our findings support the beneficial effects of fenchone and limonene for augmenting wound healing. The anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities of fenchone and limonene oil increased collagen synthesis and decreased the number of inflammatory cells during wound healing and may be useful for treating skin wounds.

Role of cytokine hemoadsorption in cardiopulmonary bypass-induced ventricular dysfunction in a porcine model.

PubMed

Vocelka, Craig R; Jones, Krystal M; Mikhova, Krasimira M; Ebisu, Ryan M; Shar, Ashley; Kellum, John A; Verrier, Edward D; Rabkin, David G

2013-12-01

Little is known about the effect of cardiopulmonary bypass alone on cardiac function; in an attempt to illuminate this relationship and test a possible mechanism, we used Cytosorb, a device capable of removing virtually all types of circulating cytokines to test the hypothesis that hemoadsorption of cytokines during bypass attenuates bypass-induced acute organ dysfunction. Twelve Yorkshire pigs (50-65 kg) were instrumented with a left ventricular conductance catheter. Baseline mechanics and cytokine expression (tumor necrosis factor [TNF], interleukin-6 [IL-6], and interleukin-10) were measured before and hourly after 1 hour of normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. Animals underwent bypass without (cardiopulmonary bypass [CPB], n = 6) or with (CPB+HA, n = 6) the CytosorbTM device. Data were compared with "historical" controls (n = 6) that were similarly instrumented but underwent observation instead of bypass. Five hours after separation from bypass (or observation), animals were euthanized. Myocardial water content was determined postmortem. Neither TNF nor IL-6 was significantly elevated in either experimental group versus controls at any time point. Preload recruitable stroke work and dP/dtmax were significantly depressed immediately after separation from bypass in both CPB+HA and CPB and remained depressed for the duration of the experiment. Although Tau remained unchanged, dP/dTmin was significantly diminished in both bypass groups at all time points after separation from bypass. Cytokine hemoadsorption had no effect on any measurable index of function. Differences in postmortem data were not evident between groups. One hour of normothermic CPB results in a significant and sustained decline in left ventricular function that appears unrelated to changes in cytokine expression. Because we did not appreciate a significant change in cytokine concentrations postbypass, the capacity of cytokine hemoadsorption to attenuate CPB-induced ventricular dysfunction could not be assessed.

An onion byproduct affects plasma lipids in healthy rats.

PubMed

Roldán-Marín, Eduvigis; Jensen, Runa I; Krath, Britta N; Kristensen, Mette; Poulsen, Morten; Cano, M Pilar; Sánchez-Moreno, Concepción; Dragsted, Lars O

2010-05-12

Onion may contribute to the health effects associated with high fruit and vegetable consumption. A considerable amount of onion production ends up as waste that might find use in foods. Onion byproduct has not yet been explored for potential health benefits. The aim of this study is to elucidate the safety and potential role of onion byproducts in affecting risk markers of cardiovascular disease (CVD). For that purpose, the effects of an onion byproduct, Allium cepa L. cepa 'Recas' (OBP), and its two derived fractions, an ethanolic extract (OE) and a residue (OR), on the distribution of plasma lipids and on factors affecting cholesterol metabolism in healthy rats have been investigated. The OBP or its fractions did not significantly reduce cholesterol or down-regulate hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (Hmgcr) gene expression. The OR even had the effect of increasing plasma triacylglycerides (TAG) and cholesterol in the very low density lipoprotein (VLDL-C) fraction. Neither total bile acids nor total primary or secondary bile acids were significantly affected by feeding rats the OBP or its fractions. Principal component analysis combining all markers revealed that the controls could be completely separated from OBP, OE, and OR groups in the scores plot and also that OE and OR groups were separated. Plasma lipids and bile acid excretion were the discriminating loading factors for separating OE and OR but also contributed to the separation of onion-fed animals and controls. It was concluded that the onion byproduct did not present significant beneficial effects on individual markers related to plasma lipid transport in this healthy rat model but that onion byproduct contains factors with the ability to modulate plasma lipids and lipoprotein levels.

[Effects of Nd: YAG laser irradiation on the root surfaces and adhesion of Streptococcus mutans].

PubMed

Yuanhong, Li; Zhongcheng, Li; Mengqi, Luo; Daonan, Shen; Shu, Zhang; Shu, Meng

2016-12-01

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of treatment with different powers of Nd: YAG laser irradiation on root surfaces and Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) adhesion. Extracted teeth because of severe periodontal disease were divided into the following four groups: control group, laser group 1, laser group 2, and laser group 3. After scaling and root planning, laser group 1, laser group 2, and laser group 3 were separately treated with Nd: YAG laser irradiation (4/6/8 W, 60 s); however, the control group did not receive the treatment. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to determine the morphology. S. mutans were cultured with root slices from each group. Colony forming unit per mL (CFU·mL⁻¹) was used to count and compare the amounts of bacteria adhesion among groups. SEM was used to observe the difference of bacteria adhesion to root surfaces between control group (scaling) and laser group 2 (6 W, 60 s), thereby indicating the different bacteria adhesions because of different treatments. Morphology alterations indicated that root surfaces in control group contain obvious smear layer, debris, and biofilm; whereas the root surfaces in laser group contain more cracks with less smear layer and debris. The bacteria counting indicated that S. mutans adhesion to laser group was weaker than that of control group (P<0.05). No statistical significance among the laser groups (P>0.05) was observed. Morphology alterations also verified that S. mutans adhesion to laser group 2 (6 W, 60 s) was weaker than that of control group (scaling). This study demonstrated that Nd: YAG laser irradiation treatment after scaling can reduce smear layer, debris, and biofilm on the root surfaces as compared with conventional scaling. The laser treatment reduces the adhesion of S. mutans as well. However, Nd: YAG laser irradiation can cause cracks on the root surfaces. In this experiment, the optimum laser power of 6 W can thoroughly remove the smear layer and debris, as well as relatively improve the control of thermal damagee.

Consequences of Traumatic Brain Injury for Human Vergence Dynamics

PubMed Central

Tyler, Christopher W.; Likova, Lora T.; Mineff, Kristyo N.; Elsaid, Anas M.; Nicholas, Spero C.

2015-01-01

Purpose: Traumatic brain injury involving loss of consciousness has focal effects in the human brainstem, suggesting that it may have particular consequences for eye movement control. This hypothesis was investigated by measurements of vergence eye movement parameters. Methods: Disparity vergence eye movements were measured for a population of 123 normally sighted individuals, 26 of whom had suffered diffuse traumatic brain injury (dTBI) in the past, while the remainder served as controls. Vergence tracking responses were measured to sinusoidal disparity modulation of a random-dot field. Disparity vergence step responses were characterized in terms of their dynamic parameters separately for the convergence and divergence directions. Results: The control group showed notable differences between convergence and divergence dynamics. The dTBI group showed significantly abnormal vergence behavior on many of the dynamic parameters. Conclusion: The results support the hypothesis that occult injury to the oculomotor control system is a common residual outcome of dTBI. PMID:25691880

Electronic system

DOEpatents

Robison, G H; Dickson, J F

1960-11-15

An electronic system is designed for indicating the occurrence of a plurality of electrically detectable events within predetermined time intervals. The system comprises separate input means electrically associated with the events under observation an electronic channel associated with each input means, including control means and indicating means; timing means adapted to apply a signal from the input means after a predetermined time to the control means to deactivate each of the channels; and means for resetting the system to its initial condition after the observation of each group of events. (D.L.C.)

Evaluation of Inorganic/Organic Separators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Donnel, C. P., III

1976-01-01

Thirty-six (36) experimental 40AH sealed silver-zinc cells were constructed during phase I of this two (2) phase program. These cells were divided into six (6) groups of six (6) cells each. Each group of six (6) cells was evenly divided into two batches of three (3) cells each. Groups 1 through 4 each featured a different inorganic filler material in the slurry used to coat the separator substrate. Groups 5 and 6 featured an alternate method of separator bag construction. With the exception of the various separator materials, the parts and processes used to produce these thirty-six (36) cells were the same as those used to make the HR40-7 cell. The two (2) batches of cells in each cell group differed only in the lots of solutions and other separator slurry components used. Each cell was given two formation charge/discharge cycles prior to being shipped to NASA Lewis Research Center. Phase II of the program consisted of constructing another thirty-six (36) 40AH experimental cells in six (6) groups of six (6) cells each. Each group was distinguished by the type of precoated separator material used to fabricate separator bags. A new method of separator bag construction was used in this phase of the program. These cells were given two (2) formation cycles and shipped to NASA Lewis Research Center.

Quantification and statistical significance analysis of group separation in NMR-based metabonomics studies

PubMed Central

Goodpaster, Aaron M.; Kennedy, Michael A.

2015-01-01

Currently, no standard metrics are used to quantify cluster separation in PCA or PLS-DA scores plots for metabonomics studies or to determine if cluster separation is statistically significant. Lack of such measures makes it virtually impossible to compare independent or inter-laboratory studies and can lead to confusion in the metabonomics literature when authors putatively identify metabolites distinguishing classes of samples based on visual and qualitative inspection of scores plots that exhibit marginal separation. While previous papers have addressed quantification of cluster separation in PCA scores plots, none have advocated routine use of a quantitative measure of separation that is supported by a standard and rigorous assessment of whether or not the cluster separation is statistically significant. Here quantification and statistical significance of separation of group centroids in PCA and PLS-DA scores plots are considered. The Mahalanobis distance is used to quantify the distance between group centroids, and the two-sample Hotelling's T2 test is computed for the data, related to an F-statistic, and then an F-test is applied to determine if the cluster separation is statistically significant. We demonstrate the value of this approach using four datasets containing various degrees of separation, ranging from groups that had no apparent visual cluster separation to groups that had no visual cluster overlap. Widespread adoption of such concrete metrics to quantify and evaluate the statistical significance of PCA and PLS-DA cluster separation would help standardize reporting of metabonomics data. PMID:26246647

Why are maternally separated females inflexible? Brain activity pattern of COx and c-Fos.

PubMed

Banqueri, María; Méndez, Marta; Arias, Jorge L

2018-06-15

Subjects' early life events will affect them later in life. When these events are stressful, such as child abuse in humans or repeated maternal separation in rodents, subjects can show some behavioral and brain alterations. This study used young adult female Wistar rats that were maternally raised (AFR), maternally separated from post-natal day (PND) 1 to PND10 (MS10), or maternally separated from PND1 to PND21 (MS21), in order to assess the effects of maternal separation (MS) on spatial learning and memory, as well as cognitive flexibility, using the Morris Water Maze (MWM). We performed quantitative cytochrome oxidase (COx) histochemistry on selected brain areas in order to identify whether maternal separation affects brain energy metabolism. We also performed c-Fos immunohistochemistry on the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), thalamus, and hippocampus to explore whether this immediate early gene activity was altered in stressed subjects. We obtained a similar spatial learning pattern in maternally raised and maternally separated subjects on the reference memory task, but only the controls were flexible enough to solve the reversal learning successfully. Separated groups showed less c-Fos activity in the mPFC and less complex neural networks on COx. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Changes in Gene Expression Predicting Local Control in Cervical Cancer: Results from Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 0128

PubMed Central

Weidhaas, Joanne B.; Li, Shu-Xia; Winter, Kathryn; Ryu, Janice; Jhingran, Anuja; Miller, Bridgette; Dicker, Adam P.; Gaffney, David

2009-01-01

Purpose To evaluate the potential of gene expression signatures to predict response to treatment in locally advanced cervical cancer treated with definitive chemotherapy and radiation. Experimental Design Tissue biopsies were collected from patients participating in Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 0128, a phase II trial evaluating the benefit of celecoxib in addition to cisplatin chemotherapy and radiation for locally advanced cervical cancer. Gene expression profiling was done and signatures of pretreatment, mid-treatment (before the first implant), and “changed” gene expression patterns between pre- and mid-treatment samples were determined. The ability of the gene signatures to predict local control versus local failure was evaluated. Two-group t test was done to identify the initial gene set separating these end points. Supervised classification methods were used to enrich the gene sets. The results were further validated by leave-one-out and 2-fold cross-validation. Results Twenty-two patients had suitable material from pretreatment samples for analysis, and 13 paired pre- and mid-treatment samples were obtained. The changed gene expression signatures between the pre- and mid-treatment biopsies predicted response to treatment, separating patients with local failures from those who achieved local control with a seven-gene signature. The in-sample prediction rate, leave-one-out prediction rate, and 2-fold prediction rate are 100% for this seven-gene signature. This signature was enriched for cell cycle genes. Conclusions Changed gene expression signatures during therapy in cervical cancer can predict outcome as measured by local control. After further validation, such findings could be applied to direct additional therapy for cervical cancer patients treated with chemotherapy and radiation. PMID:19509178

Bone shape difference between control and osteochondral defect groups of the ankle joint.

PubMed

Tümer, N; Blankevoort, L; van de Giessen, M; Terra, M P; de Jong, P A; Weinans, H; Tuijthof, G J M; Zadpoor, A A

2016-12-01

The etiology of osteochondral defects (OCDs), for which the ankle (talocrural) joint is one of the common sites, is not yet fully understood. In this study, we hypothesized that bone shape plays a role in development of OCDs. Therefore, we quantitatively compared the morphology of the talus and the distal tibia between an OCD group and a control group. The shape variations of the talus and distal tibia were described separately by constructing two statistical shape models (SSMs) based on the segmentation of the bones from ankle computed tomography (CT) scans obtained from control (i.e., 35 CT scans) and OCD (i.e., 37 CT scans) groups. The first five modes of shape variation for the SSM corresponding to each bone were statistically compared between control and OCD groups using an analysis of variance (ANOVA) corrected with the Bonferroni for multiple comparisons. The first five modes of variation in the SSMs respectively represented 49% and 40% of the total variance of talus and tibia. Less than 5% of the variance per mode was described by the higher modes. Mode 5 of the talus (P = 0.004) primarily describing changes in the vertical neck angle and Mode 1 of the tibia (P < 0.0001) representing variations at the medial malleolus, showed statistically significant difference between the control and OCD groups. Shape differences exist between control and OCD groups. This indicates that a geometry modulated biomechanical behavior of the talocrural joint may be a risk factor for OCD. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Percutaneous Dual-Switching Monopolar Radiofrequency Ablation Using a Separable Clustered Electrode: A Preliminary Study

PubMed Central

Choi, Tae Won; Lee, Dong Ho; Lee, Jeong-Hoon; Yu, Su Jong; Kim, Yoon Jun; Yoon, Jung-Hwan; Han, Joon Koo

2017-01-01

Objective To prospectively evaluate the safety and therapeutic effectiveness of dual-switching monopolar (DSM) radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to retrospectively compare the results with those of single-switching monopolar (SSM) RFA in a historical control group. Materials and Methods This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board, with informed consent obtained from all patients. Fifty-two HCC patients who underwent DSM-RFA using a separable clustered electrode and dual-generators were prospectively enrolled. Technical parameters, complications, technical success, technical effectiveness, and local tumor progression (LTP) rates were evaluated by means of post-procedural and follow-up imaging. Thereafter, the outcome of DSM-RFA was compared with those of 249 retrospectively included HCC patients treated with SSM-RFA. Results There were two major complications (3.8%, 2/52) including pleural and pericardial effusion in the DSM-RFA group. The DSM-RFA yielded a 100% technical success rate, a 98.1% technical effectiveness rate, and a 4.3% 2-year LTP rate. In a retrospective comparison between the two groups, DSM-RFA created significantly larger ablation volume (4.20 ± 2.07 cm3/min vs. 3.03 ± 1.99 cm3/min, p < 0.01), and delivered higher energy (1.43 ± 0.37 kcal/min vs. 1.25 ± 0.50 kcal/min, p < 0.01) per given time, than SSM-RFA. There was no significant difference in major procedure-related complications (3.8% vs. 4.4%) and technical effectiveness rate (98.1% vs. 96.4%) between the two groups (p = 1.00). In addition, the 2-year LTP rate of DSM-RFA and SSM-RFA were 4.3% and 10.1%, respectively (p = 0.15). Conclusion DSM-RFA using a separable clustered electrode is safe and provides high local tumor control and good preliminary clinical outcome for small HCCs, which are at least comparable to those of SSM-RFA. PMID:28860897

Magnetic resonance imaging with k-means clustering objectively measures whole muscle volume compartments in sarcopenia/cancer cachexia.

PubMed

Gray, Calum; MacGillivray, Thomas J; Eeley, Clare; Stephens, Nathan A; Beggs, Ian; Fearon, Kenneth C; Greig, Carolyn A

2011-02-01

Sarcopenia and cachexia are characterized by infiltration of non-contractile tissue within muscle which influences area and volume measurements. We applied a statistical clustering (k-means) technique to magnetic resonance (MR) images of the quadriceps of young and elderly healthy women and women with cancer to objectively separate the contractile and non-contractile tissue compartments. MR scans of the thigh were obtained for 34 women (n = 16 young, (median) age 26 y; n = 9 older, age 80 y; n = 9 upper gastrointestinal cancer patients, age 65 y). Segmented regions of consecutive axial images were used to calculate cross-sectional area and (gross) volume. The k-means unsupervised algorithm was subsequently applied to the MR binary mask image array data with resultant volumes compared between groups. Older women and women with cancer had 37% and 48% less quadriceps muscle respectively than young women (p < 0.001). Application of k-means subtracted a significant 9%, 14% and 20% non-contractile tissue from the quadriceps of young, older and patient groups respectively (p < 0.001). There was a significant effect of group (i.e., cancer vs healthy) when controlling for age as a covariate (p = 0.003). K-means objectively separates contractile and non-contractile tissue components. Women with upper GI cancer have significant fatty infiltration throughout whole muscle groups which is maintained when controlling for age. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.

The Control Attitudes Scale-Revised: psychometric evaluation in three groups of patients with cardiac illness.

PubMed

Moser, Debra K; Riegel, Barbara; McKinley, Sharon; Doering, Lynn V; Meischke, Hendrika; Heo, Seongkum; Lennie, Terry A; Dracup, Kathleen

2009-01-01

Perceived control is a construct with important theoretical and clinical implications for healthcare providers, yet practical application of the construct in research and clinical practice awaits development of an easily administered instrument to measure perceived control with evidence of reliability and validity. To test the psychometric properties of the Control Attitudes Scale-Revised (CAS-R) using a sample of 3,396 individuals with coronary heart disease, 513 patients with acute myocardial infarction, and 146 patients with heart failure. Analyses were done separately in each patient group. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha to determine internal consistency, and item homogeneity was assessed using item-total and interitem correlations. Validity was examined using principal component analysis and testing hypotheses about known associations. Cronbach's alpha values for the CAS-R in patients with coronary heart disease, acute myocardial infarction, and heart failure were all greater than .70. Item-total and interitem correlation coefficients for all items were acceptable in the groups. In factor analyses, the same single factor was extracted in all groups, and all items were loaded moderately or strongly to the factor in each group. As hypothesized in the final construct validity test, in all groups, patients with higher levels of perceived control had less depression and less anxiety compared with those of patients who had lower levels of perceived control. This study provides evidence of the reliability and validity of the 8-item CAS-R as a measure of perceived control in patients with cardiac illness and provides important insight into a key patient construct.

[Aconite cake-separated moxibustion for knee osteoarthritis with kidney-marrow deficiency].

PubMed

Chen, Meiren; Hu, Rong; Lin, Jian; Huang, Yuhui; Mao, Wanping; Wen, Yuanying; Dai, Gaole

2018-01-12

To observe the effects among aconite cake-separated moxibustion, moxibustion and acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) with kidney-marrow deficiency and to explore the feasibility of cake-separated moxibustion as a home remedy solution. Ninety patients were randomized into an aconite cake-separated moxibustion group, a moxibustion group and an acupuncture group, 30 cases in each one. The acupoints in the three groups were Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Dubi (ST 35) in the affected side, and bilateral Xuehai (SP 10), Liangqiu (ST 34), Heding (EX-LE 2), Shenshu (BL 23) and Zusanli (ST 36). All the treatment was given for 3 sessions, 10 days as a session with 2 to 3 days between 2 sessions, and once a day. The first 2 courses of aconite cake-separated moxibustion was applied in the hospital and the other 1 session was used at home guided by officer physician. Symptoms and physical signs classification score and life quality scores were recorded before and after treatment and 6 months after treatment, including walking pain, knee pain in stoop and squat, knee discomfort in stair activity and daily discomfort. The effects were evaluated. The symptoms and physical signs classification scores in the three groups after treatment and at follow-up were lower than those before treatment ( P <0.01, P <0.05), and the scores in the aconite cake-separated moxibustion group were better than those in the moxibustion group and acupuncture group (all P <0.01). The scores of walking pain, knee pain in stoop and squat, knee discomfort in stair activity and daily discomfort were lower in the three groups after treatment and 6 months after treatment ( P <0.01, P <0.05), and the scores of walking pain and daily discomfort in the aconite cake-separated moxibustion group were lower than those in the moxibustion group and acupuncture group ( P <0.01, P <0.05). After treatments, the cured and markedly effective rate in the aconite cake-separated moxibustion group was 63.3% (19/30); that in the moxibustion group was 50.0% (15/30) and one in the acupuncture group was 43.3% (13/30). The cured and markedly effective rate of aconite cake-separated moxibustion group was more promising than those in the other two groups (both P <0.05). At follow-up, the cured and markedly effective rate in the aconite cake-separated moxibustion group was 56.7% (17/30), which was better than 36.7% (11/30) in the moxibustion group and 40.0% (12/30) in the acupuncture group (both P <0.05). Aconite cake-separated moxibustion can be used for KOA patients with kidney-marrow deficiency, which can improve patients' life quality and is better than moxibustion and acupuncture. The method is feasible as a home remedy solution.

Intra-operative periarticular multimodal injection in total knee arthroplasty: a local hospital experience in Hong Kong.

PubMed

Fan, J Ch

2018-04-01

Data from a local report revealed the superior outcome of regional anaesthesia and analgesia compared with general anaesthesia and intravenous patient-controlled analgesia in total knee arthroplasty. This retrospective study aimed to assess the efficacy of intra-operative periarticular multimodal injection in improving postoperative pain and reducing morphine consumption with patient-controlled analgesia after total knee arthroplasty in patients with knee osteoarthritis. From July 2005 to May 2009, 213 total knee arthroplasties without intra-operative periarticular multimodal injection (control group) were performed at a local hospital. From June 2009 to December 2012, 185 total knee arthroplasties were performed with intra-operative periarticular multimodal injection (cocktail group). The inclusion criteria were osteoarthritis of the knee, single method of anaesthesia (general or neuraxial), simple total knee arthroplasty without any metal augmentation or constraint, and postoperative patient-controlled analgesia. Postoperative patient-controlled morphine doses were compared. A total of 152 total knee arthroplasties were recruited to the cocktail group, and 89 to the control group. Duration of tourniquet application and preoperative knee score did not significantly correlate with morphine consumption by patient-controlled analgesia. Multimodal injection significantly decreased such consumption for 36 h. When injection was separately analysed for general and neuraxial anaesthesia, the effect lasted for 42 h and 24 h, respectively. Intra-operative periarticular multimodal injection decreased morphine consumption for up to 42 h postoperatively.

Effects of brisk walking on static and dynamic balance, locomotion, body composition, and aerobic capacity in ageing healthy active men.

PubMed

Paillard, T; Lafont, C; Costes-Salon, M C; Rivière, D; Dupui, P

2004-10-01

This work analyses the short-term physiological and neurophysiological effects of a brisk walking programme in ageing, healthy, active men. Twenty-one men 63 to 72 years of age were recruited and separated into 2 groups. One group performed a walking programme (WP) (n = 11) and another served as control (C) group (n = 10). The walking programme lasted for twelve weeks and included five sessions per week. Several parameters were assessed before and after the programme for the WP group. The same tests were performed (separated by twelve weeks) in group C. During each assessment, the subjects were put through static and dynamic balance tests, spatio-temporal gait analysis, body composition measurements and determination of aerobic capacity and bone mineral density. The statistic analysis showed a significant improvement in dynamic balance performance, especially in lateral sway when the subjects kept their eyes open, an increase of VO(2) max and loss of fat mass in the WP group. However, no alterations appeared in spatiotemporal gait characteristics, static balance performance, lean mass or bone mineral density (total body and hip). According to these results, this walking programme may have positive effects on preventing ageing subjects from falling.

Assessing Effects of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Using Group-wise Sparse Representation of FMRI Data

PubMed Central

Lv, Jinglei; Jiang, Xi; Li, Xiang; Zhu, Dajiang; Zhao, Shijie; Zhang, Tuo; Hu, Xintao; Han, Junwei; Guo, Lei; Li, Zhihao; Coles, Claire; Hu, Xiaoping; Liu, Tianming

2015-01-01

Task-based fMRI activation mapping has been widely used in clinical neuroscience in order to assess different functional activity patterns in conditions such as prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) affected brains and healthy controls. In this paper, we propose a novel, alternative approach of group-wise sparse representation of the fMRI data of multiple groups of subjects (healthy control, exposed non-dysmorphic PAE and exposed dysmorphic PAE) and assess the systematic functional activity differences among these three populations. Specifically, a common time series signal dictionary is learned from the aggregated fMRI signals of all three groups of subjects, and then the weight coefficient matrices (named statistical coefficient map (SCM)) associated with each common dictionary were statistically assessed for each group separately. Through inter-group comparisons based on the correspondence established by the common dictionary, our experimental results have demonstrated that the group-wise sparse coding strategy and the SCM can effectively reveal a collection of brain networks/regions that were affected by different levels of severity of PAE. PMID:26195294

The impact of threat and cognitive stress on speech motor control in people who stutter.

PubMed

Lieshout, Pascal van; Ben-David, Boaz; Lipski, Melinda; Namasivayam, Aravind

2014-06-01

In the present study, an Emotional Stroop and Classical Stroop task were used to separate the effect of threat content and cognitive stress from the phonetic features of words on motor preparation and execution processes. A group of 10 people who stutter (PWS) and 10 matched people who do not stutter (PNS) repeated colour names for threat content words and neutral words, as well as for traditional Stroop stimuli. Data collection included speech acoustics and movement data from upper lip and lower lip using 3D EMA. PWS in both tasks were slower to respond and showed smaller upper lip movement ranges than PNS. For the Emotional Stroop task only, PWS were found to show larger inter-lip phase differences compared to PNS. General threat words were executed with faster lower lip movements (larger range and shorter duration) in both groups, but only PWS showed a change in upper lip movements. For stutter specific threat words, both groups showed a more variable lip coordination pattern, but only PWS showed a delay in reaction time compared to neutral words. Individual stuttered words showed no effects. Both groups showed a classical Stroop interference effect in reaction time but no changes in motor variables. This study shows differential motor responses in PWS compared to controls for specific threat words. Cognitive stress was not found to affect stuttering individuals differently than controls or that its impact spreads to motor execution processes. After reading this article, the reader will be able to: (1) discuss the importance of understanding how threat content influences speech motor control in people who stutter and non-stuttering speakers; (2) discuss the need to use tasks like the Emotional Stroop and Regular Stroop to separate phonetic (word-bound) based impact on fluency from other factors in people who stutter; and (3) describe the role of anxiety and cognitive stress on speech motor processes. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Study on the correlation of vertebral artery dominance, basilar artery curvature and posterior circulation infarction.

PubMed

Zhu, Wei; Wang, Ya-Fang; Dong, Xiao-Feng; Feng, Hong-Xuan; Zhao, He-Qing; Liu, Chun-Feng

2016-09-01

Vertebral artery dominance (VAD), which is a common congenital variation of vertebral artery, may be associated with an increased risk of cerebral posterior circulation infarction (PCI). The aims of this study were to investigate the correlation of VAD with incidence and laterality of PCI, and oblige the correlation of VAD and basilar artery (BA) curvature. Incidence of separate territory infarction in posterior circulation and incidence of BA curvature were compared between 78 VAD patients and 68 controls. VA dominance, laterality of BA curvature and separate territory infarction, and their directional relationships were observed in VAD group. The incidence of BA curvature in VAD group was significantly higher than that in controls (P = 0.000). 89.7 % (35/39) of patients had an opposite directional relationship between dominant VA and BA curvature. The total incidence of PCI in VAD group was significantly higher than that in controls (P = 0.001). The incidences of posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) and BA territory infarction were both significantly higher than those in controls [11.5 % (9/78) vs. 1.5 % (1/68), P = 0.016; 20.5 % (16/78) vs. 7.4 % (5/68), P = 0.024]. No differences were found in superior cerebellar artery and posterior cerebral artery territory infarction between two groups. 77.8 % (7/9) of PICA infarction were on the opposite side of dominant VA. 75.0 % (12/16) of BA infarction were on the side of dominant VA. The incidence of PCI in BA curvature patients was significantly higher than that in BA straight patients. The incidence of BA curvature is higher in VAD patients, and BA usually bends to the opposite side of dominant VA. The incidence of PCI is higher in VAD patients, especially in PICA infarction and BA infarction patients.

Reduced contribution of executive functions in impaired working memory performance in mild traumatic brain injury patients.

PubMed

Kumar, Sanjay; Rao, Shobini L; Chandramouli, Bangalore A; Pillai, Shibu

2013-08-01

Mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) is associated with often selective impairment of both working memory (WM) and the executive functions (EFs). Research indicates that one of the commonest deficits present in MTBI patients falls in the domain of WM. We aimed to investigate the role of EFs in WM impairment following MTBI. Performance on the tests of EFs and the verbal and visuo-spatial WM of 30 consecutive MTBI patients were compared with age/education/IQ matched 30 normal healthy control participants. Correlation between EFs and WM was studied separately for the MTBI and the control group. The MTBI and control group were tested on a range of EF tests and WM. The MTBI group was demonstrated impairment on verbal and visuo-spatial WM and category fluency tests only. Furthermore, the MTBI group had fewer significant correlations between the WM and EFs (5 out of 54 possible correlations) than in the control group (13 out of 54 possible correlations). We suggest that MTBI may lead to WM deficits as the contribution of executive processes to support the WM is diminished following MTBI. Such an understanding of the poor WM performance in MTBI patients will be helpful when planning appropriate strategies for cognitive rehabilitation. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM

DOEpatents

Robison, G.H. et al.

1960-11-15

An electronic system is described for indicating the occurrence of a plurality of electrically detectable events within predetermined time intervals. It is comprised of separate input means electrically associated with the events under observation: an electronic channel associated with each input means including control means and indicating means; timing means associated with each of the input means and the control means and adapted to derive a signal from the input means and apply it after a predetermined time to the control means to effect deactivation of each of the channels; and means for resetting the system to its initial condition after observation of each group of events.

Highly Palatable Food during Adolescence Improves Anxiety-Like Behaviors and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Dysfunction in Rats that Experienced Neonatal Maternal Separation

PubMed Central

Lee, Jong-Ho; Kim, Jin Young

2014-01-01

Background This study was conducted to examine the effects of ad libitum consumption of highly palatable food (HPF) during adolescence on the adverse behavioral outcome of neonatal maternal separation. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley pups were separated from dam for 3 hours daily during the first 2 weeks of birth (maternal separation, MS) or left undisturbed (nonhandled, NH). Half of MS pups received free access to chocolate cookies in addition to ad libitum chow from postnatal day 28 (MS+HPF). Pups were subjected to behavioral tests during young adulthood. The plasma corticosterone response to stress challenge was analyzed by radioimmunoassay. Results Daily caloric intake and body weight gain did not differ among the experimental groups. Ambulatory activities were decreased defecation activity and rostral grooming were increased in MS controls (fed with chow only) compared with NH rats. MS controls spent less time in open arms, and more time in closed arms during the elevated plus maze test, than NH rats. Immobility duration during the forced swim test was increased in MS controls compared with NH rats. Cookie access normalized the behavioral scores of ambulatory and defecation activities and grooming, but not the scores during the elevated plus maze and swim tests in MS rats. Stress-induced corticosterone increase was blunted in MS rats fed with chow only, and cookie access normalized it. Conclusion Prolonged access to HPF during adolescence and youth partly improves anxiety-related, but not depressive, symptoms in rats that experienced neonatal maternal separation, possibly in relation with improved function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. PMID:25031890

Parental divorce and initiation of alcohol use in early adolescence.

PubMed

Jackson, Kristina M; Rogers, Michelle L; Sartor, Carolyn E

2016-06-01

Parental divorce/separation is among the most commonly endorsed adverse childhood events. It has been shown to increase subsequent risk of alcohol dependence and problems across adolescence and early adulthood, but its influence on early stages of alcohol involvement has only recently been explored. In the present study, we examined whether time to first full drink was accelerated among youth who experienced parental divorce/separation. To determine specificity of risk, models controlled for perceived stress as well as family history of alcoholism, current parental drinking, and internalizing and externalizing problems. Developmental specificity in terms of timing of both parental divorce and first drink was also examined. Participants were 931 middle-school students (488 girls, 443 boys) who were enrolled in a prospective study on drinking initiation and progression (52% female; 23% non-White, 11% Hispanic). Students indicated whether and at what age they had consumed a full drink of alcohol. Parental divorce/separation was coded from a parent-reported life-events inventory and was grouped based on age experienced (ages 0-5, ages 6-9, age 10+). Cox proportional hazard models showed increased risk for onset of drinking as a function of divorce/separation, even controlling for stress, parental alcohol involvement, and psychopathology. There was no evidence for developmental specificity of the divorce/separation effect based on when it occurred nor in timing of first drink. However, the effect of parental divorce/separation on initiation was magnified at higher levels of parental drinking. Given the rates of parental divorce/separation and its association with increased risk of early drinking, investigation of the mechanisms underlying this link is clearly warranted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).

A psychological injury prevention group intervention in Swedish floorball.

PubMed

Tranaeus, Ulrika; Johnson, Urban; Engström, Björn; Skillgate, Eva; Werner, Suzanne

2015-11-01

The main purpose of the study was to evaluate a psychological skills training intervention at group level aiming to prevent injuries, separated in traumatic and overuse, in male and female elite floorball players. Twenty-three teams in the premiere leagues for males and females were volunteered, and the teams were allocated to an intervention group (n = 11, males n = 94, females n = 99) and a control group (n = 12, males n = 109, females n = 99). The teams in the intervention group participated in a psychological skills training programme consisting of six meetings with each team. The control group received no substitute. All injuries were registered and documented according to the time-loss definition and classified into either traumatic or overuse. In total, 142 players (35 %) out of the 401 players sustained 197 injuries, 0.49 injury/player: in the intervention group 0.45 injury/player and in the control group 0.53 injury/player. The analyses revealed no significant differences in injuries between intervention groups and control groups. The effect size of the influence of the psychological skills training in overuse injuries was considered to be small, Cohen's d 0.2. This study comprised the whole team for a group intervention and did not screen for at-risk athletes, e.g. scoring high in anxiety or low in coping skills, which might have influenced the result. A psychological injury prevention intervention forward to a whole team might not influence the injury occurrence significantly. Thus, this psychological intervention decreased the injury incidence which is of clinical interest. Level II.

The Immunogenicity and Safety of a Combined DTaP-IPV//Hib Vaccine Compared with Individual DTaP-IPV and Hib (PRP~T) Vaccines: a Randomized Clinical Trial in South Korean Infants.

PubMed

Kang, Jin Han; Lee, Hoan Jong; Kim, Kyung Hyo; Oh, Sung Hee; Cha, Sung Ho; Lee, Jin; Kim, Nam Hee; Eun, Byung Wook; Kim, Chang Hwi; Hong, Young Jin; Kim, Hyun Hee; Lee, Kyung Yil; Kim, Yae Jean; Cho, Eun Young; Kim, Hee Soo; Guitton, Fabrice; Ortiz, Esteban

2016-09-01

Recommended infant vaccination in Korea includes DTaP-IPV and Hib vaccines administered as separate injections. In this randomized, open, controlled study we assessed the non-inferiority of immunogenicity of DTaP-IPV//Hib pentavalent combination vaccine (Pentaxim™) compared with licensed DTaP-IPV and Hib (PRP~T) vaccines. We enrolled 418 healthy Korean infants to receive either separate DTaP-IPV and Hib vaccines (n = 206) or the pentavalent DTaP-IPV//Hib (n = 208) vaccine at 2, 4, 6 months of age. Antibodies to all components were measured before the first vaccination and one month after the third, and safety was assessed after each vaccination including recording of reactions by parents. We confirmed the non-inferiority of DTaP-IPV//Hib compared with DTaP-IPV and Hib vaccines; 100% of both groups achieved seroprotection against D, T, IPV and PRP~T, and 97.5%-99.0% demonstrated seroresponses to pertussis antigens. Antibody levels were similar in both groups, except for those to the Hib component, PRP~T. In separate and combined groups geometric mean concentrations of anti-PRP~T antibodies were 23.9 and 11.0 μg/mL, respectively, but 98.3% and 97.4% had titers ≥ 1 μg/mL, indicative of long-term protection. All vaccines were well tolerated, with no vaccine-related serious adverse event. Both groups had similar safety profiles, but the combined vaccine group had fewer injection site reactions. The immunological non-inferiority and similar safety profile of DTaP-IPV//Hib vaccine to separate DTaP-IPV and Hib vaccines, with the advantage of fewer injections and injection site reactions, supports the licensure and incorporation of DTaP-IPV//Hib into the Korean national vaccination schedule (Clinical trial registry, NCT01214889).

Glutamine Provides Effective Protection against Deltamethrin-Induced Acute Hepatotoxicity in Rats But Not Against Nephrotoxicity

PubMed Central

Gündüz, Ercan; Ülger, Burak Veli; İbiloğlu, İbrahim; Ekinci, Aysun; Dursun, Recep; Zengin, Yılmaz; İçer, Mustafa; Uslukaya, Ömer; Ekinci, Cenap; Güloğlu, Cahfer

2015-01-01

Background The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of L-glutamine (GLN) against liver and kidney injury caused by acute toxicity of deltamethrin (DLM). Material/Methods Thirty-two rats were indiscriminately separated into 4 groups with 8 rats each: control group (distilled water; 10 ml/kg, perorally [p.o.]), DLM group (35 mg/kg p.o. one dose.), GLN group (1.5 gr/kg, p.o. single dose.) and DLM (35 mg/kg p.o. one dose.) + GLN group (1.5 gr/kg, p.o. one dose after 4 hours.). Testing for total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) analyses were performed on tissue samples, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), urea, and creatinine were analyzed on serum samples. Liver and kidney samples were histopathologically analyzed. Results The TOS level in liver was significantly higher in the DLM group than in the control group, and the level in DLM+GLN group was considerably lower than in the DLM group. The TAS level in the DLM+GLN group was considerably higher than in the control and DLM groups. The TAS level in kidney tissues was considerably lower in the DLM group than in controls, but was similar to other groups. Histopathological analyses of liver tissues established a significant difference between DLM and DLM+GLN groups in terms of grade 2 hepatic injury. However, no significant difference was found between DLM and DLM+GLN groups in terms of kidney injury. Conclusions Glutamine leads to significant improvement in deltamethrin-induced acute hepatotoxicity in terms of histopathologic results, tissue oxidative stress parameters, and serum liver function marker enzymes. PMID:25890620

EATING DISORDERS AND DIET MANAGEMENT IN CONTACT SPORTS; EAT-26 QUESTIONNAIRE DOES NOT SEEM APPROPRIATE TO EVALUATE EATING DISORDERS IN SPORTS.

PubMed

Martínez Rodríguez, Alejandro; Vicente Salar, Néstor; Montero Carretero, Carlos; Cervelló Gimeno, Eduardo; Roche Collado, Enrique

2015-10-01

there is a growing concern in the appearance of eating disorders in athletes, especially those that practice sports grouped into weight categories. This affects the way athletes eat, using frequently unhealthy strategies to control weight, especially during the pre-competition period. this study analyses the prevalence of contact sports athletes in developing eating disorders, and how a controlled diet plan can reduce this risk. At the same time, it evaluates the use of the EAT-26 questionnaire to detect such disorders. a randomized frequency study was performed on 244 athletes (158 men, 86 women), who were separated into two groups: those that followed a diet plan given by a nutritionist, and a control group on a free diet. The athletes completed an EAT-26 questionnaire while participating in the University-level National Championships. the free diet group scored significantly higher on the questionnaire. Also, the female athletes controlled diet group scored significantly higher than their male counterparts. the results of the questionnaire indicate that an adequate nutritional program circumvents the use of unhealthy habits to control body weight and therefore avoids developing particular eating disorders. EAT-26 questionnaire does not seem the most appropriate tool to detect these disorders. Copyright AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2014. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.

Analysis of chromosomal aberrations in men occupationally exposed to cement dust.

PubMed

Fatima, S K; Prabhavathi, P A; Padmavathi, P; Reddy, P P

2001-02-20

Cement industry is considered as a major pollution problem on account of dust and particulate matter emitted at various steps of cement manufacture. Cement dust consists of many toxic constituents. The workers who are employed in cement industries are exposed to cement dust for long periods. Therefore, it is mandatory to evaluate the mutagenic effects of occupational exposure to cement dust in such workers. In the present study, we analyzed the samples of 124 male workers including 59 smokers and 65 non-smokers who were employed in cement industry for a period of 1-17 years. For comparison, 106 controls (including 47 smokers and 59 non-smokers) of the same age group and socio-economic status were also studied. Controls had no exposure to cement dust or any known physical or chemical agent. A significant increase in the incidence of chromosomal aberrations was observed in the exposed group when compared to the control group. The results were analyzed separately for non-smokers and smokers. The chromosomal damage was more pronounced in the smokers when compared with the non-smokers both in control and exposed groups. A significant increase in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations was also observed with increase in age in both control and exposed subjects.

Sex-typed play in gender-disturbed children: a comparison to sibling and psychiatric controls.

PubMed

Zucker, K J; Doering, R W; Bradley, S J; Finegan, J K

1982-08-01

Gender-disturbed children (n = 14) were compared to their preadolescent siblings (n = 16) and psychiatric controls (n = 13) on a sex-typed free-play task previously shown to differentiate gender-disturbed boys from normal boys. On three separate trials totaling 20 minutes, the gender-disturbed children played for a significantly longer period of time with cross-sex toys and for a significantly shorter period of time with same-sex toys than did the two control groups. The gender-disturbed children also showed greater trial-to-trial consistency in their play preferences than the other two groups. The utility of this task in the assessment of childhood gender disturbance is discussed. In addition, the results are discussed in relation to a number of perspectives regarding both typical and atypical gender identity development in childhood.

Chinese herbal Pulian ointment in treating psoriasis vulgaris of blood-heat syndrome: a multi-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

PubMed

Li, Nuo; Zhao, Wenbin; Xing, Jianmin; Liu, Jianping; Zhang, Guangzhong; Zhang, Yunbi; Li, Yuanwen; Liu, Wali; Shi, Fei; Bai, Yanping

2017-05-15

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long history in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris. We aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal Pulian ointment in treating psoriasis vulgaris of blood-heat syndrome. A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted. Participants with psoriasis vulgaris of blood-heat syndrome were blinded and randomized to receive Pulian ointment or placebo ointment twice daily for 4 weeks, with follow-up 8 weeks after treatment. Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) scores, severity of each symptom and area of skin lesion and quality of life were assessed at baseline, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks. Adverse events were recorded during the study. SAS 9.4 software and SPSS 17.0 software was applied for data analysis. A total of 300 participants with psoriasis vulgaris of blood-heat syndrome were assessed for eligibility, and 294 were randomly assigned to the Pulian ointment and placebo group from six study centers. Full analysis set (FAS): after 4 weeks of treatment, there were significant differences between groups in PASI score and the separate score of skin lesion area, favoring Pulian ointment group (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in scores of scaling, erythema and induration/thickness (P > 0.05). Per protocol set (PPS): There was no statistically significant difference in PASI score and separate score of each symptom and area of skin lesion between two groups (P > 0.05). Quality of life measured by Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) improved after treatment in both groups, but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). After being followed up for 8 weeks, the total relapse rates of the Pulian Ointment group and placebo group were 5.88 and 8.45%, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant between the two groups (P > 0.05). No adverse event was observed in both groups throughout the study. Pulian Ointment seems effective and well tolerated in improving the PASI score and separate score of skin lesion area for patients with psoriasis vulgaris of blood-heat syndrome. Further research could build on the current study to explore whether other preparation forms and greater intervention intensity are necessary for better therapeutic effects. Chictr.org.cn Identifier ChiCTR-TRC-12002054 .

Pochonia chlamydosporia in the biological control of Fasciola hepatica in cattle in Southeastern Brazil.

PubMed

Dias, A S; Araújo, J V; Braga, F R; Puppin, A C; Perboni, W R

2013-06-01

Biological control with the use of nematophagous fungi has been described very successfully by many authors and presents itself as a complementary control method, acting on the free-living forms of helminths. The efficacy of a formulation containing the fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia in controlling Fasciola hepatica eggs in faeces was evaluated in an experimental field assay. Two bovine groups (six animals each) were used: A (control) and B (treated with fungus). At 30 days after deworming, the animals were separated into two similar paddocks with flooded areas and were given pellets containing 25 % mycelial mass (group B) or no fungus (group A) at a dose of 1 g/10 kg body weight, twice a week, during 18 months. Faecal samples were harvested fortnightly in the animals of groups A and B and they were submitted at examination of quantitative sedimentation. The mean count of F. hepatica eggs per grams of faeces was significantly higher in group A (1.19) compared with those from group B (0.82) (P < 0.01). After 18 months, animals from group B had gained 42.33 kg above (17.82 % more by weight) (P < 0.01), compared with the control group (A). Every month, faecal samples from paddocks A and B were collected and they were incubated. P. chlamydosporia was identified only in sample source of the paddock B. It can be concluded that the application of this fungical formulation with P. chlamydosporia 25 % mycelial mass was effective in reducing the availability of eggs in the environment and reinfections in calves in natural conditions.

Randomized controlled trial of oatmeal consumption versus noodle consumption on blood lipids of urban Chinese adults with hypercholesterolemia

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in China and worldwide. Whole grain oats can reduce risk of CVD by reducing total and LDL-cholesterol, major risk factors for CVD. While this association has been established in many populations, data from Asian populations is limited. Thus, this study investigated the impact of oat consumption on cholesterol levels in Chinese adults. Male and female data from this work were previously published separately in mandarin in two Chinese journals. The combined male and female data were reanalyzed and are presented here. Methods A randomized, controlled, parallel-arm study was conducted at Beijing Hospital, Beijing china. Subjects were adults (men and women) with mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia. The oat group (n=85) consumed 100grams of instant oat cereal versus the control group (n=81) who consumed 100grams of wheat flour-based noodles daily for 6weeks. Laboratory and anthropometric measurements were conducted at baseline and at the end of the 6-week intervention. Results Dietary fiber intake increased significantly in the oat group compared to the control group at the end of the 6-week intervention. Total-, LDL-cholesterol and waist circumference decreased significantly in the oat group compared to the control. HDL-cholesterol decreased significantly in the control group versus the oat group. There were no significant changes in blood pressure, other anthropometric or laboratory measures between the two groups at the end of the intervention. Conclusions Instant oatmeal consumed daily for 6 weeks significantly increased fiber intake and decreased major risk factors for CVD in Chinese adults with hypercholesterolemia. Increased consumption of whole grains, including oats, should continue to be encouraged. PMID:22866937

Randomized controlled trial of oatmeal consumption versus noodle consumption on blood lipids of urban Chinese adults with hypercholesterolemia.

PubMed

Zhang, Jian; Li, Lixiang; Song, Pengkun; Wang, Chunrong; Man, Qingqing; Meng, Liping; Cai, Jenny; Kurilich, Anne

2012-08-06

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in China and worldwide. Whole grain oats can reduce risk of CVD by reducing total and LDL-cholesterol, major risk factors for CVD. While this association has been established in many populations, data from Asian populations is limited. Thus, this study investigated the impact of oat consumption on cholesterol levels in Chinese adults. Male and female data from this work were previously published separately in mandarin in two Chinese journals. The combined male and female data were reanalyzed and are presented here. A randomized, controlled, parallel-arm study was conducted at Beijing Hospital, Beijing china. Subjects were adults (men and women) with mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia. The oat group (n=85) consumed 100 grams of instant oat cereal versus the control group (n=81) who consumed 100 grams of wheat flour-based noodles daily for 6 weeks. Laboratory and anthropometric measurements were conducted at baseline and at the end of the 6-week intervention. Dietary fiber intake increased significantly in the oat group compared to the control group at the end of the 6-week intervention. Total-, LDL-cholesterol and waist circumference decreased significantly in the oat group compared to the control. HDL-cholesterol decreased significantly in the control group versus the oat group. There were no significant changes in blood pressure, other anthropometric or laboratory measures between the two groups at the end of the intervention. Instant oatmeal consumed daily for 6 weeks significantly increased fiber intake and decreased major risk factors for CVD in Chinese adults with hypercholesterolemia. Increased consumption of whole grains, including oats, should continue to be encouraged.

The balance effect of acupuncture therapy among stroke patients.

PubMed

Huang, Shih-Wei; Wang, Wei-Te; Yang, Tsung-Hsien; Liou, Tsan-Hon; Chen, Guan-Yu; Lin, Li-Fong

2014-08-01

To analyze how acupuncture therapy affects balance in patients experiencing their first stroke and to identify the stroke group with greatest improvement in balance after acupuncture intervention. Retrospective case-control study. Ward of a medical university hospital. A total of 629 stroke patients were enrolled initially; 345 patients met the study criteria and 132 were analyzed (66 each in the study and control groups). The study group received physiotherapy combined with acupuncture and the control group received only physiotherapy. The Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke patients (PASS) was used to evaluate balance. This balance scale system can be subdivided into static balance (PASS-MP, maintain posture) and dynamic balance (PASS-CP, change posture). This study revealed no statistically significant improvement of balance in the study group (t test). When patients with high Brunnstrom stage (Br stage) and low Br stage were analyzed separately, once again no statistical difference was detected between the study and control groups of those with high Br stage. However, among low-Br stage patients, the study group showed significant improvement in static balance (mean PASS-MP score±standard deviation: 4.7±3.7) compared with the control group (PASS-MP score: 2.8±2.7) (p<0.05). In first-ever stroke patients with a low Br stage, acupuncture therapy can improve static balance during rehabilitation. However, the effect on balance was limited among high-Br stage patients. This study provides information valuable to patients with hemiplegic stroke because it suggests that acupuncture can be used to improve balance. A prospective double-blind, randomized, controlled study design is recommended for future studies in patients with hemiplegic stroke.

The use of an android–based-game in the team assisted individualization to improve students’ creativity and cognitive achievement in chemistry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sugiyarto, K. H.; Ikhsan, J.; Lukman, I. R.

2018-05-01

The use of information and communication technology (ICT) in learning process resulted in positive impact to students’ output. This research investigated the difference of improvement of students’ creativity and cognitive achievement due to the use of android-based games on Chemistry Nomenclature in learning method of team-assisted individualization (TAI) into the improvement of students’ creativity and cognitive achievement. This was an quasi experiment research with non-equivalent pretest-posttest control group design involving 2 groups of students of X grade of a senior high school in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, SMAN 1 Seyegan, Sleman. The groups were experiment and control which were chosen randomly, involving 32 students in each group. The difference of learning model in the two groups were the use of android-based games within learning model of TAI in the experiment group, but it was only the use of TAI model in control group. The android-based games were developed and validated previously in this investigation, and were excellent in quality for the use in Chemistry learning process, and were reported separately. The data of both students’ creativity and cognitive achievement were measured before and after learning process. Data of students’ creativity were collected with the instruments of questionnaire and observation sheets, and the data of cognitive achievement were collected with a set of test. Statistical analysis of MANOVA was used to analyze data to measure the difference of the improvement of students’ creativity and cognitive achievement between experiment and control groups. The results showed that the improvement of creativity and cognitive achievement of students in the experiment group was higher significantly than that in control group.

Effectiveness of Transactional Analysis Group Therapy on Addiction Intensity of Woman Patients Treated with Methadone.

PubMed

Etemadi-Chardah, Niloofar; Matinpour, Bahman; Heshmati, Rasoul

2017-07-01

Addiction brings about severe and profound physical, psychological and social damages such as divorce, crime, and unemployment. The present study was to investigate the effectiveness of transactional analysis (TA) therapy on addiction intensity of woman patients treated with methadone. The research design was quasi-experimental with a pretest-posttest and a control group. The statistical population consisted of all the addicted women who referred to any drug rehabilitation center of Tehran, Iran, in 2016. They were selected using available sampling. Forty addicted patients were placed randomly in both the experimental and control groups. Addiction severity index (ASI) and demographic questionnaires were used. Group therapy using TA approach was executed on the experimental group for 10 sessions, each session for 2 hours (one session per week). The results of covariance analysis after controlling pretest showed that the difference between test and control group was significant for three subscales of psychological, drug abuse and alcohol consumption status (P < 0.001). The difference between test and control groups was significant considering the seven-variable centroid (P < 0.001). The difference in dimensions of addiction intensity between the two groups was significant (P < 0.001). Also, analysis of the variables separately showed significant differences in psychiatric condition, drug and alcohol use dimensions (P < 0.001). Based on these findings, it seems that group therapy using TA approach is effective in reducing addiction intensity of woman patients treated with methadone. Therefore, it can be concluded that TA group interventions account for 76% of the changes in psychological status, 43% of the changes in drug abuse status, and 49% of the changes in alcohol consumption status in woman patients under methadone treatment.

Maternal Separation Enhances Neuronal Activation and Cardiovascular Responses to Acute Stress in Borderline Hypertensive Rats

PubMed Central

Sanders, Brian J.; Anticevic, Alan

2007-01-01

There is much evidence suggesting early life events, such has handling or repeated separations from the nest, can have a long term effect on the biological and behavioral development of rats. The current study examined the effect of repeated maternal separation (MS) on the behavioral, cardiovascular, and neurobiological responses to stress in subjects vulnerable to environmental stressors as adults. Borderline hypertensive rats (BHR), which are the first generation offspring of spontaneously hyperternsive and Wistar-Kyoto rats, were separated from the dams for 3 hours per day from post-natal day 1 through 14. Non-separated controls remained in the home cage. When allowed to explore the open field chamber for 60 minutes as adults, MS subjects had significantly greater locomotor activity compared to controls. All subjects were exposed to 30 minutes of restraint stress during which time mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were measured. Although both groups had comparable increases in MAP, MS animals displayed significantly higher HR throughout the stress period. Finally, MS subjects had significantly more stress-induced Fos positive cells, an estimate of neuronal activation, in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA), paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), each of which plays an important role in organizing the biobehavioral response to stress. These results suggest that maternal separation can further enhance stress reactivity in this model and may represent a useful approach for studying the relationship between early life events and future vulnerability to stressful situations. PMID:17604851

Comparison of topical fixed-combination fortified vancomycin-amikacin (VA solution) to conventional separate therapy in the treatment of bacterial corneal ulcer.

PubMed

Chiang, C-C; Lin, J-M; Chen, W-L; Chiu, Y-T; Tsai, Y-Y

2009-02-01

In an in vitro study, fixed-combination fortified vancomycin and amikacin ophthalmic solutions (VA solution) had the same potency and stable physical properties as the separate components. In this retrospective clinical study, we evaluated the efficacy of the topical VA solution in the treatment of bacterial corneal ulcer and comparison with separate topical fortified vancomycin and amikacin. Separate topical fortified eye drops was used prior to January 2004 and switched to the VA solution afterwards in the treatment of bacterial corneal ulcer. The medical records of 223 patients diagnosed with bacterial corneal ulcers between January 2002 and December 2005 were reviewed retrospectively. There were 122 patients in the VA group and 101 in the separate group. Cure was defined as complete healing of the ulcer accompanied by a nonprogressive stromal infiltrate on two consecutive visits. No significant difference was found between the VA and separate therapy group. The mean treatment duration was 15.4 days in the VA group and 16.1 days in the separate therapy group. The average hospital stay was 5.4 days (VA) and 7.2 days (separate antibiotics). Stromal infiltration regressed significantly without further expansion in both groups. All corneal ulcers completely re-epithelialized without complications related to drugs. VA solution provided similar efficacy to the conventional separate therapy in the treatment of bacterial corneal ulcers; however, it is more convenient and tolerable, promotes patient's compliance, avoids the washout effect, and reduces nurse utilization. Hence, VA solution is a good alternative to separate therapy.

Effects of music therapy on labour pain and anxiety in Taiwanese first-time mothers.

PubMed

Liu, Yu-Hsiang; Chang, Mei-Yueh; Chen, Chung-Hey

2010-04-01

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of music on pain reaction and anxiety during labour. Music therapy has been used on clinical medicine. Only few scientific studies validate the value on labour women. Randomised controlled trial. Sixty primiparas expected to have a normal spontaneous delivery were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n = 30) or the control group (n = 30). The experimental group received routine care and music therapy, whereas the control group received routine care only. A self-report visual analogue scale for pain and a nurse-rated present behavioural intensity were used to measure labour pain. Anxiety was measured with a visual analogue scale for anxiety and finger temperature. Pain and anxiety between groups were compared during the latent phase (2-4 cm cervical dilation) and active phase (5-7 cm) separately. Our results revealed that compared with the control group, the experimental group had significantly lower pain, anxiety and a higher finger temperature during the latent phase of labour. However, no significant differences were found between the two groups on all outcome measures during the active phase. This study provides evidence for the use of music as an empirically based intervention of women for labour pain and anxiety during the latent phase of labour. The findings support that music listening is an acceptable and non-medical coping strategy for labouring women. Especially, apply in reducing the pain and anxiety for women who are at the early phase of labour.

Is Time an Important Problem in Management of Hypertension and Hypercholesterolemia by Using an Amlodipine-Atorvastatin Single Pill Combination?

PubMed

Zeng, Rui; Wang, Mian; Zhang, Li

2016-07-26

BACKGROUND Is the timing of dosing for amlodipine and atorvastatin important with regard to therapeutic efficacy? To answer this question, we designed an outpatient, practice-based, case-control study lasting 8 weeks. MATERIAL AND METHODS Two hundred patients were divided into 2 groups: in Group I, patients were provided with a single pill containing amlodipine/atorvastatin (5/20 mg) to be taken each night at 10 pm, and in Group II, patients were taking amlodipine (5 mg) and atorvastatin (20 mg) each morning at 7 am. RESULTS Our results indicated no obvious difference in blood pressure control between the 2 groups. Taking amlodipine at night not only lowered blood pressure, but it also provided better control during the peak blood pressure in the morning. Hypercholesterolemia control in the 2 groups was also not significantly different, taking atorvastatin in the morning was as effective as dosing at night in patients with hypercholesterolemia. While the carotid IMT, hs-CRP, and LVMI were significantly lower after treatment, no differences were found between the 2 groups. Although no obvious difference was found in adverse drug reactions between the 2 groups, compliance was much better in the single-pill group than in patients taking the 2 medications separately. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, single-pill amlodipine-atorvastatin taken at night can lower blood pressure and reduce the morning peak blood pressure levels the next day. Additionally, this dosing method could improve patient adherence to the therapy.

PCA as a practical indicator of OPLS-DA model reliability.

PubMed

Worley, Bradley; Powers, Robert

Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Orthogonal Projections to Latent Structures Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) are powerful statistical modeling tools that provide insights into separations between experimental groups based on high-dimensional spectral measurements from NMR, MS or other analytical instrumentation. However, when used without validation, these tools may lead investigators to statistically unreliable conclusions. This danger is especially real for Partial Least Squares (PLS) and OPLS, which aggressively force separations between experimental groups. As a result, OPLS-DA is often used as an alternative method when PCA fails to expose group separation, but this practice is highly dangerous. Without rigorous validation, OPLS-DA can easily yield statistically unreliable group separation. A Monte Carlo analysis of PCA group separations and OPLS-DA cross-validation metrics was performed on NMR datasets with statistically significant separations in scores-space. A linearly increasing amount of Gaussian noise was added to each data matrix followed by the construction and validation of PCA and OPLS-DA models. With increasing added noise, the PCA scores-space distance between groups rapidly decreased and the OPLS-DA cross-validation statistics simultaneously deteriorated. A decrease in correlation between the estimated loadings (added noise) and the true (original) loadings was also observed. While the validity of the OPLS-DA model diminished with increasing added noise, the group separation in scores-space remained basically unaffected. Supported by the results of Monte Carlo analyses of PCA group separations and OPLS-DA cross-validation metrics, we provide practical guidelines and cross-validatory recommendations for reliable inference from PCA and OPLS-DA models.

Acculturation and Self-Rated Mental Health Among Latino and Asian Immigrants in the United States: A Latent Class Analysis.

PubMed

Bulut, Elif; Gayman, Matthew D

2016-08-01

This study assesses variations in acculturation experiences by identifying distinct acculturation classes, and investigates the role of these acculturation classes for self-rated mental health among Latino and Asian immigrants in the United States. Using 2002-2003 the National Latino and Asian American Study, Latent Class Analysis is used to capture variations in immigrant classes (recent arrivals, separated, bicultural and assimilated), and OLS regressions are used to assess the link between acculturation classes and self-rated mental health. For both Latinos and Asians, bicultural immigrants reported the best mental health, and separated immigrants and recent arrivals reported the worst mental health. The findings also reveal group differences in acculturation classes, whereby Latino immigrants were more likely to be in the separated class and recent arrivals class relative to Asian immigrants. While there was not a significant group difference in self-rated mental health at the bivariate level, controlling for acculturation classes revealed that Latinos report better self-rated mental health than Asians. Thus, Latino immigrants would actually have better self-rated mental health than their Asian counterparts if they were not more likely to be represented in less acculturated classes (separated class and recent arrivals) and/or as likely to be in the bicultural class as their Asian counterparts. Together the findings underscore the nuanced and complex nature of the acculturation process, highlighting the importance of race differences in this process, and demonstrate the role of acculturation classes for immigrant group differences in self-rated mental health.

The Effect of Tinnitus on Listening Effort in Normal-Hearing Young Adults: A Preliminary Study.

PubMed

Degeest, Sofie; Keppler, Hannah; Corthals, Paul

2017-04-14

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of chronic tinnitus on listening effort. Thirteen normal-hearing young adults with chronic tinnitus were matched with a control group for age, gender, hearing thresholds, and educational level. A dual-task paradigm was used to evaluate listening effort in different listening conditions. A primary speech-recognition task and a secondary memory task were performed both separately and simultaneously. Furthermore, subjective listening effort was questioned for various listening situations. The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory was used to control for tinnitus handicap. Listening effort significantly increased in the tinnitus group across listening conditions. There was no significant difference in listening effort between listening conditions, nor was there an interaction between groups and listening conditions. Subjective listening effort did not significantly differ between both groups. This study is a first exploration of listening effort in normal-hearing participants with chronic tinnitus showing that listening effort is increased as compared with a control group. There is a need to further investigate the cognitive functions important for speech understanding and their possible relation with the presence of tinnitus and listening effort.

Practice and effectiveness of web-based problem-based learning approach in a large class-size system: A comparative study.

PubMed

Ding, Yongxia; Zhang, Peili

2018-06-12

Problem-based learning (PBL) is an effective and highly efficient teaching approach that is extensively applied in education systems across a variety of countries. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of web-based PBL teaching pedagogies in large classes. The cluster sampling method was used to separate two college-level nursing student classes (graduating class of 2013) into two groups. The experimental group (n = 162) was taught using a web-based PBL teaching approach, while the control group (n = 166) was taught using conventional teaching methods. We subsequently assessed the satisfaction of the experimental group in relation to the web-based PBL teaching mode. This assessment was performed following comparison of teaching activity outcomes pertaining to exams and self-learning capacity between the two groups. When compared with the control group, the examination scores and self-learning capabilities were significantly higher in the experimental group (P < 0.01) compared with the control group. In addition, 92.6% of students in the experimental group expressed satisfaction with the new web-based PBL teaching approach. In a large class-size teaching environment, the web-based PBL teaching approach appears to be more optimal than traditional teaching methods. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of web-based teaching technologies in problem-based learning. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Microorganism penetration in dentinal tubules of instrumented and retreated root canal walls. In vitro SEM study.

PubMed

Al-Nazhan, Saad; Al-Sulaiman, Alaa; Al-Rasheed, Fellwa; Alnajjar, Fatimah; Al-Abdulwahab, Bander; Al-Badah, Abdulhakeem

2014-11-01

This in vitro study aimed to investigate the ability of Candida albicans (C. albicans) and Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) to penetrate dentinal tubules of instrumented and retreated root canal surface of split human teeth. Sixty intact extracted human single-rooted teeth were divided into 4 groups, negative control, positive control without canal instrumentation, instrumented, and retreated. Root canals in the instrumented group were enlarged with endodontic instruments, while root canals in the retreated group were enlarged, filled, and then removed the canal filling materials. The teeth were split longitudinally after canal preparation in 3 groups except the negative control group. The teeth were inoculated with both microorganisms separately and in combination. Teeth specimens were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the depth of penetration into the dentinal tubules was assessed using the SMILE view software (JEOL Ltd). Penetration of C. albicans and E. faecalis into the dentinal tubules was observed in all 3 groups, although penetration was partially restricted by dentin debris of tubules in the instrumented group and remnants of canal filling materials in the retreated group. In all 3 groups, E. faecalis penetrated deeper into the dentinal tubules by way of cell division than C. albicans which built colonies and penetrated by means of hyphae. Microorganisms can easily penetrate dentinal tubules of root canals with different appearance based on the microorganism size and status of dentinal tubules.

Teachers' Rights versus Students' Rights: Race and Professional Authority in the New York City Public Schools, 1960-1986

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

D'Amico, Diana

2016-01-01

In 1968, New York City's unionized teachers participated in three separate strikes that spanned two school years. Teachers clashed with Black parents and activists who called for community control as both groups sought authority and recognition in the schools. Racialized assumptions in place before and extending beyond the labor skirmish infused…

Yeast cell wall supplementation alters the physiological and acute phase responses of crossbred heifers to an endotoxin challenge

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

A study was conducted to determine the effect of feeding yeast cell wall (YCW) products on the physiological and acute phase responses of crossbred newly-received heifers to an endotoxin challenge. Heifers (n = 24; 219 ± 2.4 kg) were separated into treatment groups receiving a Control diet (n = 8), ...

Yeast cell wall supplementation alters the metabolic responses of crossbred heifers to an endotoxin challenge

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

This study examined the effect of feeding yeast cell wall (YCW) products on the metabolic responses of newly-received heifers to endotoxin challenge. Heifers (n = 24; 219 ± 2.4 kg) were separated into treatment groups receiving a Control diet (n = 8), YCW-A (2.5 grams/heifer/d; n = 8) or YCW-C (2.5 ...

Empathic competencies in violent offenders☆

PubMed Central

Seidel, Eva-Maria; Pfabigan, Daniela Melitta; Keckeis, Katinka; Wucherer, Anna Maria; Jahn, Thomas; Lamm, Claus; Derntl, Birgit

2013-01-01

Violent offending has often been associated with a lack of empathy, but experimental investigations are rare. The present study aimed at clarifying whether violent offenders show a general empathy deficit or specific deficits regarding the separate subcomponents. To this end, we assessed three core components of empathy (emotion recognition, perspective taking, affective responsiveness) as well as skin conductance response (SCR) in a sample of 30 male violent offenders and 30 healthy male controls. Data analysis revealed reduced accuracy in violent offenders compared to healthy controls only in emotion recognition, and that a high number of violent assaults was associated with decreased accuracy in perspective taking for angry scenes. SCR data showed reduced physiological responses in the offender group specifically for fear and disgust stimuli during emotion recognition and perspective taking. In addition, higher psychopathy scores in the violent offender group were associated with reduced accuracy in affective responsiveness. This is the first study to show that mainly emotion recognition is deficient in violent offenders whereas the other components of empathy are rather unaffected. This divergent impact of violent offending on the subcomponents of empathy suggests that all three empathy components can be targeted by therapeutic interventions separately. PMID:24035702

Food-induced changes of lipids in rat neuronal tissue visualized by ToF-SIMS imaging.

PubMed

Dowlatshahi Pour, Masoumeh; Jennische, Eva; Lange, Stefan; Ewing, Andrew G; Malmberg, Per

2016-09-06

Time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) was used to image the lipid localization in brain tissue sections from rats fed specially processed cereals (SPC). An IonTof 5 instrument equipped with a Bi cluster ion gun was used to analyze the tissue sections. Data from 15 brain samples from control and cereal-fed rats were recorded and exported to principal components analysis (PCA). The data clearly show changes of certain lipids in the brain following cereal feeding. PCA score plots show a good separation in lipid distribution between the control and the SPC-fed group. The loadings plot reveal that the groups separated mainly due to changes in cholesterol, vitamin E and c18:2, c16:0 fatty acid distribution as well as some short chain monocarboxylic fatty acid compositions. These insights relate to the working mechanism of SPC as a dietary supplement. SPC is thought to activate antisecretory factor (AF), an endogenous protein with regulatory function for inflammation and fluid secretion. These data provide insights into lipid content in brain following SPC feeding and suggest a relation to activating AF.

Super cool X-1000 and Super cool Z-1000, two ice blockers, and their effect on vitrification/warming of mouse embryos.

PubMed

Badrzadeh, H; Najmabadi, S; Paymani, R; Macaso, T; Azadbadi, Z; Ahmady, A

2010-07-01

To evaluate the survival and blastocyst formation rates of mouse embryos after vitrification/thaw process with different ice blocker media. We used X-1000 and Z-1000 separately and mixed using V-Kim, a closed vitrification system. Mouse embryos were vitrified using ethylene glycol based medium supplemented with Super cool X-1000 and/or Super cool Z-1000. Survival rates for the control, Super cool X-1000, Super cool Z-1000, and Super cool X-1000/Z-1000 groups were 74%, 72%, 68%, and 85% respectively, with no significant difference among experimental and control groups; however, a significantly higher survival rate was noticed in the Super cool X-1000/Z-1000 group when compared with the Super cool Z-1000 group. Blastocyst formation rates for the control, Super cool X-1000, Super cool Z-1000, and Super cool X-1000/Z-1000 groups were 71%, 66%, 65%, and 72% respectively. There was no significant difference in this rate among control and experimental groups. In a closed vitrification system, addition of ice blocker Super cool X-1000 to the vitrification solution containing Super cool Z-1000 may improve the embryo survival rate. We recommend combined ice blocker usage to optimize the vitrification outcome. Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Study of the effect of occupational exposure to glyphosate on hepatorenal function].

PubMed

Zhang, F; Pan, L P; Ding, E M; Ge, Q J; Zhang, Z H; Xu, J N; Zhang, L; Zhu, B L

2017-07-06

Objective: To explore the effect of occupational exposure to glyphosate on hepatorenal function. Methods: 526 workers who were occupationally exposed to glyphosate from 5 glyphosate-producing factories were selected as cases; and another 442 administrative staffs who were not exposed to glyphosate were selected as controls from April to November, 2014. All the subjects accepted occupational health examination. The concentration level of glyphosate in the air of workshop was detected and the time weighted average concentration (TWA) was calculated. And analyze the difference of hepatorenal fuction between case group and control group. Result: The age of the subjects in the case and control groups were separately (35.6±10.3), (34.3±9.7) years old, with the length of working for (6.5±5.7), (7.7±6.8) years. The TWA of glyphosate in the case group was between <0.03-48.91 mg/m(3), with the geometric mean at 3.78 mg/m(3). The overall rates of abnormal hepatic and renal function in the case group were 14.4% (76 cases) and 16.2% (85 cases), respectively; while those were 5.0% (22 cases) and 4.8% (21 cases), respectively in control group, and the difference showed statistical significance ( P <0.05). When TWA reached <0.03-6.00 mg/m(3), the difference of hepatorenal fuction between case group and control group showed statistical significance, and the rates of abnormal hepatic and renal function was 8.0% (36/447) and 9.8% (44/447) respectively in case group. When cumulative exposure level reached <1.56-68.64 g, the difference of hepatorenal fuction between case group and control group showed statistical significance, and the rates increased to 9.2% (37/404) and 10.4% (42/404) respectively in group of cases. Conclusion: Glyphosate can affect the hepatic and renal function among occupational exposure population, and there was an association between the effect and the exposure dose.

Mass spectrometric profiling of lipids in intestinal tissue from rats fed cereals processed for medical conditions.

PubMed

Dowlatshahi Pour, Masoumeh; Jennische, Eva; Lange, Stefan; Ewing, Andrew G; Malmberg, Per

2016-06-11

Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) was used for lipid profiling of intestine tissue sections from rats fed specially processed cereals and rats fed ordinary feed as a control. This cereal is known to increase the activity of antisecretory factor in plasma and the exact mechanism for the activation process at the cellular level is unclear. ToF-SIMS has been used to track food induced changes in lipid content in intestinal tissue sections to gain insight into the possible mechanisms involved. Data from 20 intestine sections belonging to four different rats from each group of control and specially processed cereals-fed rats were obtained using the stage scan macroraster with a lateral resolution of 5 μm. Data were subsequently subjected to orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis. The data clearly show that changes of certain lipids are induced by the specially processed cereal feed. Scores plots show a well-defined separation between the two groups. The corresponding loading plots reveal that the groups separate mainly due to changes of vitamin E, phosphocholine, and phosphosphingolipid fragments, and that for the c18:2 fatty acid. The observed changes in lipids might give insight into the working mechanisms of antisecretory factor in the body, and this has been successfully used to understand the working mechanism of specially processed cereal-induced antisecretory factor activation in intestine.

Pilot and Controller Evaluations of Separation Function Allocation in Air Traffic Management

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wing, David; Prevot, Thomas; Morey, Susan; Lewis, Timothy; Martin, Lynne; Johnson, Sally; Cabrall, Christopher; Como, Sean; Homola, Jeffrey; Sheth-Chandra, Manasi;

Comparison of sequential left internal thoracic artery grafting and separate left internal thoracic artery and venous grafting : A 5-year follow-up.

PubMed

Wendt, D; Schmidt, D; Wasserfuhr, D; Osswald, B; Thielmann, M; Tossios, P; Kühl, H; Jakob, H; Massoudy, P

2010-09-01

The superiority of left internal thoracic artery (LITA) grafting to the left anterior descending artery (LAD) is well established. Patency rates of 80%-90% have been reported at 10-year follow-up. However, the superiority of sequential LITA grafting has not been proven. Our aim was to compare patency rates after sequential LITA grafting to a diagonal branch and the LAD with patency rates of LITA grafting to the LAD and separate vein grafting to a diagonal branch. A total of 58 coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients, operated on between 01/2000 and 12/2002, underwent multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) between 2006 and 2008. Of these patients, 29 had undergone sequential LITA grafting to a diagonal branch and to the LAD ("Sequential" Group), while in 29 the LAD and a diagonal branch were separately grafted with LITA and vein ("Separate" Group). Patencies of all anastomoses were investigated. Mean follow-up was 1958±208 days. The patency rate of the LAD anastomosis was 100% in the Sequential Group and 93% in the Separate Group (p=0.04). The patency rate of the diagonal branch anastomosis was 100% in the Sequential Group and 89% in the Separate Group (p=0.04). Mean intraoperative flow on LITA graft was not different between groups (69±8ml/min in the Sequential Group and 68±9ml/min in the Separate Group, p=n.s.). Patency rates of both the LAD and the diagonal branch anastomoses were higher after sequential arterial grafting compared with separate arterial and venous grafting at 5-year follow-up. This indicates that, with regard to the antero-lateral wall of the left ventricle, there is an advantage to sequential arterial grafting compared with separate arterial and venous grafting.

Weight Control in Adolescents: Focus Groups With Korean Adolescents and Their Teachers.

PubMed

Chae, Sun-Mi; Yeo, Ji-Young; Hwang, Ji-Hye; Lee, Ji-Hye; Lim, Jiyoung; Kwon, Insook

This qualitative descriptive study sought to identify perceptions about and status of weight control in adolescents from the perspective of adolescents and their teachers. Focus groups were used with six separate groups, 20 adolescents divided into four groups and 14 teachers divided into two groups. The qualitative data were analyzed using a thematic analysis in NVivo 11.0. Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative studies (COREQ) were followed. We extracted three themes and 12 sub-themes with 52 meaningful codes. Both adolescents and teachers stated that perceptions about weight control in adolescents were overly weighted toward management of one's appearance. The adolescents reported an increase in weight gained during adolescence, especially after entering high school, and they noted a lack of participation in physical activities and the presence of unhealthy dietary behaviors. However, adolescents perceived excessive weight gain during adolescence as natural, as long as they studied hard. Their teachers and parents were also permissive about weight gain resulted from study. The participants suggested that a weight control program for adolescents should be conducted in schools and should include every student in order to avoid discrimination. In addition, teacher involvement was emphasized to promote participation of adolescents in a school program. Our findings indicate that adolescents, especially those in a society emphasizing academics, need to practice healthy weight control behaviors. A school-based weight control program involving teachers and peers would be suitable and should be provided to all students regardless of weight classification. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Methylene blue photodynamic therapy in rats' wound healing: 21 days follow-up

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carneiro, Vanda Sanderana Macêdo; Catao, Maria Helena Chaves de Vasconcelos; Menezes, Rebeca Ferraz; Araújo, Natália Costa; Gerbi, Marleny Elizabeth Martinez

2015-06-01

The experimental evaluated the photodynamic therapy (PDT) in wound healing. It used 60 male rats, making two circular wounds at each animal. They were treated at 48hs intervals, with methylene blue (MB), low level laser treatment (LLLT) or both, thus resulting in PDT. The wounds were observed 01, 03, 07, 14 and 21 days after and then processed and subjected to HE staining to analyze granulation tissue, necrosis, epithelialization and collagen. After day 1, wounds treated with MB showed necrosis less intense than other groups, and the PDT group showed more intense granulation tissue. At day 3, reepithelialization was absent for half of injuries in the PDT group, and this group was also with lower collagen. However, at day 7, this same group presented reepithelialization more advanced than control group, which did not happen with those treated with MB or LLLT (p = 0.015). The results allow us to conclude that PDT difficulted reepithelization at 7th day and interfered in standard healing. However, when used separately, MB and LLLT interfered significantly compared to the control group, which did not happened to the PDT group. There was no significant difference between the treatment groups in other analysed times.

[Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder treated with scalp acupuncture and EEG biofeedback therapy in children: a randomized controlled trial].

PubMed

He, Cai-Di; Lang, Bo-Xu; Jin, Ling-Qing; Li, Bing

2014-12-01

To compare the difference in clinical efficacy on children attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) between the combined therapy of scalp acupuncture and EGG biofeedback and the simple EEG biofeedback therapy so as to search the better therapeutic method for ADHD. One hundred patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 50 cases in each one. In the control group, the simple EEG biofeedback therapy was adopted. In the observation group, on the basis of biofeedback therapy, scalp acupuncture was added and applied to Dingzhongxian (MS 5), Dingpangyixian (MS 8), Baihui (GV 20), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), etc. The ten treatments made one session. After four sessions of treatment, FIQ value in Wechsler intelligence scale, CIH score in Conners children behavior questionnaire, the ratio of 0 wave and p wave in EEG, FRCQ and FAQ in the integrated visual and auditory continuous performance test (IVA-CPT) and clinical comprehensive efficacy were observed before and after treatment in the two groups separately. Three cases were dropped out in the observation group and 2 cases were out in the control group. In the two groups, FIQ, FRCQ and FAQ were all increased after treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); the increases in the observation group were much more significant than those in the control group after treatment (all P < 0.05). In the two groups, CIH score and the ratio of 0 wave and p wave were all reduced after treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); the reduction in the observation group were much more apparent as compared with those in the control group (both P< 0.05). The total effective rate was 91.5% (43/47) in the observation group and better than 83. 3% (40/48, P < 0.01) in the control group. The combined therapy of scalp acupuncture and EEG biofeedback achieves the superior efficacy on children ADHD as compared with the simple biofeedback therapy. This combined therapy rapidly relieves the essential symptoms of ADHD and improves EEG waveform in children patients. Importantly, this therapy obtains and consolidates the significant efficacy.

Charge-specific size-dependent separation of water-soluble organic molecules by fluorinated nanoporous networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Byun, Jeehye; Patel, Hasmukh A.; Thirion, Damien; Yavuz, Cafer T.

2016-11-01

Molecular architecture in nanoscale spaces can lead to selective chemical interactions and separation of species with similar sizes and functionality. Substrate specific sorbent chemistry is well known through highly crystalline ordered structures such as zeolites, metal organic frameworks and widely available nanoporous carbons. Size and charge-dependent separation of aqueous molecular contaminants, on the contrary, have not been adequately developed. Here we report a charge-specific size-dependent separation of water-soluble molecules through an ultra-microporous polymeric network that features fluorines as the predominant surface functional groups. Treatment of similarly sized organic molecules with and without charges shows that fluorine interacts with charges favourably. Control experiments using similarly constructed frameworks with or without fluorines verify the fluorine-cation interactions. Lack of a σ-hole for fluorine atoms is suggested to be responsible for this distinct property, and future applications of this discovery, such as desalination and mixed matrix membranes, may be expected to follow.

Charge-specific size-dependent separation of water-soluble organic molecules by fluorinated nanoporous networks

PubMed Central

Byun, Jeehye; Patel, Hasmukh A.; Thirion, Damien; Yavuz, Cafer T.

2016-01-01

Molecular architecture in nanoscale spaces can lead to selective chemical interactions and separation of species with similar sizes and functionality. Substrate specific sorbent chemistry is well known through highly crystalline ordered structures such as zeolites, metal organic frameworks and widely available nanoporous carbons. Size and charge-dependent separation of aqueous molecular contaminants, on the contrary, have not been adequately developed. Here we report a charge-specific size-dependent separation of water-soluble molecules through an ultra-microporous polymeric network that features fluorines as the predominant surface functional groups. Treatment of similarly sized organic molecules with and without charges shows that fluorine interacts with charges favourably. Control experiments using similarly constructed frameworks with or without fluorines verify the fluorine-cation interactions. Lack of a σ-hole for fluorine atoms is suggested to be responsible for this distinct property, and future applications of this discovery, such as desalination and mixed matrix membranes, may be expected to follow. PMID:27830697

Formation Flying of Components of a Large Space Telescope

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mettler, Edward; Quadrelli, Marco; Breckenridge, William

2009-01-01

A conceptual space telescope having an aperture tens of meters wide and a focal length of hundreds of meters would be implemented as a group of six separate optical modules flying in formation: a primary-membrane-mirror module, a relay-mirror module, a focal-plane-assembly module containing a fast steering mirror and secondary and tertiary optics, a primary-mirror-figure-sensing module, a scanning-electron-beam module for controlling the shape of the primary mirror, and a sunshade module. Formation flying would make it unnecessary to maintain the required precise alignments among the modules by means of an impractically massive rigid structure. Instead, a control system operating in conjunction with a metrology system comprising optical and radio subsystems would control the firing of small thrusters on the separate modules to maintain the formation, thereby acting as a virtual rigid structure. The control system would utilize a combination of centralized- and decentralized-control methods according to a leader-follower approach. The feasibility of the concept was demonstrated in computational simulations that showed that relative positions could be maintained to within a fraction of a millimeter and orientations to within several microradians.

A natural basis for efficient brain-actuated control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Makeig, S.; Enghoff, S.; Jung, T. P.; Sejnowski, T. J.

2000-01-01

The prospect of noninvasive brain-actuated control of computerized screen displays or locomotive devices is of interest to many and of crucial importance to a few 'locked-in' subjects who experience near total motor paralysis while retaining sensory and mental faculties. Currently several groups are attempting to achieve brain-actuated control of screen displays using operant conditioning of particular features of the spontaneous scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) including central mu-rhythms (9-12 Hz). A new EEG decomposition technique, independent component analysis (ICA), appears to be a foundation for new research in the design of systems for detection and operant control of endogenous EEG rhythms to achieve flexible EEG-based communication. ICA separates multichannel EEG data into spatially static and temporally independent components including separate components accounting for posterior alpha rhythms and central mu activities. We demonstrate using data from a visual selective attention task that ICA-derived mu-components can show much stronger spectral reactivity to motor events than activity measures for single scalp channels. ICA decompositions of spontaneous EEG would thus appear to form a natural basis for operant conditioning to achieve efficient and multidimensional brain-actuated control in motor-limited and locked-in subjects.

Chemical warfare agents.

PubMed

Kuca, Kamil; Pohanka, Miroslav

2010-01-01

Chemical warfare agents are compounds of different chemical structures. Simple molecules such as chlorine as well as complex structures such as ricin belong to this group. Nerve agents, vesicants, incapacitating agents, blood agents, lung-damaging agents, riot-control agents and several toxins are among chemical warfare agents. Although the use of these compounds is strictly prohibited, the possible misuse by terrorist groups is a reality nowadays. Owing to this fact, knowledge of the basic properties of these substances is of a high importance. This chapter briefly introduces the separate groups of chemical warfare agents together with their members and the potential therapy that should be applied in case someone is intoxicated by these agents.

Costs and Effects of Abdominal versus Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: Systematic Review of Controlled Trials

PubMed Central

Bijen, Claudia B. M.; Vermeulen, Karin M.; Mourits, Marian J. E.; de Bock, Geertruida H.

2009-01-01

Objective Comparative evaluation of costs and effects of laparoscopic hysterectomy (LH) and abdominal hysterectomy (AH). Data sources Controlled trials from Cochrane Central register of controlled trials, Medline, Embase and prospective trial registers. Selection of studies Twelve (randomized) controlled studies including the search terms costs, laparoscopy, laparotomy and hysterectomy were identified. Methods The type of cost analysis, perspective of cost analyses and separate cost components were assessed. The direct and indirect costs were extracted from the original studies. For the cost estimation, hospital stay and procedure costs were selected as most important cost drivers. As main outcome the major complication rate was taken. Findings Analysis was performed on 2226 patients, of which 1013 (45.5%) in the LH group and 1213 (54.5%) in the AH group. Five studies scored ≥10 points (out of 19) for methodological quality. The reported total direct costs in the LH group ($63,997) were 6.1% higher than the AH group ($60,114). The reported total indirect costs of the LH group ($1,609) were half of the total indirect in the AH group ($3,139). The estimated mean major complication rate in the LH group (14.3%) was lower than in the AH group (15.9%). The estimated total costs in the LH group were $3,884 versus $3,312 in the AH group. The incremental costs for reducing one patient with major complication(s) in the LH group compared to the AH group was $35,750. Conclusions The shorter hospital stay in the LH group compensates for the increased procedure costs, with less morbidity. LH points in the direction of cost effectiveness, however further research is warranted with a broader costs perspective including long term effects as societal benefit, quality of life and survival. PMID:19806210

Control and prediction components of movement planning in stuttering vs. nonstuttering adults

PubMed Central

Daliri, Ayoub; Prokopenko, Roman A.; Flanagan, J. Randall; Max, Ludo

2014-01-01

Purpose Stuttering individuals show speech and nonspeech sensorimotor deficiencies. To perform accurate movements, the sensorimotor system needs to generate appropriate control signals and correctly predict their sensory consequences. Using a reaching task, we examined the integrity of these control and prediction components, separately, for movements unrelated to the speech motor system. Method Nine stuttering and nine nonstuttering adults made fast reaching movements to visual targets while sliding an object under the index finger. To quantify control, we determined initial direction error and end-point error. To quantify prediction, we calculated the correlation between vertical and horizontal forces applied to the object—an index of how well vertical force (preventing slip) anticipated direction-dependent variations in horizontal force (moving the object). Results Directional and end-point error were significantly larger for the stuttering group. Both groups performed similarly in scaling vertical force with horizontal force. Conclusions The stuttering group's reduced reaching accuracy suggests limitations in generating control signals for voluntary movements, even for non-orofacial effectors. Typical scaling of vertical force with horizontal force suggests an intact ability to predict the consequences of planned control signals. Stuttering may be associated with generalized deficiencies in planning control signals rather than predicting the consequences of those signals. PMID:25203459

Color vision but not visual attention is altered in migraine.

PubMed

Shepherd, Alex J

2006-04-01

To examine visual search performance in migraine and headache-free control groups and to determine whether reports of selective color vision deficits in migraine occur preattentively. Visual search is a classic technique to measure certain components of visual attention. The technique can be manipulated to measure both preattentive (automatic) and attentive processes. Here, visual search for colored targets was employed to extend earlier reports that the detection or discrimination of colors selective for the short-wavelength sensitive cone photoreceptors in the retina (S or "blue" cones) is impaired in migraine. Visual search performance for small and large color differences was measured in 34 migraine and 34 control participants. Small and large color differences were included to assess attentive and preattentive processing, respectively. In separate conditions, colored stimuli were chosen that would be detected selectively by either the S-, or by the long- (L or "red") and middle (M or "green")-wavelength sensitive cone photoreceptors. The results showed no preattentive differences between the migraine and control groups. For active, or attentive, search, differences between the migraine and control groups occurred for colors detected by the S-cones only, there were no differences for colors detected by the L- and M-cones. The migraine group responded significantly more slowly than the control group for the S-cone colors. The pattern of results indicates that there are no overall differences in search performance between migraine and control groups. The differences found for the S-cone colors are attributed to impaired discrimination of these colors in migraine and not to differences in attention.

Brain cortical thickness in male adolescents with serious substance use and conduct problems.

PubMed

Chumachenko, Serhiy Y; Sakai, Joseph T; Dalwani, Manish S; Mikulich-Gilbertson, Susan K; Dunn, Robin; Tanabe, Jody; Young, Susan; McWilliams, Shannon K; Banich, Marie T; Crowley, Thomas J

2015-01-01

Adolescents with substance use disorder (SUD) and conduct problems exhibit high levels of impulsivity and poor self-control. Limited work to date tests for brain cortical thickness differences in these youths. To investigate differences in cortical thickness between adolescents with substance use and conduct problems and controls. We recruited 25 male adolescents with SUD, and 19 male adolescent controls, and completed structural 3T magnetic resonance brain imaging. Using the surface-based morphometry software FreeSurfer, we completed region-of-interest (ROI) analyses for group cortical thickness differences in left, and separately right, inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and insula. Using FreeSurfer, we completed whole-cerebrum analyses of group differences in cortical thickness. Versus controls, the SUD group showed no cortical thickness differences in ROI analyses. Controlling for age and IQ, no regions with cortical thickness differences were found using whole-cerebrum analyses (though secondary analyses co-varying IQ and whole-cerebrum cortical thickness yielded a between-group cortical thickness difference in the left posterior cingulate/precuneus). Secondary findings showed that the SUD group, relative to controls, demonstrated significantly less right > left asymmetry in IFG, had weaker insular-to-whole-cerebrum cortical thickness correlations, and showed a positive association between conduct disorder symptom count and cortical thickness in a superior temporal gyrus cluster. Functional group differences may reflect a more nuanced cortical morphometric difference than ROI cortical thickness. Further investigation of morphometric differences is needed. If replicable findings can be established, they may aid in developing improved diagnostic or more targeted treatment approaches.

Brain cortical thickness in male adolescents with serious substance use and conduct problems

PubMed Central

Chumachenko, Serhiy Y.; Sakai, Joseph T.; Dalwani, Manish S.; Mikulich-Gilbertson, Susan K.; Dunn, Robin; Tanabe, Jody; Young, Susan; McWilliams, Shannon K.; Banich, Marie T.; Crowley, Thomas J.

2016-01-01

Background Adolescents with substance use disorder (SUD) and conduct problems exhibit high levels of impulsivity and poor self-control. Limited work to date tests for brain cortical thickness differences in these youths. Objectives To investigate differences in cortical thickness between adolescents with substance use and conduct problems and controls. Methods We recruited 25 male adolescents with SUD, and 19 male adolescent controls, and completed structural 3T magnetic resonance brain imaging. Using the surface-based morphometry software FreeSurfer, we completed region-of-interest (ROI) analyses for group cortical thickness differences in left, and separately right, inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and insula. Using FreeSurfer, we completed whole-cerebrum analyses of group differences in cortical thickness. Results Versus controls, the SUD group showed no cortical thickness differences in ROI analyses. Controlling for age and IQ, no regions with cortical thickness differences were found using whole-cerebrum analyses (though secondary analyses co-varying IQ and whole-cerebrum cortical thickness yielded a between-group cortical thickness difference in the left posterior cingulate/precuneus). Secondary findings showed that the SUD group, relative to controls, demonstrated significantly less right>left asymmetry in IFG, had weaker insular-to-whole-cerebrum cortical thickness correlations, and showed a positive association between conduct disorder symptom count and cortical thickness in a superior temporal gyrus cluster. Conclusion Functional group differences may reflect a more nuanced cortical morphometric difference than ROI cortical thickness. Further investigation of morphometric differences is needed. If replicable findings can be established, they may aid in developing improved diagnostic or more targeted treatment approaches. PMID:26337200

Effects of semen storage and separation techniques on sperm DNA fragmentation.

PubMed

Jackson, Robert E; Bormann, Charles L; Hassun, Pericles A; Rocha, André M; Motta, Eduardo L A; Serafini, Paulo C; Smith, Gary D

2010-12-01

To determine the effect of semen storage and separation techniques on sperm DNA fragmentation. Controlled clinical study. An assisted reproductive technology laboratory. Thirty normoozospermic semen samples obtained from patients undergoing infertility evaluation. One aliquot from each sample was immediately prepared (control) for the sperm chromatin dispersion assay (SCD). Aliquots used to assess storage techniques were treated in the following ways: snap frozen by liquid nitrogen immersion, slow frozen with Tris-yolk buffer and glycerol, kept on ice for 24 hours or maintained at room temperature for 4 and 24 hours. Aliquots used to assess separation techniques were processed by the following methods: washed and centrifuged in media, swim-up from washed sperm pellet, density gradient separation, density gradient followed by swim-up. DNA integrity was then measured by SCD. DNA fragmentation as measured by SCD. There was no significant difference in fragmentation among the snap frozen, slow frozen, and wet-ice groups. Compared to other storage methods short-term storage at room temperature did not impact DNA fragmentation yet 24 hours storage significantly increased fragmentation. Swim-up, density gradient and density gradient/swim-up had significantly reduced DNA fragmentation levels compared with washed semen. Postincubation, density gradient/swim-up showed the lowest fragmentation levels. The effect of sperm processing methods on DNA fragmentation should be considered when selecting storage or separation techniques for clinical use. Copyright © 2010 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Preparation and characterization of chemically functionalized silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles as a DNA separator.

PubMed

Kang, Kiho; Choi, Jinsub; Nam, Joong Hee; Lee, Sang Cheon; Kim, Kyung Ja; Lee, Sang-Won; Chang, Jeong Ho

2009-01-15

The work describes a simple and convenient process for highly efficient and direct DNA separation with functionalized silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles. Iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles and silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles were prepared uniformly, and the silica coating thickness could be easily controlled in a range from 10 to 50 nm by changing the concentration of silica precursor (TEOS) including controlled magnetic strength and particle size. A change in the surface modification on the nanoparticles was introduced by aminosilanization to enhance the selective DNA separation resulting from electrostatic interaction. The efficiency of the DNA separation was explored via the function of the amino-group numbers, particle size, the amount of the nanoparticles used, and the concentration of NaCl salt. The DNA adsorption yields were high in terms of the amount of triamino-functionalized nanoparticles used, and the average particle size was 25 nm. The adsorption efficiency of aminofunctionalized nanoparticles was the 4-5 times (80-100%) higher compared to silica-coated nanoparticles only (10-20%). DNA desorption efficiency showed an optimum level of over 0.7 M of the NaCl concentration. To elucidate the agglomeration of nanoparticles after electrostatic DNA binding, the Guinier plots were calculated from small-angle X-ray diffractions in a comparison of the results of energy diffraction TEM and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Additionally, the direct separation of human genomic DNA was achieved from human saliva and whole blood with high efficiency.

Effects of fluoride and epigallocatechin gallate on soft-drink-induced dental erosion of enamel and root dentin.

PubMed

Wang, Yin-Lin; Chang, Hao-Hueng; Chiang, Yu-Chih; Lu, Yu-Chen; Lin, Chun-Pin

2018-04-01

Fluoride and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) have been proven to prevent dental caries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of fluoride and EGCG on soft-drink-induced dental erosion in vitro. Forty enamel and dentin specimens were prepared from extracted human teeth. The specimens were divided into 4 groups and treated separately with distilled water (as control), 0.5 M sodium fluoride (NF), 400 μM EGCG (EG), and a solution containing 0.5 M NaF and 400 μM EGCG (FG). Cyclic erosive treatment was performed according to the experimental procedures. The specimens were analyzed using laser scanning confocal microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and a microhardness tester. The data were analyzed using ANOVA and Bonferroni's post hoc test. The significance level was set at 5%. The amount of substance loss was lower in the NF and EG groups than in the control group (p < 0.05). The erosion-caused substance loss was more pronounced in the dentin than in the enamel specimens. Surface microhardness loss was lower in the NF and EG groups than in the control group (p < 0.05). The diameter of the dentinal tubule was wider in the control group than in the NF and EG groups (p < 0.05). No combined effects were observed in the FG group. Both fluoride and EGCG are effective in preventing soft-drink-induced erosion compared with the control group. Fluoride and EGCG may interfere with each other. The mechanisms of the anti-erosive effect need to be explored in the future. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

The potential of transcranial magnetotherapy in color and rhythm therapy in the rehabilitation of ischemic stroke.

PubMed

Sholomov, I I; Cherevashchenko, L A; Suprunov, O V; Raigorodskii, Yu M

2010-10-01

A total of 116 patients with ischemic stroke were studied during the early recovery period. The patients were divided into four groups - three experimental groups and one control group. Of these, 87 patients in the first three groups received transcranial magneto- and/or color and rhythm therapy (TcMT, CRT) along with traditional treatment, while the 29 patients of the control group received basal treatment only. TcMT was performed using a bitemporal method, with a running field regime with a modulation frequency of 1-10 Hz. CRT consisted of an alternating scheme of stimulation of the left and right eyes with green and/or blue light with a period of 2-4 sec and an on time of 1 sec. Each of the three experimental groups (group 1 received TcMT, group 2 received CRT, and group 3 received TcMT + CRT) received two courses of treatment separated by 1.5 months. After treatment, all experimental groups, particularly group 3, showed more marked improvements than the control group. Regression of neurological symptomatology on the Lindmark scale in group 3 was 9.5% greater than that in controls; improvements in impairments to activity and self-care ability on the Barthel scale were greater by 8.8%; memory and intellectual changes were also seen on the MMSE and the Luriya and Schulte tests. Rheography and electroencephalography demonstrated significant improvements in hemodynamics and alpha-rhythm differentiation and a 14.6% reduction in the proportion of patients with dysrhythmia in group 3 compared with the control group. The best result on all measures were obtained in patients given the combination of TcMT and CRT; TcMT had the greater influence on hemodynamics, while CRT had the greater effect on psychoemotional status. Both treatments were well tolerated and produced no side effects.

[Effects of infrasound on ultrastructure of testis cell in mice].

PubMed

Wei, Ya-Ning; Liu, Jing; Shu, Qing; Huang, Xiao-Feng; Chen, Jing-Zao

2002-01-01

To investigate the effects of infrasound on ultrastructure of testis in mouse. Twelve male BALB/C mice were randomly divided into three groups according to exposed duration on 1, 7 and 14 day. The mice were separately exposed to infrasound environment under 8 Hz/90 dB, 8 Hz/130 dB, 16 Hz/90 dB, 16 Hz/130 dB 2 hours per day. There was another control group which had three mice were separated into module with no infrasound. All the mice were killed on schedule. Then all the sections of testis were observed under electronic microscope. The alterations of structure and the chromatin were observed. Some acute alteration in one day group was found in testis cell, such as cellular denaturation and necrosis, intercellular edema, mitochondria swelling, liposome hyperplasia. When the infrasound was up to 8 Hz/130 dB, the damage showed seriously. In 7 and 14 day group, the acute alteration was gradually decreased. A plenty of abnormal sperm were found. And other alteration was chromatin condense. The effect of variational frequency was important in ultrastructure. The infrasound markedly effected to testicular cell morphology and secreting function. Infrasound will lead to the alteration of procreation in mouse.

Cheyletus eruditus (taurrus): an effective candidate for the biological control of the snake mite (Ophionyssus natricis).

PubMed

Schilliger, Lionel H; Morel, Damien; Bonwitt, Jesse H; Marquis, Olivier

2013-09-01

The most commonly encountered ectoparasite in captive snakes is the hematophagous snake mite (Ophionyssus natricis). Infected snakes often exhibit lethargy, dysecdysis, pruritus, crusting dermatitis (sometimes progressing to abscesses), and behavioral changes (increased bathing time, rubbing against objects). Anemia and septicemia are occasional complications. Eliminating snake mites from a collection is frustrating. Insecticidal and acaricidal compounds used in mammals can be used against O. natricis infestation in reptiles, but they all are potentially neurotoxic to reptiles. The use of a biological agent to control the snake mite was first developed by using the predatory mites Hypoaspis miles and Hypoaspis aculeifer. However, no data are available regarding the potential of these mites to control O. natricis. Furthermore, the survival and predatory behavior of H. aculeifer and H. miles decreases above 28 degrees C, which is the lower value of the optimal temperature zone range required for rearing snakes. The aim of this study is to identify the ability of the predatory mite Cheyletus eruditus to control O. natricis. In the first experiment, 125 O. natricis mites where placed in separate plastic tubes together with the same number of C. eruditus mites. After 48 hr, the survival rate of snake mites was 6% compared with 92% in the control group (n = 125, P < 0,001). In the second experiment, 11 infested (average of 13 O. natricis per snake) ball pythons, with an average of 13 O. natricis per individual, were placed in separate cages with 1,000 C. eruditus mites + vermiculite After 15 days, only an average of two mites per snake remained, compared with 48 per snake in the control group (t-test, P < 0,01).

Impact of a Moving Noise Masker on Speech Perception in Cochlear Implant Users

PubMed Central

Weissgerber, Tobias; Rader, Tobias; Baumann, Uwe

2015-01-01

Objectives Previous studies investigating speech perception in noise have typically been conducted with static masker positions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of spatial separation of source and masker (spatial release from masking, SRM) in a moving masker setup and to evaluate the impact of adaptive beamforming in comparison with fixed directional microphones in cochlear implant (CI) users. Design Speech reception thresholds (SRT) were measured in S0N0 and in a moving masker setup (S0Nmove) in 12 normal hearing participants and 14 CI users (7 subjects bilateral, 7 bimodal with a hearing aid in the contralateral ear). Speech processor settings were a moderately directional microphone, a fixed beamformer, or an adaptive beamformer. The moving noise source was generated by means of wave field synthesis and was smoothly moved in a shape of a half-circle from one ear to the contralateral ear. Noise was presented in either of two conditions: continuous or modulated. Results SRTs in the S0Nmove setup were significantly improved compared to the S0N0 setup for both the normal hearing control group and the bilateral group in continuous noise, and for the control group in modulated noise. There was no effect of subject group. A significant effect of directional sensitivity was found in the S0Nmove setup. In the bilateral group, the adaptive beamformer achieved lower SRTs than the fixed beamformer setting. Adaptive beamforming improved SRT in both CI user groups substantially by about 3 dB (bimodal group) and 8 dB (bilateral group) depending on masker type. Conclusions CI users showed SRM that was comparable to normal hearing subjects. In listening situations of everyday life with spatial separation of source and masker, directional microphones significantly improved speech perception with individual improvements of up to 15 dB SNR. Users of bilateral speech processors with both directional microphones obtained the highest benefit. PMID:25970594

Bioleaching of serpentine group mineral by fungus Talaromyces flavus: application for mineral carbonation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Z.; Lianwen, L.; Zhao, L.; Teng, H.

2011-12-01

Many studies of serpentine group mineral dissolution for mineral carbonation have been published in recent years. However, most of them focus mainly on either physical and chemical processes or on bacterial function, rather than fungal involvement in the bioleaching of serpentine group mineral. Due to the excessive costs of the magnesium dissolution process, finding a lower energy consumption method will be meaningful. A fungal strain Talaromyces flavus was isolated from serpentinic rock of Donghai (China). No study of its bioleaching ability is currently available. It is thus of great significance to explore the impact of T. flavus on the dissolution of serpentine group mineral. Serpentine rock-inhabiting fungi belonging to Acremonium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Botryotinia, Cladosporium, Clavicipitaceae, Cosmospora, Fusarium, Monascus, Paecilomyces, Penicillium, Talaromyces, Trichoderma were isolated. These strains were chosen on the basis of resistance to magnesium and nickel characterized in terms of minimum inhibiting concentration (MIC). Specifically, the strain Talaromyces flavus has a high tolerance to both magnesium (1 mol/L) and nickel (10 mM/L), and we examine its bioleaching ability on serpentine group mineral. Contact and separation experiments (cut-off 8 000-14 000 Da), as well as three control experiments, were set up for 30 days. At least three repeated tests were performed for each individual experiment. The results of our experiments demonstrate that the bioleaching ability of T. flavus towards serpentine group mineral is evident. 39.39 wt% of magnesium was extracted from lizardite during the bioleaching period in the contact experiment, which showed a dissolution rate at about a constant 0.126 mM/d before reaching equilibrium in 13 days. The amount of solubilized Mg from chrysotile and antigorite were respectively 37.79 wt% and 29.78 wt% in the contact experiment. These results make clear the influence of mineral structure on mineral bioleaching. In comparison to the results from the three control experiments, the solubilized Mg from the contact and separation experiments were higher. The concentration of magnesium was pH-dependent both in the contact and separation experiments. The Mg/Si atomic ratio in the solution was about 6-8 in the contact experiments, which may indicate that T. flavus is more attracted to magnesium when deteriorating serpentine group mineral. SEM analyses of the minerals at the conclusion of experiments revealed that the minerals were extensively etched. Moreover, fungal hyphae-mineral aggregates manifest physical process accelerated the degradation of serpentine group mineral. These observations may imply that the fungal leaching of serpentine group mineral could potentially serve as a method for mineral carbonation.

Difference in postural control between patients with functional and mechanical ankle instability.

PubMed

Chen, Henry; Li, Hong-Yun; Zhang, Jian; Hua, Ying-Hui; Chen, Shi-Yi

2014-10-01

Lateral ankle sprain is one of the most common injuries. Since the structural and pathological differences in mechanical ankle instability (MAI) and functional ankle instability (FAI) may not be the same, it may be better to treat these as separate groups. The purpose of this study was to compare the difference in postural sway between MAI and FAI in patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Twenty-six patients with CAI and 14 healthy control participants were included in the study. The CAI patients were subdivided into MAI (15 patients) and FAI (11 patients) groups. Patients who were diagnosed with lateral ankle ligaments rupture by magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography were assigned to the MAI group. All participants performed single-limb postural sway tests 3 times on each leg with eyes closed and open. The average distances from the mean center of pressure position in the mediolateral and anteroposterior directions were recorded and compared among the 3 groups. The unstable ankles in the MAI group showed significantly greater postural sway in the anterior, posterior, and medial directions compared with those in the control group with eyes closed. With eyes open, significantly greater postural sway was found in the anterior direction. In the FAI group, no difference was found in postural sway compared with those in the control group. The MAI group showed significantly greater postural sway in the anterior direction compared with the FAI group with eyes closed and open. No significant difference in postural sway was found between the unstable and stable ankles in the MAI or FAI groups, with or without vision. Patients with MAI have deficits in postural control, especially in anterior-posterior directions. However, no difference was found in postural sway in patients with FAI compared with healthy people. As MAI patients suffer from deficits in postural control, balance training should be applied in those patients. In addition, special training should also include the contralateral side after a unilateral ankle ligament injured. © The Author(s) 2014.

Bacterial translocation and intestinal injury in experimental necrotizing enterocolitis model.

PubMed

Ciftci, I; Ozdemir, M; Aktan, M; Aslan, K

2012-01-01

To study the occurrence of bacterial translocation and to assess the impact of breastfeeding on bacterial translocation in the animal model of necrotizing enterocolitis. A total of 20 neonate Sprague-Dawley rats were enrolled in the study. Rats were randomly allocated into either control or study group just after birth. Ten newborn rats in the control group were left with their mother to be breast-fed. In contrary, necrotizing enterocolitis group consisted of neonates that were separated from their mothers, housed in an incubator and were gavaged with a special rodent formula three times daily. Survival rates, weight changes, and morphologic scoring obtained after microscopic evaluation were determined as microbiologic evaluation criteria. All the rats in the control group survived, while 1 (10 %) rat died in the necrotizing enterocolitis group. Mortality rates of the two groups were similar. All the formula-fed animals in the necrotizing enterocolitis group had significant weight loss compared to the breast milk-fed rats in the control group (p<0.05). A total of 7 (70 %) and 2 (20 %) E. coli growths were identified in the bowel lumen, liver, and spleen of necrotizing enterocolitis and control groups, respectively. This difference was statistically significant. In peritoneal smear cultures, a total of 3 (30 %) growths were detected in the necrotizing enterocolitis group and 1 (10 %) growth in the control group. As the result of a disturbance in the intestinal flora and impairment of the intestinal barrier in necrotizing enterocolitis, microrganisms in the bowel pass through the intestinal barrier and reach the liver and the spleen via the hematogenous route. This condition is closely related to the impairment of physiological and functional features of the intestinal barrier and is independent from the degree of intestinal injury. Bacterial translocation should be remembered in cases suspected of necrotizing enterocolitis, and a rapid and effective treatment algorithm should be applied in such circumstances (Tab. 3, Fig. 3, Ref. 21). Full Text in PDF www.elis.sk.

Effect of famine on fertility in a rural area of Bangladesh.

PubMed

Razzaque, A

1988-07-01

Data on household socioeconomic status collected in the 1974 census and registration data on births, deaths, and migrations for the 1974-77 period from the Demographic Surveillance System of the International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh, were used to investigate the effects of the 1974-75 famine on differential fertility in a rural population of Bangladesh. Occupation of household head was used as a measure of socioeconomic status. Overall, fertility declined by 34% over the 1975-76 period and increased by 17% in 1976-77 from the 1974-75 figure. Significantly lower fertility was observed in 1975-76, irrespective of socioeconomic status, but the lower socioeconomic groups were affected more than the higher groups. Post-famine fertility was significantly higher only in the 2 middle occupation categories. The age-specific fertility rates suggest that the famine affected all age groups. The post-famine fertility was higher than that of 1974-75 in all but those aged below 20. At age 40 and over the recovery was slight. Husband-wife separation showed an increase during the famine and particularly among the lower socioeconomic groups. The males of the lower socioeconomic households migrated to other regions to obtain food for the family, thus affecting frequency of coitus. The decline in fertility may be due to several factors: deferred marriage; increase in divorces and husband-wife separations; high fetal wastage; voluntary fertility control through contraception, abstention, or induced abortion; and infecundability. An indirect measure of marriage rate indicated that fewer couples entered into marriage in 1974-75, particularly in the lower socioeconomic groups. Both the higher and lower socioeconomic groups were affected by the famine but the precise mechanisms were not the same. At this stage, it is not feasible to estimate the contribution of each factor to the fertility decline. The lower socioeconomic groups were more affected by husband-wife separations and deferred marriages; the higher socioeconomic groups were affected by mental stress and anxiety.

The aphrodisiac herb Tribulus terrestris does not influence the androgen production in young men.

PubMed

Neychev, V K; Mitev, V I

2005-10-03

The aim of the current study is to investigate the influence of Tribulus terrestris extract on androgen metabolism in young males. Twenty-one healthy young 20-36 years old men with body weight ranging from 60 to 125 kg were randomly separated into three groups-two experimental (each n=7) and a control (placebo) one (n=7). The experimental groups were named TT1 and TT2 and the subjects were assigned to consume 20 and 10 mg/kg body weight per day of Tribulus terrestris extract, respectively, separated into three daily intakes for 4 weeks. Testosterone, androstenedione and luteinizing hormone levels in the serum were measured 24 h before supplementation (clear probe), and at 24, 72, 240, 408 and 576 h from the beginning of the supplementation. There was no significant difference between Tribulus terrestris supplemented groups and controls in the serum testosterone (TT1 (mean+/-S.D.: 15.75+/-1.75 nmol/l); TT2 (mean+/-S.D.: 16.32+/-1.57 nmol/l); controls (mean+/-S.D.: 17.74+/-1.09 nmol/l) (p>0.05)), androstenedione (TT1 (mean+/-S.D.: 1.927+/-0.126 ng/ml); TT2 (mean+/-S.D.: 2.026+/-0.256 ng/ml); controls (mean+/-S.D.: 1.952+/-0.236 ng/ml) (p>0.05)) or luteinizing hormone (TT1 (mean+/-S.D.: 4.662+/-0.274U/l); TT2 (mean+/-S.D.: 4.103+/-0.869U/l); controls (mean+/-S.D.: 4.170+/-0.406U/l) (p>0.05)) levels. All results were within the normal range. The findings in the current study anticipate that Tribulus terrestris steroid saponins possess neither direct nor indirect androgen-increasing properties. The study will be extended in the clarifying the probable mode of action of Tribulus terrestris steroid saponins.

Exercise training improves endothelial function in young prehypertensives

PubMed Central

Beck, Darren T; Casey, Darren P; Martin, Jeffrey S; Emerson, Blaze D; Braith, Randy W

2015-01-01

Prehypertensives exhibit marked endothelial dysfunction, a risk factor for future cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, the ability of exercise to ameliorate endothelial dysfunction in prehypertensives is grossly underinvestigated. This prospective randomized and controlled study examined the separate effects of resistance and endurance training on conduit artery endothelial function in young prehypertensives. Forty-three unmedicated prehypertensive (systolic blood pressure [SBP]=120–139 mmHg; diastolic blood pressure [DBP]=80–89 mmHg) but otherwise healthy men and women and 15 normotensive matched time-controls (NMTC); n = 15) between 18 and 35 y of age met screening requirements and participated in the study. Prehypertensive subjects were randomly assigned to either a resistance exercise training (PHRT; n = 15), endurance exercise training (PHET; n = 13) or time-control group (PHTC; n = 15). The treatment groups performed exercise training three days per week for eight weeks. The control groups did not initiate exercise programs throughout the study. Flow mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery, biomarkers of enodothelial function and peripheral blood pressure were evaluated before and after exercise intervention or time-matched control. PHRT and PHET reduced resting SBP (9.6 ± 3.6 and 11.9 ± 3.4 mmHg, respectively; P < 0.05) and DBP (8.0 ± 5.1 and 7.2 ± 3.4 mmHg, respectively; P < 0.05). Exercise training improved brachial artery FMD absolute diameter, percent dilation and normalized percent dilation by 30%, 34% and 19% for PHRT, P < 0.05; and by 54%, 63% and 75% for PHET, P < 0.05; respectively. PHRT and PHET increased plasma concentrations of 6-keto prostaglandin F1α (19% and 22%, respectively; P < 0.05), NOx (19% and 23%, respectively; P < 0.05), and reduced endothelin-1 by (16% and 24%, respectively; P < 0.01). This study provides novel evidence that resistance and endurance exercise separately have beneficial effects on resting peripheral blood pressure, brachial artery FMD and endothelial-derived vasoactive agents in young prehypertensives. PMID:23760009

Chitin-fibroin-hydroxyapatite membrane for guided bone regeneration: micro-computed tomography evaluation in a rat model.

PubMed

Baek, Young-Jae; Kim, Jung-Han; Song, Jae-Min; Yoon, Sang-Yong; Kim, Hong-Sung; Shin, Sang-Hun

2016-12-01

In guided bone regeneration (GBR) technique, many materials have been used for improving biological effectiveness by adding on membranes. The new membrane which was constructed with chitin-fibroin-hydroxyapatite (CNF/HAP) was compared with a collagen membrane (Bio-Gide®) by means of micro-computed tomography. Fifty-four rats were used in this study. A critical-sized (8 mm) bony defect was created in the calvaria with a trephine bur. The CNF/HAP membrane was prepared by thermally induced phase separation. In the experimental group ( n  = 18), the CNF/HAP membrane was used to cover the bony defect, and in the control group ( n  = 18), a resorbable collagen membrane (Bio-Gide®) was used. In the negative control group ( n  = 18), no membrane was used. In each group, six animals were euthanized at 2, 4, and 8 weeks after surgery. The specimens were analyzed using micro-CT. Bone volume (BV) and bone mineral density (BMD) of the new bone showed significant difference between the negative control group and membrane groups ( P  < 0.05). However, between two membranes, the difference was not significant. The CNF/HAP membrane has significant effect on the new bone formation and has the potential to be applied for guided bone regeneration.

Exercise addiction: a study of eating disorder symptoms, quality of life, personality traits and attachment styles.

PubMed

Lichtenstein, Mia Beck; Christiansen, Erik; Elklit, Ask; Bilenberg, Niels; Støving, René Klinky

2014-02-28

Exercise addiction is characterized by excessive exercise patterns with potential negative consequences such as overuse injuries. The aim of this study was to compare eating disorder symptoms, quality of life, personality traits and attachments styles in exercisers with and without indications of exercise addiction. A case-control study with 121 exercisers was conducted. The exercisers were categorized into an addiction group (n=41) or a control group (n=80) on the basis of their responses to the Exercise Addiction Inventory. The participants completed the Eating Disorder Inventory 2, the Short-Form 36, the NEO Personality Inventory Revised and the Adult Attachment Scale. The addiction group scored higher on eating disorder symptoms, especially on perfectionism but not as high as eating disorder populations. The characteristic personality traits in the addiction group were high levels of excitement-seeking and achievement striving whereas scores on straightforwardness and compliance were lower than in the exercise control group. The addiction group reported more bodily pain and injuries. This study supports the hypothesis that exercise addiction is separate to an eating disorder, but shares some of the concerns of body and performance. It is driven by a striving for high goals and excitement which results in pain and injuries from overuse. © 2013 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Biomechanical analysis of knee and trunk in badminton players with and without knee pain during backhand diagonal lunges.

PubMed

Lin, Cheng-Feng; Hua, Shiang-Hua; Huang, Ming-Tung; Lee, Hsing-Hsan; Liao, Jen-Chieh

2015-01-01

The contribution of core neuromuscular control to the dynamic stability of badminton players with and without knee pain during backhand lunges has not been investigated. Accordingly, this study compared the kinematics of the lower extremity, the trunk movement, the muscle activation and the balance performance of knee-injured and knee-uninjured badminton players when performing backhand stroke diagonal lunges. Seventeen participants with chronic knee pain (injured group) and 17 healthy participants (control group) randomly performed two diagonal backhand lunges in the forward and backward directions, respectively. This study showed that the injured group had lower frontal and horizontal motions of the knee joint, a smaller hip-shoulder separation angle and a reduced trunk tilt angle. In addition, the injured group exhibited a greater left paraspinal muscle activity, while the control group demonstrated a greater activation of the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis and medial gastrocnemius muscle groups. Finally, the injured group showed a smaller distance between centre of mass (COM) and centre of pressure, and a lower peak COM velocity when performing the backhand backward lunge tasks. In conclusion, the injured group used reduced knee and trunk motions to complete the backhand lunge tasks. Furthermore, the paraspinal muscles contributed to the lunge performance of the individuals with knee pain, whereas the knee extensors and ankle plantar flexor played a greater role for those without knee pain.

Impact of industrial effluents on the biochemical composition of fresh water fish Labeo rohita.

PubMed

Muley, D V; Karanjkar, D M; Maske, S V

2007-04-01

In acute toxicity (96 hr) experiment the fingerlings of freshwater fish Labeo rohita was exposed to tannery, electroplating and textile mill effluents. The LC0 and LC50 concentrations were 15% and 20% for tannery effluents, 3% and 6% for electroplating effluents and 18% and 22% for textile mill effluents respectively. It was found that, electroplating effluent was more toxic than tannery and textile mill wastes. After acute toxicity experiments for different industrial effluents, various tissues viz. gill, liver, muscle and kidney were obtained separately from control, LC0 and LC50 groups. These tissues were used for biochemical estimations. The glycogen content in all the tissues decreased considerably upon acute toxicity of three industrial effluents except muscle in LC50 group of tannery effluent and kidney in LC50 group of textile mill effluent, when compared to control group. The total protein content decreased in all tissues in three effluents except gills in LC50 group of tannery effluent, kidney in LC50 group of electroplating effluent and kidney in LC0 group of textile mill effluent. In general total lipid content decreased in all tissues after acute exposure when compared to control group. The results obtained in the present study showed that, the industrial effluents from tannery, electroplating and textile mills caused marked depletion in biochemical composition in various tissues of the fish Labeo rohita after acute exposure.

Novel double-layer Silastic testicular prosthesis with controlled release of testosterone in vitro, and its effects on castrated rats

PubMed Central

Chen, Hui-Xing; Yang, Shi; Ning, Ye; Shao, Hai-Hao; Ma, Meng; Tian, Ru-Hui; Liu, Yu-Fei; Gao, Wei-Qiang; Li, Zheng; Xia, Wei-Liang

2017-01-01

Testicular prostheses have been used to deal with anorchia for nearly 80 years. Here, we evaluated a novel testicular prosthesis that can controllably release hormones to maintain physiological levels of testosterone in vivo for a long time. Silastic testicular prostheses with controlled release of testosterone (STPT) with different dosages of testosterone undecanoate (TU) were prepared and implanted into castrated Sprague-Dawley rats. TU oil was applied by oral administration to a separate group of castrated rats. Castrated untreated and sham-operated groups were used as controls. Serum samples from every group were collected to measure the levels of testosterone (T), follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone (LH). Maximum intracavernous penile pressure (ICPmax) was recorded. The prostates and seminal vesicles were weighed and subjected to histology, and a terminal dexynucleotidyl transferase-mediated UTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay was used to evaluate apoptosis. Our results revealed that the weights of these tissues and the levels of T and LH showed significant statistical differences in the oral administration and TU replacement groups compared with the castrated group (P < 0.05). Compared with the sham-operated group, the ICPmax, histology and TUNEL staining for apoptosis, showed no significant differences in the hormone replacement groups implanted with medium and high doses of STPT. Our results suggested that this new STPT could release TU stably through its double semi-permeable membranes with excellent biocompatibility. The study provides a new approach for testosterone replacement therapy. PMID:27174160

Acupuncture for retained placenta: a retrospective case series.

PubMed

Djakovic, Ivka; Bilic, Nada

2014-12-01

A placenta is considered to be retained when it remains undelivered 30 or 60 min after the birth of the baby following active or physiological management of the third stage of labour, respectively. It can be life threatening for the mother. We retrospectively examined the influence of acupuncture on the delivery of retained placentas in the third stage of labour in 70 women. In all cases the third stage of labour was actively managed, and acupuncture was provided 30 min after delivery at points KI16 and SP6 for 15 min. After acupuncture 77% of placentas separated successfully. In 10% of cases some retained placental tissue was detected and manual removal of the avulsed cotyledon was performed, while in 13% the entire placenta was retained and manual removal of the placenta under general anaesthesia was necessary. Acupuncture may help to facilitate placental separation but further controlled trials are needed. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

Extraversion, neuroticism, immoral judgment and criminal behaviour.

PubMed

Addad, M; Leslau, A

1989-01-01

The present study examines delinquent behaviour by integrating two approaches until now employed separately: Eysnck's theory linking delinquency to extraversion and neuroticism, and Kohlberg's theory of moral development and its connection to moral behaviour. The study analyzes the relations between extraversion, neuroticism and moral judgment, as well as their independent and/or interactive effect upon the development of anti-social behaviour. The relationships are tested by retrospective measurements of personality traits and moral judgment in three groups: delinquency (N = 203), control (N = 82) and comparative (N = 407) groups. Findings show that criminals are higher than control subjects in neuroticism and immoral judgment but not in extraversion. Similar relationships were found between criminals and the comparative group, with one exception: here extraversion was found to be positively related to delinquency, both independently and interactively with neuroticism. The implications of these results for differential development of anti-social behaviour are discussed.

Pathway Towards Fluency: Using 'disaggregate instruction' to promote science literacy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brown, Bryan A.; Ryoo, Kihyun; Rodriguez, Jamie

2010-07-01

This study examines the impact of Disaggregate Instruction on students' science learning. Disaggregate Instruction is the idea that science teaching and learning can be separated into conceptual and discursive components. Using randomly assigned experimental and control groups, 49 fifth-grade students received web-based science lessons on photosynthesis using our experimental approach. We supplemented quantitative statistical comparisons of students' performance on pre- and post-test questions (multiple choice and short answer) with a qualitative analysis of students' post-test interviews. The results revealed that students in the experimental group outscored their control group counterparts across all measures. In addition, students taught using the experimental method demonstrated an improved ability to write using scientific language as well as an improved ability to provide oral explanations using scientific language. This study has important implications for how science educators can prepare teachers to teach diverse student populations.

Development of vinylic and acetylenic functionalized structures based on high permeable glassy polymers as membrane materials for gas mixtures separation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roizard, D.; Kiryukhina, Y.; Masalev, A.; Khotimskiy, V.; Teplyakov, V.; Barth, D.

2013-03-01

There are several challenging separation problems in industries which can be solved with the help of membrane technologies. It is the case for instance of the purification of gas energy carriers (i.e. H2, CH4) from CO2 as well as the CO2 recovery from flue gas. Glassy polymers containing trimethylsilyl residues like poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) [PTMSP] and polyvinyltrimethylsilane [PVTMS] are known to exhibit good membrane properties for gas separation. This paper reports two ways of improving their performances based on the controlled introduction of selective groups - alkyl imidazomium salts (C4I) and polyethyleneglycol (M-PEG)- able to enhance CO2 selectivity. CO2 Isotherm sorption data and permeability measurements have shown that the membrane performances could be significantly improved when C4I and M-PEG were introduced as residues covalently bounded to the main polymer chain. Moreover the introduced bromine reactive centres could also be used to induce chemical crosslinking giving rise to more resistant and stable membranes to organic vapours. With the C4I groups, the CO2 sorption could be enhanced by a factor 4.4.

Sibling separation and psychological problems of double AIDS orphans in rural China - a comparison analysis.

PubMed

Gong, J; Li, X; Fang, X; Zhao, G; Lv, Y; Zhao, J; Lin, X; Zhang, L; Chen, X; Stanton, B

2009-07-01

We investigated the psychological impact of sibling separation among children who lost both of their parents to AIDS and were placed in group care or kinship care settings in rural China. Comparative analysis of cross-sectional survey data among 155 children among whom 96 experienced sibling separation. Trauma symptoms (Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Post-traumatic stress, Dissociation, Sexual concerns) were compared between the AIDS orphans who experienced sibling separation and those who did not using analysis of variance and multivariate analysis of covariance. Among the participants (47.7% girls) with an average age of 12.4 years, univariate and multivariate analyses showed that separation from siblings was associated with significantly higher scores in anxiety, depression, anger and dissociation before or after controlling for gender, age, care arrangement, number of household replacement, trusting relationship with the current caregivers and perceived quality of current living condition. Sibling separation among orphans was not associated with level of post-traumatic stress and sexual concerns. AIDS orphans separated from their siblings suffered from increased psychological distress compared with those who remained with their siblings. The data in the current study suggest that care arrangement for AIDS orphan should include accommodating the siblings together or providing them with opportunities for frequent contact and/or communication with each other. Appropriate psychological counselling should be given to those orphans experiencing sibling separation.

Biomechanical analyses of prolonged handwriting in subjects with and without perceived discomfort.

PubMed

Chang, Shao-Hsia; Chen, Chien-Liang; Yu, Nan-Ying

2015-10-01

Since wrist-joint position affects finger muscle length and grip strength, we studied its biomechanical relevance in prolonged handwriting. We recruited participants from young adults, aged 18-24, and separated them into control (n=22) and in-pain (n=18) groups, based whether or not they experience pain while handwriting. The participants then performed a writing task for 30 min on a computerized system which measured their wrist-joint angle and documented their handwriting kinematics. The in-pain group perceived more soreness and had a less-extended wrist joint, longer on-paper time, and slower stroke velocity compared to control group. There was no significant difference in handwriting speed and quality between the two groups. The wrist extension angle significantly correlated with perceived soreness. Ergonomic and biomechanical analyses provide important information about the handwriting process. Knowledge of pen tip movement kinematics and wrist-joint position can help occupational therapists plan treatment for individuals with handwriting induced pain. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Acute and subacute toxicities effect of oxytetracycline pharmaceutical wastewater on Zebrafish

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Pengpeng; Shen, Hong-Yan

2018-02-01

Oxytetracycline wastewater is a major category of pharmaceutical wastewater, and its toxic effects on aquatic organisms have aroused people’s attention. In this study, Zebrafish were separately exposed to four Oxytetracycline wastewater treatments (20%, 40%, 60%, 80%) and a control group were sampled on days 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities showed significant inhibition, but the highest SOD activity was found in 20% and 40% the treatment groups (195.12U/mgprot, 187.43U/mgprot, respectively) on the 12th day. MDA contents increased significantly compared with control group. MDA contents showed that the higher the volume concentration, the higher the contents of MDA with the increase of exposure time. The highest MDA content shown in 60% exposure group (5.49nmol/mgprot) on the 12th day. And SOD activities and MDA contents showed a trend of “Λ” type. In conclusion, Oxytetracycline wastewater induced oxidative stress and toxicity in Zebrafish muscle tissue.

NMR-based Metabolomics Analysis of Liver from C57BL/6 Mouse Exposed to Ionizing Radiation

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

Xiao, Xiongjie; Hu, Mary; Zhang, Xu

The health effects of exposing to ionizing radiation are attracting great interest in the space exploration community and patients considering radiotherapy. However, the impact to metabolism after exposure to high dose radiation has not yet been clearly defined in livers. In the present study, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) based metabolomics combined with multivariate data analysis are applied to study the changes of metabolism in the liver of C57BL/6 mouse after whole body exposure to either gamma (3.0 and 7.8 Gy) or proton (3.0 Gy) radiation. Principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal projection to latent structures analysis (OPLS) are employedmore » for classification and identification of potential biomarkers associated with gamma and proton irradiation. The results show that the radiation exposed groups can be well separated from the control group. At the same radiation dosage, the group exposed to proton radiation is well separated from the group exposed to gamma radiation, indicating different radiation sources induce different alterations based on metabolic profiling. Common to both gamma and proton radiation at the high radiation doses studied in this work, compared with the control groups the concentrations of choline, O-phosphocholine and trimethylamine N-oxide are decreased statistically, while those of glutamine, glutathione, malate, creatinine, phosphate, betaine and 4-hydroxyphenylacetate are statistically and significantly elevated after exposure to radiation. Since these altered metabolites are associated with multiple biological pathways, the changes suggest that the exposure to radiation induce abnormality in multiple biological pathways. In particular, metabolites such as 4-hydroxyphenylacetate, betaine, glutamine, choline and trimethylamine N-oxide may be good candidates of pre-diagnose biomarkers for ionizing radiation in liver.« less

A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Intranasal Midazolam and Chloral Hydrate for Procedural Sedation in Children.

PubMed

Stephen, Marie Christy Sharafine; Mathew, John; Varghese, Ajoy Mathew; Kurien, Mary; Mathew, George Ani

2015-12-01

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intranasal midazolam and chloral hydrate syrup for procedural sedation in children. Prospective randomized placebo-controlled trial (double blind, double dummy). Tertiary care hospital over 18 months. Eighty-two children, 1 to 6 years old, undergoing auditory brainstem response testing were randomized to receive either intranasal midazolam with oral placebo or chloral hydrate syrup with placebo nasal spray. Intranasal midazolam was delivered at 0.5 mg/kg (100 mcg per spray) and oral syrup at 50 mg/kg. Children not sedated at 30 minutes had a second dose at half the initial dose. The primary outcomes measured were safety and efficacy. Secondary outcomes were time to onset of sedation, parental separation, nature of parental separation, parental satisfaction, audiologist's satisfaction, time to recovery, and number of attempts. Forty-one children were in each group, and no major adverse events were noted. The chloral hydrate group showed earlier onset of sedation (66%) compared with the intranasal midazolam group (33%). Significant difference in time to recovery was noted in the chloral hydrate group (78 minutes) versus the intranasal midazolam group (108 minutes). The parents' and audiologist's satisfaction was higher for chloral hydrate (95% and 75%) than for intranasal midazolam (49% and 29%, respectively). Overall, sedation was 95% with chloral hydrate versus 51% with intranasal midazolam. Both drugs maintained sedation. Intranasal midazolam and chloral hydrate are both safe and efficacious for pediatric procedural sedation. Chloral hydrate was superior to intranasal midazolam, with an earlier time to onset of sedation, a faster recovery, better satisfaction among parents and the audiologist, and successful sedation. © American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation 2015.

Child maltreatment as a risk factor for opioid dependence: Comparison of family characteristics and type and severity of child maltreatment with a matched control group.

PubMed

Conroy, Elizabeth; Degenhardt, Louisa; Mattick, Richard P; Nelson, Elliot C

2009-06-01

To examine the prevalence, characteristics and risk factors for child maltreatment among opioid-dependent persons compared to a community sample of similar social disadvantage. The study employed a case-control design. Cases had a history of opioid pharmacotherapy. Controls were frequency matched to cases with regard to age, sex and unemployment and were restricted to those with a lifetime opioid use of less than five times. The interview covered child maltreatment, family environment, drug use and psychiatric history. This study found a high prevalence of child maltreatment among both cases and controls. Despite the elevated prevalence among controls, opioid-dependent males had a higher prevalence of physical and emotional abuse; female cases had a higher prevalence and greater severity of sexual abuse. The prevalence of neglect was similar for both groups. Early parental separation was more prevalent among female cases compared to female controls; otherwise the prevalence of the risk factors was comparable for both groups. The risk factors significantly associated with child maltreatment were also similar for both cases and controls. Given the documented association between child maltreatment and adult mental disorder, child maltreatment may be an important antecedent of current psychological distress in persons presenting to treatment for opioid dependence. Apart from a possible association between early parental separation and sexual abuse among female cases, the increased prevalence of child maltreatment associated with opioid dependence did not appear to be related to differences in early childhood risk factors considered in this paper. Other risk factors may be more pertinent for those with opioid dependence. The high prevalence of child maltreatment among the opioid-dependent sample has implications for the assessment and treatment of clients presenting with opioid dependence. Assessment of child maltreatment history could help inform the development of individual treatment plans to better address those factors contributing to the development and maintenance of opioid dependence. Specifically, management of co-morbid mental disorder associated with child maltreatment could be the focus of relapse prevention programmes and also have a positive influence on treatment retention.

Child maltreatment as a risk factor for opioid dependence: comparison of family characteristics and type and severity of child maltreatment with a matched control group

PubMed Central

Conroy, Elizabeth; Degenhardt, Louisa; Mattick, Richard P.; Nelson, Elliot C.

2009-01-01

Objective To examine the prevalence, characteristics and risk factors for child maltreatment among opioid-dependent persons compared to a community sample of similar social disadvantage. Method The study employed a case-control design. Cases had a history of opioid pharmacotherapy. Controls were frequency matched to cases with regard to age, sex and unemployment and were restricted to those with a lifetime opioid use of less than five times. The interview covered child maltreatment, family environment, drug use and psychiatric history. Results This study found a high prevalence of child maltreatment among both cases and controls. Despite the elevated prevalence among controls, opioid-dependent males had a higher prevalence of physical and emotional abuse; female cases had a higher prevalence and greater severity of sexual abuse. The prevalence of neglect was similar for both groups. Early parental separation was more prevalent among female cases compared to female controls; otherwise the prevalence of the risk factors was comparable for both groups. The risk factors significantly associated with child maltreatment were also similar for both cases and controls. Conclusions Given the documented association between child maltreatment and adult mental disorder, child maltreatment may be an important antecedent of current psychological distress in persons presenting to treatment for opioid dependence. Apart from a possible association between early parental separation and sexual abuse among female cases, the increased prevalence of child maltreatment associated with opioid-dependence did not appear to be related to differences in early childhood risk factors considered in this paper. Other risk factors may be more pertinent for those with opioid dependence. Practice Implications The high prevalence of child maltreatment among the opioid-dependent sample has implications for the assessment and treatment of clients presenting with opioid dependence. Assessment of child maltreatment history could help inform the development of individual treatment plans to better address those factors contributing to the development and maintenance of opiate dependence. Specifically, management of co-morbid mental disorder associated with child maltreatment could be the focus of relapse prevention programmes and also have a positive influence on treatment retention. PMID:19477004

The use of clopidogrel (Plavix) in patients undergoing nonelective orthopaedic surgery.

PubMed

Nydick, Jason A; Farrell, Eric D; Marcantonio, Andrew J; Hume, Eric L; Marburger, Robert; Ostrum, Robert F

2010-06-01

To assess the effects of Plavix on patients requiring nonelective orthopaedic surgery. Retrospective cohort study. University-affiliated teaching institutions. The orthopaedic trauma registry was used to retrospectively identify all patients taking clopidogrel (Plavix; Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals, Bridgewater, NJ) who required nonelective orthopaedic surgery from 2004 to 2008. Twenty-nine patients were identified on Plavix (PG) and 32 matched patients in the control group not taking Plavix (NPG). The Plavix group was separated into those with a surgical delay less than 5 days of the last dose (PG < 5) (n = 28) and a delay greater than 5 days (PG > 5) (n = 1). A randomized age- and injury-matched control group not on Plavix was separated with surgical delay less than 5 days (NPG < 5) (n = 29) and delay greater than 5 days (NPG > 5) (n = 3). A retrospective review was performed comparing pre- and postoperative hemoglobin, blood transfusion requirements, surgical delay, 30-day mortality, and postoperative complications. Statistical analyses were performed using the Student t test and chi square test to identify differences between the groups. : The mean preoperative hemoglobin of the PG and the NPG was 11.2 g/dL and 12.3 g/dL (P = 0.03). Transfusion rates were similar with 18 of 28 in the PG compared with 13 of 29 in the NPG (P = 0.22). The mean surgical delay between the PG and NPG was 1.88 and 1.68 days (P = 0.64). Overall complications between the PG and NPG was nine of 28 and nine of 29 (P = 0.92). In both groups, two patients had postoperative wound drainage, which resolved without intervention. One patient in each group required revision surgery for nonunion. The 30-day mortality in the Plavix group was zero of 28 (0%) compared with one of 29 (3%) in the control group (cardiac arrest) (P = 0.32). In this study, there were no serious complications or increased transfusion requirements in the Plavix group. Avoiding surgical delay for patients on Plavix requiring nonelective orthopaedic surgery appears to be safe. The goal should be early operative intervention to decrease the morbidity and mortality of surgical delay. This is especially true for patients with hip fractures, which was the most common nonelective orthopaedic surgery required of patients on Plavix in this study.

Maternal separation diminishes α-adrenergic receptor density and function in renal vasculature from male Wistar-Kyoto rats.

PubMed

Loria, Analia S; Osborn, Jeffrey L

2017-07-01

Adult rats exposed to maternal separation (MatSep) are normotensive but display lower glomerular filtration rate and increased renal neuroadrenergic drive. The aim of this study was to determine the renal α-adrenergic receptor density and the renal vascular responsiveness to adrenergic stimulation in male rats exposed to MatSep. In addition, baroreflex sensitivity was assessed to determine a component of neural control of the vasculature. Using tissue collected from 4-mo-old MatSep and control rats, α 1 -adrenergic receptors (α 1 -ARs) were measured in renal cortex and isolated renal vasculature using receptor binding assay, and the α-AR subtype gene expression was determined by RT-PCR. Renal cortical α 1 -AR density was similar between MatSep and control tissues (B max = 44 ± 1 vs. 42 ± 2 fmol/mg protein, respectively); however, MatSep reduced α 1 -AR density in renal vasculature (B max = 47 ± 4 vs. 62 ± 4 fmol/mg protein, P < 0.05, respectively). In a separate group of rats, the pressor, bradycardic, and renal vascular constrictor responses to acute norepinephrine injection (NE, 0.03-0.25 μg/μl) were determined under anesthesia. Attenuated NE-induced renal vasoconstriction was observed in rats exposed to MatSep compared with control ( P < 0.05). A third group of rats was infused at steady state with the α 1 agonist phenylephrine (10 μg/min iv) and vasodilator sodium nitroprusside (5 μg/min iv). The difference between the change in heart rate/mean arterial pressure slopes was indicative of reduced baroreflex sensitivity in MatSep vs. control rats (-0.45 ± 0.04 vs. -0.95 ± 0.07 beats·min -1 ·mmHg -1 , P < 0.05). These data support the notion that reduced α-adrenergic receptor expression and function in the renal vasculature could develop secondary to MatSep-induced overactivation of the renal neuroadrenergic tone. Copyright © 2017 the American Physiological Society.

Shed-blood-separation and cell-saver: an integral Part of MiECC? Shed-blood-separation and its influence on the perioperative inflammatory response during coronary revascularization with minimal invasive extracorporeal circulation systems - a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Bauer, Adrian; Hausmann, Harald; Schaarschmidt, Jan; Scharpenberg, Martin; Troitzsch, Dirk; Johansen, Peter; Nygaard, Hans; Eberle, Thomas; Hasenkam, J Michael

2018-03-01

The postoperative systemic inflammatory response after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is still an undesirable side-effect after cardiac surgery. It is most likely caused by blood contact with foreign surfaces and by the surgical trauma itself. However, the recirculation of activated shed mediastinal blood is another main cause of blood cell activation and cytokine release. Minimal invasive extracorporeal circulation (MiECC) comprises a completely closed circuit, coated surfaces and the separation of suction blood. We hypothesized that MiECC, with separated cell saved blood, would induce less of a systemic inflammatory response than MiECC with no cell-saver. The aim of this study was, therefore, to investigate the impact of cell washing shed blood from the operating field versus direct return to the ECC on the biomarkers for systemic inflammation. In the study, patients with MiECC and cell-saver were compared with the control group, patients with MiECC and direct re-transfusion of the drawn blood shed from the surgical field. High amounts of TNF-α (+ 120% compared to serum blood) were found in the shed blood itself, but a significant reduction was demonstrated with the use of a cell-saver (TNF-α ng/l post-ECC 10 min: 9.5±3.5 vs. 19.7±14.5, p<0.0001). The values for procalcitonin were not significantly increased in the control group (6h: 1.07±3.4 vs. 2.15±9.55, p=0.19) and lower for C-reactive protein (CRP) (24h: 147.1±64.0 vs.134.4±52.4 p=0.28). The use of a cell-saver and the processing of shed blood as an integral part of MiECC significantly reduces the systemic cytokine load. We, therefore, recommend the integration of cell-saving devices in MiECC to reduce the perioperative inflammatory response.

9 CFR 318.24 - Product prepared using advanced meat/bone separation machinery; process control.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

.../bone separation machinery; process control. 318.24 Section 318.24 Animals and Animal Products FOOD.../bone separation machinery; process control. (a) General. Meat, as defined in § 301.2 of this subchapter, may be derived by mechanically separating skeletal muscle tissue from the bones of livestock, other...

9 CFR 318.24 - Product prepared using advanced meat/bone separation machinery; process control.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

.../bone separation machinery; process control. 318.24 Section 318.24 Animals and Animal Products FOOD.../bone separation machinery; process control. (a) General. Meat, as defined in § 301.2 of this subchapter, may be derived by mechanically separating skeletal muscle tissue from the bones of livestock, other...

9 CFR 318.24 - Product prepared using advanced meat/bone separation machinery; process control.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

.../bone separation machinery; process control. 318.24 Section 318.24 Animals and Animal Products FOOD.../bone separation machinery; process control. (a) General. Meat, as defined in § 301.2 of this subchapter, may be derived by mechanically separating skeletal muscle tissue from the bones of livestock, other...

9 CFR 318.24 - Product prepared using advanced meat/bone separation machinery; process control.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

.../bone separation machinery; process control. 318.24 Section 318.24 Animals and Animal Products FOOD.../bone separation machinery; process control. (a) General. Meat, as defined in § 301.2 of this subchapter, may be derived by mechanically separating skeletal muscle tissue from the bones of livestock, other...

9 CFR 318.24 - Product prepared using advanced meat/bone separation machinery; process control.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

.../bone separation machinery; process control. 318.24 Section 318.24 Animals and Animal Products FOOD.../bone separation machinery; process control. (a) General. Meat, as defined in § 301.2 of this subchapter, may be derived by mechanically separating skeletal muscle tissue from the bones of livestock, other...

Biological monitoring of glazers exposed to lead in the ceramics industry in Iran.

PubMed

Shouroki, Fatemeh Kargar; Shahtaheri, Seyed Jamaleddin; Golbabaei, Farideh; Barkhordari, Abolfazle; Rahimi-Froushani, Abbas

2015-01-01

Exposure to heavy metals, particularly lead, takes place in the ceramics industry. Lead is used in glaze to produce smooth and brilliant surfaces; thus, there is a likelihood of occupational adverse effects on humans. Urine samples were collected from 49 glazers at the start and end of the work shifts (98 samples). Solid phase extraction was used for separation and pre-concentration of the analyte. Samples were analysed by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Lung function tests were performed on both control and lead exposed subjects. Statistical analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to evaluate the data obtained. The concentration of lead in glazers was 6.37 times higher than in the control group. Lung functions were significantly lower in the glazers compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Results showed that poor ventilation systems, overtime work and work history are effective determinants of high exposure levels.

The hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus has a pivotal role in regulation of prolactin release in lactating rats.

PubMed

Kiss, J Z; Kanyicska, B; Nagy, G Y

1986-08-01

The affect of paraventricular nucleus (PVN) lesions on PRL secretory response to suckling was studied in adult female rats. Basal levels of PRL were similar in the control and lesioned groups. Substantial decreases in PRL levels occurred after separation of pups from their mothers in the control as well as lesioned animals. When mothers and pups were reunited, the circulating PRL concentrations of the control groups rose immediately from basal values of 50-100 micrograms/liter to reach peaks of 450-550 micrograms/liter. PVN lesions significantly decreased the suckling-induced rise of PRL levels. Furthermore, PVN lesions abolished the high amplitude, episodic pattern of PRL release in continuously lactating rats. These findings are consistent with the view that PVN neurons produce PRL releasing factor(s), which is (are) required for normal secretory patterns of PRL in lactating rats.

Elaborative processing in the Korsakoff syndrome: context versus habit.

PubMed

Van Damme, Ilse; d'Ydewalle, Géry

2008-07-01

Using a procedure of Hay and Jacoby [Hay, J. F., & Jacoby, L. L. (1999). Separating habit and recollection in young and older adults: Effects of elaborative processing and distinctiveness. Psychology and Aging, 14, 122-134], Korsakoff patients' capacity to encode and retrieve elaborative, semantic information was investigated. Habits were created during initial training, whereupon cued-recall memory performance was examined, with habit opposing as well as facilitating recollection of earlier studied words. A first group of patients was instructed and tested in the same way as healthy controls and showed poor test performance. Nevertheless, when given more processing and response time, additional explanation, and explicit encouragement, a second group of patients performed similarly to healthy controls. The results suggest that, when given adequate support, Korsakoff patients are able to encode and make use of semantic, contextual, and sequential information. Word distinctiveness, however, only influenced performance of controls.

Family, friend, and media factors are associated with patterns of weight-control behavior among adolescent girls.

PubMed

Balantekin, Katherine N; Birch, Leann L; Savage, Jennifer S

2018-04-01

To examine the relationship of family, friend, and media factors on weight-control group membership at 15 years separately and in a combined model. Subjects included 166 15 year girls. Latent class analysis identified four patterns of weight-control behaviors: non-dieters, lifestyle, dieters, and extreme dieters. Family (family functioning, priority of the family meals, maternal/paternal weight-teasing, and mother's/father's dieting), friend (weight-teasing and dieting), and media variables (media sensitivity and weekly TV time) were included as predictors of weight-control group membership. Family functioning and priority of family meals predicted membership in the Extreme Dieters group, and maternal weight-teasing predicted membership in both dieters and extreme dieters. Friend's dieting and weight-teasing predicted membership in both dieters and extreme dieters. Media sensitivity was significantly associated with membership in lifestyle, dieters, and extreme dieters. In a combined influence model with family, friend, and media factors included, the following remained significantly associated with weight-control group membership: family functioning, friends' dieting, and media sensitivity. Family, friends, and the media are three sources of sociocultural influence, which play a role in adolescent girls' use of patterns of weight-control behaviors; family functioning was a protective factor, whereas friend's dieting and media sensitivity were risk factors. These findings emphasize the need for multidimensional interventions, addressing risk factors for dieting and use of unhealthy weight-control behaviors at the family, peer, and community (e.g., media) levels.

Offspring Outcomes in Studies of Antidepressant-Treated Pregnancies Depend on the Choice of Control Group.

PubMed

Andrade, Chittaranjan

2017-03-01

Antenatal depression complicates 14%-23% of pregnancies; if the depression is left untreated, there is an increased risk of a wide range of adverse maternal and offspring outcomes. However, antidepressant use, and, more specifically, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) use, has also been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Regrettably, SSRIs have received bad press in this context even though the evidence linking them with the adverse outcomes has not disentangled depression effects from drug effects. The most important reason why depression and drug effects cannot be separated is that the evidence is derived mostly from retrospective observational studies and not from randomized controlled trials, which are necessary but which cannot be performed during pregnancy for ethical and practical reasons. In these observational studies, the control groups are formed from healthy women, depressed women, and/or propensity score-matched women who did not receive antidepressant drugs during pregnancy. A limitation of such control groups is that they cannot control for confounding arising from poorly measured, unmeasured, or unknown variables that influence the pregnancy outcomes being assessed. This article discusses problems involved in such research and illustrates how, when confounding is diminished by using sibling controls discordant for antidepressant exposure during pregnancy, the risks of adverse outcomes associated with antidepressant exposure diminish. However, a discordant sibling control group is associated with its own limitations, and these are also discussed. © Copyright 2017 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.

Does treatment with an insulin pump improve glycaemic control in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes? A retrospective case-control study.

PubMed

Brorsson, Anna Lena; Viklund, Gunnel; Örtqvist, Eva; Lindholm Olinder, Anna

2015-11-01

To investigate long-term effects on glycaemic control, ketoacidosis, serious hypoglycaemic events, insulin requirements, and body mass index standard deviation scores (BMI-SDS) in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes starting on continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) compared with children and adolescents treated with multiple daily injections (MDI). This retrospective case-control study compares 216 patients starting CSII with a control group on MDI (n = 215), matched for glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), sex, and age during a 2-yr period. Variables collected were gender, age, HbA1c, insulin requirement, BMI, BMI-SDS, ketoacidosis, and serious hypoglycaemic events. In the CSII group there was an improvement in HbA1c after 6 and 12 months compared with the MDI group. For boys and girls separately the same effect was detected after 6 months, but only for boys after 12 months. The incidence of ketoacidosis was higher in the CSII group compared with the MDI group (2.8 vs. 0.5/100 person-yr). The incidences of severe hypoglycaemic episodes per 100 person-yr were three in the CSII group and six in the MDI group (p < 0.05). After 6, 12, and 24 months, the insulin requirement was higher in the MDI group. This study shows that treatment with CSII resulted in an improvement in HbA1c levels up to 1 yr and decreased the number of severe hypoglycaemic events, but the frequency of ketoacidosis increased. The major challenge is to identify methods to maintain the HbA1c improvement, especially among older children and teenagers, and reduce the frequency of ketoacidosis. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Postoperative Radiotherapy for Maxillary Sinus Cancer: Long-Term Outcomes and Toxicities of Treatment

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

Bristol, Ian J.; Ahamad, Anesa; Garden, Adam S.

2007-07-01

Purpose: To determine the effects of three changes in radiotherapy technique on the outcomes for patients irradiated postoperatively for maxillary sinus cancer. Methods and Materials: The data of 146 patients treated between 1969 and 2002 were reviewed. The patients were separated into two groups according to the date of treatment. Group 1 included 90 patients treated before 1991 and Group 2 included 56 patients treated after 1991, when the three changes were implemented. The outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results: No differences were found in the 5-year overall survival, recurrence-free survival, local control, nodal control, or distant metastasismore » rates between the two groups (51% vs. 62%, 51% vs. 57%, 76% vs. 70%, 82% vs. 83%, and 28% vs. 17% for Groups 1 and 2, respectively). The three changes were to increase the portals to cover the base of the skull in patients with perineural invasion, reducing their risk of local recurrence; the addition of elective neck irradiation in patients with squamous or undifferentiated histologic features, improving the nodal control, distant metastasis, and recurrence-free survival rates (64% vs. 93%, 20% vs. 3%, and 45% vs. 67%, respectively; p < 0.05 for all comparisons); and improving the dose distributions within the target volume, reducing the late Grade 3-4 complication rates (34% in Group 1 vs. 8% in Group 2, p = 0.014). Multivariate analysis revealed advancing age, the need for enucleation, and positive margins as independent predictors of worse overall survival. The need for enucleation also predicted for worse local control. Conclusion: The three changes in radiotherapy technique improved the outcomes for select patients as predicted. Despite these changes, little demonstrable overall improvement occurred in local control or survival for these patients and additional work must be done.« less

Efficacy of a radiation absorbing shield in reducing dose to the interventionalist during peripheral endovascular procedures: a single centre pilot study.

PubMed

Power, S; Mirza, M; Thakorlal, A; Ganai, B; Gavagan, L D; Given, M F; Lee, M J

2015-06-01

This prospective pilot study was undertaken to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of using a radiation absorbing shield to reduce operator dose from scatter during lower limb endovascular procedures. A commercially available bismuth shield system (RADPAD) was used. Sixty consecutive patients undergoing lower limb angioplasty were included. Thirty procedures were performed without the RADPAD (control group) and thirty with the RADPAD (study group). Two separate methods were used to measure dose to a single operator. Thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) badges were used to measure hand, eye, and unshielded body dose. A direct dosimeter with digital readout was also used to measure eye and unshielded body dose. To allow for variation between control and study groups, dose per unit time was calculated. TLD results demonstrated a significant reduction in median body dose per unit time for the study group compared with controls (p = 0.001), corresponding to a mean dose reduction rate of 65 %. Median eye and hand dose per unit time were also reduced in the study group compared with control group, however, this was not statistically significant (p = 0.081 for eye, p = 0.628 for hand). Direct dosimeter readings also showed statistically significant reduction in median unshielded body dose rate for the study group compared with controls (p = 0.037). Eye dose rate was reduced for the study group but this was not statistically significant (p = 0.142). Initial results are encouraging. Use of the shield resulted in a statistically significant reduction in unshielded dose to the operator's body. Measured dose to the eye and hand of operator were also reduced but did not reach statistical significance in this pilot study.

HASHIMOTO THYROIDITIS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY.

PubMed

Yasmeh, Joseph; Farpour, Farzin; Rizzo, Vincent; Kheradnam, Sharon; Sachmechi, Issac

2016-07-01

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with several autoimmune diseases. This study assessed whether vitamin D deficiency is associated with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT). Two groups of patients were selected for which serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels had been measured: (1) a study group of patients diagnosed with HT as indicated by thyroid antibodies, and (2) a healthy control group. Each group was separated by sex and then controlled for age and body mass index (BMI). Groups' mean 25(OH)D levels were compared by analysis of variance (ANOVA), and percent frequencies of vitamin D sufficiency, insufficiency, and deficiency were compared with a Z-test. The correlations between 25(OH)D levels and thyroid antibodies and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were also tested. The mean 25(OH)D levels for the HT and control groups were significantly different in females (30.75 vs. 27.56 ng/mL, respectively) but not in males (14.24 vs. 13.26 ng/mL). HT females had a higher rate of vitamin D sufficiency (51.7% vs. 31.1%) and a lower rate of insufficiency (48.3% vs. 68.9%) relative to control females. No such differences were found in the male groups. None of the females were vitamin D deficient, but almost all males were. A significant (P = .016) positive correlation (rs = 0.436) between 25(OH)D and TPOAb was observed in males. HT is not associated with higher rates of vitamin D deficiency relative to a control group. BMI = body mass index HT = Hashimoto thyroiditis 25(OH)D = 25-hydroxyvitamin D TgAb = thyroglobulin antibody TSH = thyroid-stimulating hormone TPOAb = thyroid-peroxidase antibody VDR = Vitamin D receptor.

Lasting Effects on Literacy Skills with a Computer-Assisted Learning Using Syllabic Units in Low-Progress Readers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ecalle, Jean; Magnan, Annie; Calmus, Caroline

2009-01-01

This study examines the effects of a computer-assisted learning (CAL) program in which syllabic units were highlighted inside words in comparison with a CAL program in which the words were not segmented, i.e. one requiring whole word recognition. In a randomised control trial design, two separate groups of French speaking poor readers (2 * 14) in…

Infant ERPs Separate Children at Risk of Dyslexia Who Become Good Readers from Those Who Become Poor Readers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zuijen, Titia L.; Plakas, Anna; Maassen, Ben A. M.; Maurits, Natasha M.; van der Leij, Aryan

2013-01-01

Dyslexia is heritable and associated with phonological processing deficits that can be reflected in the event-related potentials (ERPs). Here, we recorded ERPs from 2-month-old infants at risk of dyslexia and from a control group to investigate whether their auditory system processes /bAk/ and /dAk/ changes differently. The speech sounds were…

Separate and Unequal: Students with HIV/AIDS and Mathematics Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nickels, Megan

2017-01-01

Adolescents and youth represent a substantial number of individuals living with HIV/AIDS (hereinafter HIV) in the United States. Infected youth and young adults aged 13-29 (n = 100,724) made up 10% of all U.S. individuals living with HIV at the end of 2014 (Center for Disease Control [CDC], 2016). This same age group comprises 42% of all new HIV…

A multicentre randomized-controlled trial of inhaled milrinone in high-risk cardiac surgical patients.

PubMed

Denault, André Y; Bussières, Jean S; Arellano, Ramiro; Finegan, Barry; Gavra, Paul; Haddad, François; Nguyen, Anne Q N; Varin, France; Fortier, Annik; Levesque, Sylvie; Shi, Yanfen; Elmi-Sarabi, Mahsa; Tardif, Jean-Claude; Perrault, Louis P; Lambert, Jean

2016-10-01

Inhaled milrinone (iMil) has been used for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension (PH) but its efficacy, safety, and prophylactic effects in facilitating separation from cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and preventing right ventricular (RV) dysfunction have not yet been evaluated in a clinical trial. The purpose of this study was to investigate if iMil administered before CPB would be superior to placebo in facilitating separation from CPB. High-risk cardiac surgical patients with PH were randomized to receive iMil or placebo after the induction of anesthesia and before CPB. Hemodynamic parameters and RV function were evaluated by means of pulmonary artery catheterization and transesophageal echocardiography. The groups were compared for the primary outcome of the level of difficulty in weaning from CPB. Among the secondary outcomes examined were the reduction in the severity of PH, the incidence of RV failure, and mortality. Of the 124 patients randomized, the mean (standard deviation [SD]) EuroSCORE II was 8.0 (2.6), and the baseline mean (SD) systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) was 53 (9) mmHg. The use of iMil was associated with increases in cardiac output (P = 0.03) and a reduction in SPAP (P = 0.04) with no systemic hypotension. Nevertheless, there was no difference in the combined incidence of difficult or complex separation from CPB between the iMil and control groups (30% vs 28%, respectively; absolute difference, 2%; 95% confidence interval [CI], -14 to 18; P = 0.78). There was also no difference in RV failure between the iMil and control groups (15% vs 14%, respectively; difference, 1%; 95% CI, -13 to 12; P = 0.94). Mortality was increased in patients with RV failure vs those without (22% vs 2%, respectively; P < 0.001). In high-risk cardiac surgery patients with PH, the prophylactic use of iMil was associated with favourable hemodynamic effects that did not translate into improvement of clinically relevant endpoints. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov; identifier: NCT00819377.

Asymmetric nucleophilic monofluorobenzylation of carbonyl compounds: synthesis of enantiopure vic-fluorohydrins and α-fluorobenzylketones.

PubMed

Arroyo, Yolanda; Sanz-Tejedor, M Ascensión; Parra, Alejandro; García Ruano, José Luis

2012-04-23

Asymmetric nucleophilic monofluoroalkylation of a broad range of aldehydes with an α-fluoro-γ-sulfinylbenzyl carbanion takes place with complete control of the facial selectivity at the carbanion and good to high anti-diastereoselectivity to give easily separable mixtures of two optically pure 1,2-fluorohydrin derivatives (up to 24:1 anti/syn). Separation and removal of the p-tolylsulfinyl group with tBuLi provides enantiomerically pure anti-1,2-disubstituted-1,2-fluorohydrins, whereas α-fluorobenzylketones can be obtained by desulfinylation of the mixture followed by pyridinium chlorochromate oxidation (one-pot process). Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Adolescent Girls and Their Mothers Talk About Experiences of Binge and Loss of Control Eating

PubMed Central

Palmberg, Allison A.; Stern, Marilyn; Kelly, Nichole R.; Bulik, Cynthia; Belgrave, Faye Z.; Trapp, Stephen K.

2013-01-01

Evidence suggests that adolescents’ experience of binge eating (BE) might differ in important ways from that of adults. Moreover, although BE appears more common in African American women than other disordered eating behaviors, little is known about the influence of cultural factors on this behavior in adolescents. The current investigation used qualitative methodology to examine the perceptions of White and African American adolescent girls and their mothers regarding experiences of binge and loss of control eating. Five focus groups were completed with 19 adolescent girls (aged 13–17, 58 % African American, 41 % White) who endorsed loss of control eating behaviors. Their mothers (N = 19) also completed separate, concurrent focus groups addressing food and eating behaviors. Responses to focus group questions were analyzed using thematic qualitative analysis. Adolescents’ awareness of their eating behaviors varied greatly. Girls reported some awareness of how emotions influence their eating behaviors, and described using food to achieve autonomy. Mothers evidenced awareness of their daughters’ problematic eating behaviors, the effects of emotions on eating for both their daughters and themselves, and sociocultural factors influencing diet. Data from these focus groups can inform the development of innovative interventions for adolescent girls engaging in loss of control eating. PMID:25400491

Inhibitory control and negative emotional processing in psychopathy and antisocial personality disorder.

PubMed

Verona, Edelyn; Sprague, Jenessa; Sadeh, Naomi

2012-05-01

The field of personality disorders has had a long-standing interest in understanding interactions between emotion and inhibitory control, as well as neurophysiological indices of these processes. More work in particular is needed to clarify differential deficits in offenders with antisocial personality disorder (APD) who differ on psychopathic traits, as APD and psychopathy are considered separate, albeit related, syndromes. Evidence of distinct neurobiological processing in these disorders would have implications for etiology-based personality disorder taxonomies in future psychiatric classification systems. To inform this area of research, we recorded event-related brain potentials during an emotional-linguistic Go/No-Go task to examine modulation of negative emotional processing by inhibitory control in three groups: psychopathy (n = 14), APD (n = 16), and control (n = 15). In control offenders, inhibitory control demands (No-Go vs. Go) modulated frontal-P3 amplitude to negative emotional words, indicating appropriate prioritization of inhibition over emotional processing. In contrast, the psychopathic group showed blunted processing of negative emotional words regardless of inhibitory control demands, consistent with research on emotional deficits in psychopathy. Finally, the APD group demonstrated enhanced processing of negative emotion words in both Go and No-Go trials, suggesting a failure to modulate negative emotional processing when inhibitory control is required. Implications for emotion-cognition interactions and putative etiological processes in these personality disorders are discussed.

Effect of home care service on the quality of life in patients with gynecological cancer.

PubMed

Aktas, Demet; Terzioglu, Fusun

2015-01-01

The purpose of the research was to determine the effect of home care service on the quality of life in patients with gynecological cancer. This randomized case control study was carried out in a womans hospital between September 2011 and February 2012. Women undergoing gynecological cancer treatment were separated into intervention and control groups, of 35 patients each. The intervention group was provided with nursing care service through hospital and home visits (1st, 12th weeks) within the framework of a specifically developed nursing care plan. The control group was monitored without any intervention through the hospital routine protocols (1st, 12th weeks). Data were collected using An Interview Form, Home Visit Monitoring Form and Quality of Life Scale/Cancer Survivors. Effects of home care service on the quality of life in gynecological cancer patients were investigated using chi-square tests, McNemar's test, independent t-test and ANOVA. This study found that the intervention group receiving home care service had a moderately high quality of life (average mean: 6.01±0.64), while the control group had comparatively lower quality (average mean: 4.35±0.79) within the 12 week post- discharge period (p<0.05). This study found home care services to be efficient in improving the quality of life in patients with gynecological cancer.

Timing matters: sonar call groups facilitate target localization in bats.

PubMed

Kothari, Ninad B; Wohlgemuth, Melville J; Hulgard, Katrine; Surlykke, Annemarie; Moss, Cynthia F

2014-01-01

To successfully negotiate a cluttered environment, an echolocating bat must control the timing of motor behaviors in response to dynamic sensory information. Here we detail the big brown bat's adaptive temporal control over sonar call production for tracking prey, moving predictably or unpredictably, under different experimental conditions. We studied the adaptive control of vocal-motor behaviors in free-flying big brown bats, Eptesicus fuscus, as they captured tethered and free-flying insects, in open and cluttered environments. We also studied adaptive sonar behavior in bats trained to track moving targets from a resting position. In each of these experiments, bats adjusted the features of their calls to separate target and clutter. Under many task conditions, flying bats produced prominent sonar sound groups identified as clusters of echolocation pulses with relatively stable intervals, surrounded by longer pulse intervals. In experiments where bats tracked approaching targets from a resting position, bats also produced sonar sound groups, and the prevalence of these sonar sound groups increased when motion of the target was unpredictable. We hypothesize that sonar sound groups produced during flight, and the sonar call doublets produced by a bat tracking a target from a resting position, help the animal resolve dynamic target location and represent the echo scene in greater detail. Collectively, our data reveal adaptive temporal control over sonar call production that allows the bat to negotiate a complex and dynamic environment.

Timing matters: sonar call groups facilitate target localization in bats

PubMed Central

Kothari, Ninad B.; Wohlgemuth, Melville J.; Hulgard, Katrine; Surlykke, Annemarie; Moss, Cynthia F.

2014-01-01

To successfully negotiate a cluttered environment, an echolocating bat must control the timing of motor behaviors in response to dynamic sensory information. Here we detail the big brown bat's adaptive temporal control over sonar call production for tracking prey, moving predictably or unpredictably, under different experimental conditions. We studied the adaptive control of vocal-motor behaviors in free-flying big brown bats, Eptesicus fuscus, as they captured tethered and free-flying insects, in open and cluttered environments. We also studied adaptive sonar behavior in bats trained to track moving targets from a resting position. In each of these experiments, bats adjusted the features of their calls to separate target and clutter. Under many task conditions, flying bats produced prominent sonar sound groups identified as clusters of echolocation pulses with relatively stable intervals, surrounded by longer pulse intervals. In experiments where bats tracked approaching targets from a resting position, bats also produced sonar sound groups, and the prevalence of these sonar sound groups increased when motion of the target was unpredictable. We hypothesize that sonar sound groups produced during flight, and the sonar call doublets produced by a bat tracking a target from a resting position, help the animal resolve dynamic target location and represent the echo scene in greater detail. Collectively, our data reveal adaptive temporal control over sonar call production that allows the bat to negotiate a complex and dynamic environment. PMID:24860509

A cross-site intervention in Chinese rural migrants enhances HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitude and behavior.

PubMed

Li, Ning; Li, Xiaomei; Wang, Xueliang; Shao, Jin; Dou, Juanhua

2014-04-23

With the influx of rural migrants into urban areas, the spread of HIV has increased significantly in Shaanxi Province (China). Migrant workers are at high risk of HIV infection due to social conditions and hardships (isolation, separation, marginalization, barriers to services, etc.). We explored the efficacy of a HIV/AIDS prevention and control program for rural migrants in Shaanxi Province, administered at both rural and urban sites. Guidance concerning HIV/AIDS prevention was given to the experimental group (266 migrants) for 1 year by the center of disease control, community health agencies and family planning department. The intervention was conducted according to the HIV/AIDS Prevention Management Manual for Rural Migrants. A control group of migrants only received general population intervention. The impact of the intervention was evaluated by administering HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes and sexual behavior (KAB) questionnaires after 6 and 12 months. In the experimental group; 6 months of intervention achieved improvements in HIV/AIDS related knowledge. After 12 months; HIV/AIDS-related knowledge reached near maximal scores. Attitude and most behaviors scores were significantly improved. Moreover; the experimental group showed significant differences in HIV-AIDS knowledge; attitude and most behavior compared with the control group. The systematic long-term cross-site HIV/AIDS prevention in both rural and urban areas is a highly effective method to improve HIV/AIDS KAB among rural migrants.

Stem Cell Therapy Using Bone Marrow-Derived Mononuclear Cells in Treatment of Lower Limb Lymphedema: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

PubMed

Ismail, Ahmed Mohammed; Abdou, Said M; Abdelnaby, Amira Y; Hamdy, Mennat Allah; El Saka, Ayman A; Gawaly, Amr

2018-06-01

Up till now, there is no satisfactory treatment for lymphedema. The aim of this study is to evaluate stem cell therapy in lymphedema. This prospective randomized study includes 40 patients with chronic lymphedema divided randomly into two groups: group I (stem cell therapy group) and group II (control group). In group I, bone marrow was aspirated and mononuclear cells were separated and then transplanted into the patients. In group II, patients compression therapy alone was applied. Group I included 20 patients (12 males and 8 females), their age ranged from 18 to 38 years with a mean age of 24.8 ± 6.39 years, whereas group II included 20 patients (10 males and 10 females), their age ranged from 18 to 36 years with a mean value of 25.6 ± 8.18 years. In group I, there was a decrease in the mean circumference at ankle after 6 months, which was statistically significant (t = 3.250, p = 0.014). This was associated with marked improvement of pain and walking ability. Whereas in group II, the change in the circumference was statistically insignificant (t = 1256, p = 0.349) with no satisfactory pain relief and improvement in walking ability. Biopsies examined by immunohistochemistry showed marked increase in the number of lymphatic capillaries in group I. Stem cell therapy can achieve improvement in limb circumference as well as pain relief and improvement in walking ability in patients with chronic lymphedema compared with those in control group.

Tissue metabolic changes for effects of pirfenidone in rats of acute paraquat poisoning by GC-MS.

PubMed

Ma, Jianshe; Sun, Fa; Chen, Bingbao; Tu, Xiaoting; Peng, Xiufa; Wen, Congcong; Hu, Lufeng; Wang, Xianqin

2017-12-01

We developed a metabolomic method to evaluate the effect of pirfenidone on rats with acute paraquat (PQ) poisoning, through the analysis of various tissues (lung, liver, kidney, and heart), by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Thirty-eight rats were randomly divided into a control group, an acute PQ (20 mg kg -1 ) poisoning group, a pirfenidone (20 mg kg -1 ) treatment group, and a pirfenidone (40 mg kg -1 ) treatment group. Partial least squares-discriminate analysis (PLS-DA) revealed metabolic alterations in rat tissue samples from the two pirfenidone treatment groups after acute PQ poisoning. The PLS-DA 3D score chart showed that the rats in the acute PQ poisoning group were clearly distinguished from the rats in the control group. Also, the two pirfenidone treatment groups were distinguished from the acute PQ poisoning group and control group. Additionally, the pirfenidone (40 mg kg -1 ) treatment group was separated farther than the pirfenidone (20 mg kg -1 ) treatment group from the acute PQ poisoning group. Evaluation of the pathological changes in the rat tissues revealed that treatment with pirfenidone appeared to decrease pulmonary fibrosis in the acute PQ poisoning rats. The results indicate that pirfenidone induced beneficial metabolic alterations in the tissues of rats with acute PQ poisoning. Rats with acute PQ poisoning exhibited a certain reduction in biochemical indicators after treatment with pirfenidone, indicating that pirfenidone could protect liver and kidney function. Accordingly, the developed metabolomic approach proved to be useful to elucidate the effect of pirfenidone in rats of acute PQ poisoning.

The influence of common method bias on the relationship of the socio-ecological model in predicting physical activity behavior.

PubMed

Wingate, Savanna; Sng, Eveleen; Loprinzi, Paul D

2018-01-01

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent, if any, that the association between socio-ecological parameters and physical activity may be influenced by common method bias (CMB). Methods: This study took place between February and May of 2017 at a Southeastern University in the United States. A randomized controlled experiment was employed among 119 young adults.Participants were randomized into either group 1 (the group we attempted to minimize CMB)or group 2 (control group). In group 1, CMB was minimized via various procedural remedies,such as separating the measurement of predictor and criterion variables by introducing a time lag (temporal; 2 visits several days apart), creating a cover story (psychological), and approximating measures to have data collected in different media (computer-based vs. paper and pencil) and different locations to control method variance when collecting self-report measures from the same source. Socio-ecological parameters (self-efficacy; friend support; family support)and physical activity were self-reported. Results: Exercise self-efficacy was significantly associated with physical activity. This association (β = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.33-1.1; P = 0.001) was only observed in group 2 (control), but not in group 1 (experimental group) (β = 0.03; 95% CI: -0.57-0.63; P = 0.91). The difference in these coefficients (i.e., β = 0.74 vs. β = 0.03) was statistically significant (P = 0.04). Conclusion: Future research in this field, when feasible, may wish to consider employing procedural and statistical remedies to minimize CMB.

The influence of common method bias on the relationship of the socio-ecological model in predicting physical activity behavior

PubMed Central

Wingate, Savanna; Sng, Eveleen; Loprinzi, Paul D.

2018-01-01

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent, if any, that the association between socio-ecological parameters and physical activity may be influenced by common method bias (CMB). Methods: This study took place between February and May of 2017 at a Southeastern University in the United States. A randomized controlled experiment was employed among 119 young adults.Participants were randomized into either group 1 (the group we attempted to minimize CMB)or group 2 (control group). In group 1, CMB was minimized via various procedural remedies,such as separating the measurement of predictor and criterion variables by introducing a time lag (temporal; 2 visits several days apart), creating a cover story (psychological), and approximating measures to have data collected in different media (computer-based vs. paper and pencil) and different locations to control method variance when collecting self-report measures from the same source. Socio-ecological parameters (self-efficacy; friend support; family support)and physical activity were self-reported. Results: Exercise self-efficacy was significantly associated with physical activity. This association (β = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.33-1.1; P = 0.001) was only observed in group 2 (control), but not in group 1 (experimental group) (β = 0.03; 95% CI: -0.57-0.63; P = 0.91). The difference in these coefficients (i.e., β = 0.74 vs. β = 0.03) was statistically significant (P = 0.04). Conclusion: Future research in this field, when feasible, may wish to consider employing procedural and statistical remedies to minimize CMB. PMID:29423361

Motion deficit of the thumb in CMC joint arthritis.

PubMed

Gehrmann, Sebastian V; Tang, Jie; Li, Zong Ming; Goitz, Robert J; Windolf, Joachim; Kaufmann, Robert A

2010-09-01

Idiopathic osteoarthritis (OA) of the thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint is a common disabling disease that often causes pain and motion loss. The aims of this study were to characterize the multidimensional motion capability of the thumb CMC joint in a group with severe CMC OA and to compare it with a control group. We included 15 subjects with stage III/IV CMC OA according to the Eaton/Littler classification, and 15 control subjects. A motion analysis system using surface markers was employed to quantify the maximum boundary of the thumb circumduction envelope during repetitive thumb movements. We measured the area enclosed by the angular circumduction envelope and the ranges of motion (ROM) in multiple directions for the thumb CMC joint. Thumb osteoarthritis of the CMC joint stage III/IV resulted in a significantly smaller ROM in flexion/extension (45 degrees +/- 11 degrees for the CMC OA group, 59 degrees +/- 10 degrees for the controls), abduction-adduction (37 degrees +/- 6 degrees for the CMC OA group, 63 degrees +/- 13 degrees for the controls), and pronation-supination (49 degrees +/- 10 degrees for the CMC OA group, 62 degrees +/- 11 degrees for the controls) (p < .01). When analyzing the motion directions in flexion-extension and abduction-adduction separately, there was only a loss of extension and adduction (p < .01). Severe stages of thumb CMC OA cause an asymmetrical motion deficit with decreased ROM in extension and adduction, leading to decreased capability of counteropposition. Copyright 2010. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Magnetism in graphene oxide induced by epoxy groups

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

Lee, Dongwook, E-mail: dongwookleedl324@gmail.com; Division of Physics and Applied Physics, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371; Seo, Jiwon, E-mail: jiwonseo@yonsei.ac.kr

2015-04-27

We have engineered magnetism in graphene oxide. Our approach transforms graphene into a magnetic insulator while maintaining graphene's structure. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra reveal that graphene oxide has various chemical groups (including epoxy, ketone, hydroxyl, and C-O groups) on its surface. Destroying the epoxy group with heat treatment or chemical treatment diminishes magnetism in the material. Local density approximation calculation results well reproduce the magnetic moments obtained from experiments, and these results indicate that the unpaired spin induced by the presence of epoxy groups is the origin of the magnetism. The calculation results also explain the magnetic properties, whichmore » are generated by the interaction between separated magnetic regions and domains. Our results demonstrate tunable magnetism in graphene oxide based on controlling the epoxy group with heat or chemical treatment.« less

Magnetism in graphene oxide induced by epoxy groups

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

Lee, Dongwook; Seo, Jiwon; Zhu, Xi

2015-04-27

We have engineered magnetism in graphene oxide. Our approach transforms graphene into a magnetic insulator while maintaining graphene's structure. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra reveal that graphene oxide has various chemical groups (including epoxy, ketone, hydroxyl, and C-O groups) on its surface. Destroying the epoxy group with heat treatment or chemical treatment diminishes magnetism in the material. Local Density Approximation calculation results well reproduce the magnetic moments obtained from experiments, and these results indicate that the unpaired spin induced by the presence of epoxy groups is the origin of the magnetism. The calculation results also explain the magnetic properties, whichmore » is generated by the interaction between separated magnetic regions and domains. Our results demonstrate tunable magnetism in graphene oxide based on controlling the epoxy group with heat or chemical treatment.« less

Separating the effect of reward from corrective feedback during learning in patients with Parkinson's disease.

PubMed

Freedberg, Michael; Schacherer, Jonathan; Chen, Kuan-Hua; Uc, Ergun Y; Narayanan, Nandakumar S; Hazeltine, Eliot

2017-06-01

Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with procedural learning deficits. Nonetheless, studies have demonstrated that reward-related learning is comparable between patients with PD and controls (Bódi et al., Brain, 132(9), 2385-2395, 2009; Frank, Seeberger, & O'Reilly, Science, 306(5703), 1940-1943, 2004; Palminteri et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 106(45), 19179-19184, 2009). However, because these studies do not separate the effect of reward from the effect of practice, it is difficult to determine whether the effect of reward on learning is distinct from the effect of corrective feedback on learning. Thus, it is unknown whether these group differences in learning are due to reward processing or learning in general. Here, we compared the performance of medicated PD patients to demographically matched healthy controls (HCs) on a task where the effect of reward can be examined separately from the effect of practice. We found that patients with PD showed significantly less reward-related learning improvements compared to HCs. In addition, stronger learning of rewarded associations over unrewarded associations was significantly correlated with smaller skin-conductance responses for HCs but not PD patients. These results demonstrate that when separating the effect of reward from the effect of corrective feedback, PD patients do not benefit from reward.

Wide topical negative pressure wound dressing treatment for patients undergoing abdominal dermolipectomy following massive weight loss.

PubMed

Dragu, Adrian; Schnürer, Stefan; Unglaub, Frank; Wolf, Maya B; Beier, Justus P; Kneser, Ulrich; Horch, Raymund E

2011-11-01

Postbariatric plastic surgery is considered to be a high-risk procedure, which entails such frequent minor complications as postoperative seroma, bleeding and wound dehiscence. These occur with a high incidence, especially, following postbariatric abdominal dermolipectomy. In order to reduce these complication rates, a new type of dressing with wide abdominal topical negative pressure (TNP) application was applied. We performed abdominal dermolipectomy in 23 obese patients. The average body mass index was 32.8 kg/m(2), and the median age of the patients was 42.9 years. Ten patients received conventional standard dressings (control group I), whereas the other 13 patients received a wide TNP dressing including the ventral and lateral trunk (negative pressure group II). Postoperative exudate volumes were collected, tallied and documented for each group separately until all drains could be removed. The conventionally treated control group (I) showed a significantly higher postoperative secretion volume compared with the negative pressure group (II). In addition, the average time to postoperative final drain removal was significantly lower in the negative pressure group (II) compared with the control group (I). The results indicate that widely applied external TNP wound dressing on the ventral and lateral trunk following postbariatric abdominal dermolipectomy leads to a significant reduction in exudate formation, enables early drain removal and thus, decreases length of hospitalization.

Separating Automatic and Intentional Inhibitory Mechanisms of Attention in Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

PubMed Central

Roberts, Walter; Fillmore, Mark T.; Milich, Richard

2011-01-01

Researchers in the cognitive sciences recognize a fundamental distinction between automatic and intentional mechanisms of inhibitory control. The use of eye-tracking tasks to assess selective attention has led to a better understanding of this distinction in specific populations such as children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study examined automatic and intentional inhibitory control mechanisms in adults with ADHD using a saccadic interference (SI) task and a delayed ocular response (DOR) task. Thirty adults with ADHD were compared to 27 comparison adults on measures of inhibitory control. The DOR task showed that adults with ADHD were less able than comparison adults to inhibit a reflexive saccade towards the sudden appearance of a stimulus in the periphery. However, SI task performance showed that the ADHD group did not differ significantly from the comparison group on a measure of automatic inhibitory control. These findings suggest a dissociation between automatic and intentional inhibitory deficits in adults with ADHD. PMID:21058752

Explaining the relationship between insecure attachment and partner abuse: the role of personality characteristics.

PubMed

Buck, Nicole M L; Leenaars, Ellie P E M; Emmelkamp, Paul M G; van Marle, Hjalmar J C

2012-11-01

Studies have found that male batterers are more often insecurely attached as compared with nonbatterers. However, it is still not clear how insecure attachment is related to domestic violence. Many studies compared batterers and nonbatterers regarding pathological personality characteristics that are related to attachment (e.g., dependency, jealousy) and generally found that batterers report more personality characteristics. However, these studies did not investigate which role these characteristics played in the relationship between insecure attachment and battering. The first aim of this study is to test which personality characteristics are good candidates to explain the relationship between insecure attachment and domestic violence. The second aim is to test whether personality characteristics are predictive of battering over and above attachment. Seventy-two mainly court-mandated family-only males who were in group treatment for battering are allocated to a securely and an insecurely attached group and compared with 62 nonbatterers. Using questionnaires, self-esteem, dependency, general distrust, distrust in partner, jealousy, lack of empathy, separation anxiety, desire for control, and impulsivity were assessed. This was the first study that examined distrust, separation anxiety, and desire for control in relation to battering. The results show that the relationship between insecure attachment and domestic violence can be explained by separation anxiety and partner distrust. Moreover, only partner distrust increased the risk for battering over and above insecure attachment. The findings suggest the presence of two subtypes among batterers based on attachment style, which has similarities to the family-only and dysphoric-borderline subtypes suggested by Holtzworth-Munroe and Stuart. Implications of the present findings for therapy are discussed.

External locus of control contributes to racial disparities in memory and reasoning training gains in ACTIVE

PubMed Central

Zahodne, Laura B.; Meyer, Oanh L.; Choi, Eunhee; Thomas, Michael L.; Willis, Sherry L.; Marsiske, Michael; Gross, Alden L.; Rebok, George W.; Parisi, Jeanine M.

2015-01-01

Racial disparities in cognitive outcomes may be partly explained by differences in locus of control. African Americans report more external locus of control than non-Hispanic Whites, and external locus of control is associated with poorer health and cognition. The aims of this study were to compare cognitive training gains between African American and non-Hispanic White participants in the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) study and determine whether racial differences in training gains are mediated by locus of control. The sample comprised 2,062 (26% African American) adults aged 65 and older who participated in memory, reasoning, or speed training. Latent growth curve models evaluated predictors of 10-year cognitive trajectories separately by training group. Multiple group modeling examined associations between training gains and locus of control across racial groups. Compared to non-Hispanic Whites, African Americans evidenced less improvement in memory and reasoning performance after training. These effects were partially mediated by locus of control, controlling for age, sex, education, health, depression, testing site, and initial cognitive ability. African Americans reported more external locus of control, which was associated with smaller training gains. External locus of control also had a stronger negative association with reasoning training gain for African Americans than for Whites. No racial difference in training gain was identified for speed training. Future intervention research with African Americans should test whether explicitly targeting external locus of control leads to greater cognitive improvement following cognitive training. PMID:26237116

The protective effect of ebselen on radiocontrast-induced nephrotoxicity.

PubMed

Ozgur, Tumay; Tutanc, Murat; Zararsiz, Ismail; Motor, Sedat; Ozturk, Oktay Hasan; Yaldiz, Mehmet; Kurtgoz, Ozgur Yildirim

2012-01-01

Radiocontrast-induced nephropathy has become one of the most important causes of renal acute failure. The most effective management of reducing the incidence of contrast nephropathy is to understand and prevent its causes. We aimed to investigate the protective role of ebselen against radiocontrast-induced nephrotoxicity in terms of tissue oxidant/antioxidant parameters and light microscopy in rats. Albino Wistar rats were randomly separated into four groups. The Group 1 rats were treated with sodium chloride as the control group, Group 2 with radiocontrast, Group 3 with radiocontrast plus ebselen, and Group 4 with ebselen alone. After 24 h, the animals over the experimental period were euthanized and blood samples were analyzed for blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Cr) levels. Kidney sections were analyzed for malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities, as well as histopathological changes. In the radiocontrast group, BUN, MDA, and GSH-Px levels increased while SOD activity decreased compared with the control group. These decays were improved by ebselen administration in the radiocontrast group. Significant histological deteriorations were observed in the radiocontrast group. We noted improvement in the histologic findings with ebselen administration. These results indicate that ebselen might produce a protective mechanism against radiocontrast-induced nephrotoxicity.

Massage and Reiki used to reduce stress and anxiety: Randomized Clinical Trial

PubMed Central

Kurebayashi, Leonice Fumiko Sato; Turrini, Ruth Natalia Teresa; de Souza, Talita Pavarini Borges; Takiguchi, Raymond Sehiji; Kuba, Gisele; Nagumo, Marisa Toshi

2016-01-01

ABTRACT Objective: to evaluate the effectiveness of massage and reiki in the reduction of stress and anxiety in clients at the Institute for Integrated and Oriental Therapy in Sao Paulo (Brazil). Method: clinical tests randomly done in parallel with an initial sample of 122 people divided into three groups: Massage + Rest (G1), Massage + Reiki (G2) and a Control group without intervention (G3). The Stress Systems list and the Trace State Anxiety Inventory were used to evaluate the groups at the start and after 8 sessions (1 month), during 2015. Results: there were statistical differences (p = 0.000) according to the ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) for the stress amongst the groups 2 and 3 (p = 0.014) with a 33% reductions and a Cohen of 0.78. In relation to anxiety-state, there was a reduction in the intervention groups compared with the control group (p < 0.01) with a 21% reduction in group 2 (Cohen of 1.18) and a 16% reduction for group 1 (Cohen of 1.14). Conclusion: Massage + Reiki produced better results amongst the groups and the conclusion is for further studies to be done with the use of a placebo group to evaluate the impact of the technique separate from other techniques. RBR-42c8wp PMID:27901219

Expanded DEMATEL for Determining Cause and Effect Group in Bidirectional Relations

PubMed Central

Falatoonitoosi, Elham; Ahmed, Shamsuddin; Sorooshian, Shahryar

2014-01-01

Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) methodology has been proposed to solve complex and intertwined problem groups in many situations such as developing the capabilities, complex group decision making, security problems, marketing approaches, global managers, and control systems. DEMATEL is able to realize casual relationships by dividing important issues into cause and effect group as well as making it possible to visualize the casual relationships of subcriteria and systems in the course of casual diagram that it may demonstrate communication network or a little control relationships between individuals. Despite of its ability to visualize cause and effect inside a network, the original DEMATEL has not been able to find the cause and effect group between different networks. Therefore, the aim of this study is proposing the expanded DEMATEL to cover this deficiency by new formulations to determine cause and effect factors between separate networks that have bidirectional direct impact on each other. At the end, the feasibility of new extra formulations is validated by case study in three numerical examples of green supply chain networks for an automotive company. PMID:24693224

Expanded DEMATEL for determining cause and effect group in bidirectional relations.

PubMed

Falatoonitoosi, Elham; Ahmed, Shamsuddin; Sorooshian, Shahryar

2014-01-01

Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) methodology has been proposed to solve complex and intertwined problem groups in many situations such as developing the capabilities, complex group decision making, security problems, marketing approaches, global managers, and control systems. DEMATEL is able to realize casual relationships by dividing important issues into cause and effect group as well as making it possible to visualize the casual relationships of subcriteria and systems in the course of casual diagram that it may demonstrate communication network or a little control relationships between individuals. Despite of its ability to visualize cause and effect inside a network, the original DEMATEL has not been able to find the cause and effect group between different networks. Therefore, the aim of this study is proposing the expanded DEMATEL to cover this deficiency by new formulations to determine cause and effect factors between separate networks that have bidirectional direct impact on each other. At the end, the feasibility of new extra formulations is validated by case study in three numerical examples of green supply chain networks for an automotive company.

Plasma oxidative stress and total thiol levels in Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever.

PubMed

Karadag-Oncel, Eda; Erel, Ozcan; Ozsurekci, Yasemin; Caglayik, Dilek Yagci; Kaya, Ali; Gozel, Mustafa Gokhan; Icagasioglu, Fusun Dilara; Engin, Aynur; Korukluoglu, Gulay; Uyar, Yavuz; Elaldi, Nazif; Ceyhan, Mehmet

2014-01-01

In this study, we investigated the pro- and antioxidant status of patients with a pathogenesis of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in terms of their role in its pathogenesis. During the study period, 34 children and 41 adults were diagnosed with CCHF. The control group consisted of healthy age- and gender-matched children and adults. Serum levels of the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), and plasma total thiol (TTL) were evaluated and compared between groups. The difference in mean TAC values between CCHF patients and healthy controls was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Mean TOS, OSI, and TTL values were significantly lower in CCHF patients than in healthy controls (P < 0.001). Comparisons between the 2 groups revealed that mean TOS and OSI values were significantly lower in adults with CCHF than in their healthy counterparts (P < 0.001). Similarly, mean TTL levels were lower in both children and adults with CCHF when compared separately with healthy controls (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the mean serum TTL levels between children and adults with CCHF (P > 0.05). Our results suggest that TTL may play a more important role in CCHF pathogenesis than the other parameters investigated. The mean TOS and OSI values were higher in the control group than in CCHF patients.

Jet-lag: prevention with Pycnogenol. Preliminary report: evaluation in healthy individuals and in hypertensive patients.

PubMed

Belcaro, G; Cesarone, M R; Steigerwalt, R J; Di Renzo, A; Grossi, M G; Ricci, A; Stuard, S; Ledda, A; Dugall, M; Cornelli, U; Cacchio, M

2008-10-01

This study was conducted with the aim of showing the effects of Pycnogenol on controlling jet-lag symptoms. Oral Pycnogenol, 50 mg tablets 3 times/die, for 7 days starting 2 days prior to the flight was used. The study was divided into two separate parts. In study 1 the most common complaints of patients with jet-lag were evaluated with a rating scale consisting in of a scoring system. In study 2 a brain CT scan was performed after the flight in order to assess minimal brain edema (MBE) in association with typical signs and symptoms, observed in previous published flight studies. Study one included 38 subjects treated with Pycnogenol and 30 controls. The symptomatic jet-lag related total score was significantly lower (indicating a lower level of jet-lag) in the Pycnogenol group. The average duration of any jet lag symptom following the flight was significantly reduced from 39.3 (SD=0.8) hours in controls to an average of 18.2 (SD=3.3) hours in the Pycnogenol group (P<0.05). Study 2 included 34 subjects treated with Pycnogenol and 31 controls. The main observation was the brain CT scan performed within 28 hours after the end of the flight. The difference between the Pycnogenol and the control groups was statistically significant (P<0.05) for all items assessed including the cerebral edema score obtained by CT scan. The short-term memory was significantly altered in the control group and associated to edema and swelling of the lower limbs. The score (and the level of edema) was comparatively higher in a subgroup of hypertensive subjects in the control group. Minor alterations of cardiac function were observed in association with de-stabilisation of blood pressure. Fatigue was also significantly higher in the control group in comparison with the Pycnogenol group. A number of spontaneously reported symptoms was also scored and there was a statistically significant difference (P<0.05) between the Pycnogenol and control groups. In conlusion, Pycnogenol was useful to control jet-lag and minimal brain edema.

The frequency and risk factors of allergy and asthma in children with autism--case-control study.

PubMed

Mrozek-Budzyn, Dorota; Majewska, Renata; Kiełyka, Agnieszka; Augustyniak, Małgorzata

2013-01-01

The evolution of autistic disorders in children depends on many factors, like concomitance of the other diseases, which can escalate the autistic symptoms. One of those groups are allergic diseases, which have one of the highest prevalence rates in children. The aim of this analysis was to determine the frequency of asthma and allergy in children with autism in comparison to controls and the risk factors of allergic diseases and asthma in both groups. Study population included 96 cases diagnosed with childhood or atypical autism and 192 controls matched individually by year of birth, gender and physician's practice. The analysis was performed in each group separately giving possibility to compare the results between study groups. The frequency of asthma and allergic diseases in both groups has not revealed any statistically significant differences. Children with autism have been affected by asthma in 5,2% and by allergy in 25,0%, controls in 4,7% and 21,9% respectively. All cases of asthma was diagnosed in boys, commonly allergy was also more frequent in boys than girls in both studied groups. However those differences was statistically insignificant. The father's allergy and asthma was revealed as a risk factor of allergy in children with autism. In controls additionally allergy or asthma diagnosed in mother or grandparent increased risk of allergy in children. Children with autism were affected by asthma and allergy with similar frequency like children without autistic disorders. Allergy in father was the risk factor of allergic diseases in children with autism.

Microorganism penetration in dentinal tubules of instrumented and retreated root canal walls. In vitro SEM study

PubMed Central

Al-Sulaiman, Alaa; Al-Rasheed, Fellwa; Alnajjar, Fatimah; Al-Abdulwahab, Bander; Al-Badah, Abdulhakeem

2014-01-01

Objectives This in vitro study aimed to investigate the ability of Candida albicans (C. albicans) and Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) to penetrate dentinal tubules of instrumented and retreated root canal surface of split human teeth. Materials and Methods Sixty intact extracted human single-rooted teeth were divided into 4 groups, negative control, positive control without canal instrumentation, instrumented, and retreated. Root canals in the instrumented group were enlarged with endodontic instruments, while root canals in the retreated group were enlarged, filled, and then removed the canal filling materials. The teeth were split longitudinally after canal preparation in 3 groups except the negative control group. The teeth were inoculated with both microorganisms separately and in combination. Teeth specimens were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the depth of penetration into the dentinal tubules was assessed using the SMILE view software (JEOL Ltd). Results Penetration of C. albicans and E. faecalis into the dentinal tubules was observed in all 3 groups, although penetration was partially restricted by dentin debris of tubules in the instrumented group and remnants of canal filling materials in the retreated group. In all 3 groups, E. faecalis penetrated deeper into the dentinal tubules by way of cell division than C. albicans which built colonies and penetrated by means of hyphae. Conclusions Microorganisms can easily penetrate dentinal tubules of root canals with different appearance based on the microorganism size and status of dentinal tubules. PMID:25383343

[Studies of bioavailability of different food sources of selenium in experiment].

PubMed

Egorova, E A; Gmoshinskiĭ, I V; Zorin, S I; Mazo, V K

2006-01-01

The selenium bioavailability in selenium enriched Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis), phycocyanin containing (Se-PC) protein isolate, separated from this micro algae and in sodium selenite was studied and compared in rats. The daily dose of selenium per one animal was 5 microgram in all experimental groups. The average selenium levels in blood serum and liver of animals that received sodium selenite during 14 days were the highest. The average selenium level in blood serum of animals fed with selenium enriched Spirulina platensis after 14 days of receiving was the same with the control group, but the average concentration of selenium in their liver was rather high and close to this parameter of sodium selenite animal group. The animals which were fed with Se-PC showed better results. Their average selenium level in blood serum was higher than in Spirulina group, but lower than in sodium selenite group. The average concentration of selenium in the liver of these animals was the same with sodium selenite animal group. As regards to animals that were fed with selenium enriched Spirulina, Se-PC and sodium selenite for 21 days, the average selenium levels ratio in their blood serum and liver was higher than in control group, but these results were not significantly different among each other. The concentrations of selenium in seminal glands in all groups of animals including control group both after 14 and 21 days feeding were close to each other.

[Efficacy of extracts of plants in engorged females of Boophilus microplus from the mesoregion West of Maranhão, Brazil.].

PubMed

Costa, Francisco B; Vasconcelos, Pádua Suely Da S; Silva, Ana Maria M; Brandão, Vivian M; Da Silva, Iran A; Teixeira, Whaubtyfran C; Guerra, Rita De Maria S N; Dos Santos, Ana Clara G

2008-09-01

The objective was to evaluate the efficacy of hydro-alcoholic extracts of nim and citronela at 20% and eucalipto at 10% in Boophilus microplus engorged females collected in cattle naturally infected from the mesoregion West of Maranhão. At the laboratory the females were separated, weighted and distributed in six groups of 10, in duplicate. Each group was immersed in 10mL of the solution of the extracts, for two minutes. In the nim and citronela extracts there was 32% e 17%, respectively, while larval emergence the eucalipto extracts demonstrated 96% of efficacy. In the groups treated by Cipermetrina + Clorpirifós + Citronetal and Deltametrina (positive controls) the mortality occurred after 48h of treatment, while the groups immersed in distilled water (negative control) showed 100% of eggs mass and larval emergence. According to the results, it can be concluded that the extract of eucalipto could be used as acaricide in the control of B. microplus females since it was efficient in vitro, however to nim and citronela showed not efficacy. B. microplus females were not resistant to the chemical compounds used in this experiment.

Oral cancer associated with chronic mechanical irritation of the oral mucosa.

PubMed

Piemonte, E; Lazos, J; Belardinelli, P; Secchi, D; Brunotto, M; Lanfranchi-Tizeira, H

2018-03-01

Most of the studies dealing with Chronic Mechanical Irritation (CMI) and Oral Cancer (OC) only considered prosthetic and dental variables separately, and CMI functional factors are not registered. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess OC risk in individuals with dental, prosthetic and functional CMI. Also, we examined CMI presence in relation to tumor size. A case-control study was carried out from 2009 to 2013. Study group were squamous cell carcinoma cases; control group was patients seeking dental treatment in the same institution. 153 patients were studied (Study group n=53, Control group n=100). CMI reproducibility displayed a correlation coefficient of 1 (p<0.0001). Bivariate analysis showed statistically significant associations for all variables (age, gender, tobacco and alcohol consumption and CMI). Multivariate analysis exhibited statistical significance for age, alcohol, and CMI, but not for gender or tobacco. Relationship of CMI with tumor size showed no statistically significant differences. CMI could be regarded as a risk factor for oral cancer. In individuals with other OC risk factors, proper treatment of the mechanical injuring factors (dental, prosthetic and functional) could be an important measure to reduce the risk of oral cancer.

The salivary microbiota as a diagnostic indicator of oral cancer: a descriptive, non-randomized study of cancer-free and oral squamous cell carcinoma subjects.

PubMed

Mager, D L; Haffajee, A D; Devlin, P M; Norris, C M; Posner, M R; Goodson, J M

2005-07-07

The purpose of the present investigation was to determine if the salivary counts of 40 common oral bacteria in subjects with an oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) lesion would differ from those found in cancer-free (OSCC-free) controls. Unstimulated saliva samples were collected from 229 OSCC-free and 45 OSCC subjects and evaluated for their content of 40 common oral bacteria using checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization. DNA counts per ml saliva were determined for each species, averaged across subjects in the 2 subject groups, and significance of differences between groups determined using the Mann-Whitney test and adjusted for multiple comparisons. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity in detection of OSCC by levels of salivary organisms were computed and comparisons made separately between a non-matched group of 45 OSCC subjects and 229 controls and a group of 45 OSCC subjects and 45 controls matched by age, gender and smoking history. Counts of 3 of the 40 species tested, Capnocytophaga gingivalis, Prevotella melaninogenica and Streptococcus mitis, were elevated in the saliva of individuals with OSCC (p < 0.001). When tested as diagnostic markers the 3 species were found to predict 80% of cancer cases (sensitivity) while excluding 83% of controls (specificity) in the non-matched group. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity in the matched group were 80% and 82% respectively. High salivary counts of C. gingivalis, P. melaninogenica and S. mitis may be diagnostic indicators of OSCC.

Preparation and characterization of monodisperse large-porous silica microspheres as the matrix for protein separation.

PubMed

Xia, Hongjun; Wan, Guangping; Zhao, Junlong; Liu, Jiawei; Bai, Quan

2016-11-04

High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is a kind of efficient separation technology and has been used widely in many fields. Micro-sized porous silica microspheres as the most popular matrix have been used for fast separation and analysis in HPLC. In this paper, the monodisperse large-porous silica microspheres with controllable size and structure were successfully synthesized with polymer microspheres as the templates and characterized. First, the poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate) microspheres (P GMA-EDMA ) were functionalized with tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) to generate amino groups which act as a catalyst in hydrolysis of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) to form Si-containing low molecular weight species. Then the low molecular weight species diffused into the functionalized P GMA-EDMA microspheres by induction force of the amino groups to form polymer/silica hybrid microspheres. Finally, the organic polymer templates were removed by calcination, and the large-porous silica microspheres were obtained. The compositions, morphology, size distribution, specific surface area and pore size distribution of the porous silica microspheres were characterized by infrared analyzer, scanning-electron microscopy, dynamic laser scattering, the mercury intrusion method and thermal gravimetric analysis, respectively. The results show that the agglomeration of the hybrid microspheres can be overcome when the templates were functionalized with TEPA as amination reagent, and the yield of 95.7% of the monodisperse large-porous silica microspheres can be achieved with high concentration of polymer templates. The resulting large-porous silica microspheres were modified with octadecyltrichlorosilane (ODS) and the chromatographic evaluation was performed by separating the proteins and the digest of BSA. The baseline separation of seven kinds of protein standards was achieved, and the column delivered a better performance when separating BSA digests comparing with the commercial one currently available. The high column efficiency and good reproducibility present that the large-porous silica microspheres obtained can be used as a matrix for peptide and protein separation. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Experimental study on the friction effect of plastic stents for biliary stone fragmentation (with video).

PubMed

Kwon, Chang-Il; Kim, Gwangil; Jeong, Seok; Choi, Sung Hoon; Ko, Kwang Hyun; Lee, Don Haeng; Cho, Joo Young; Hong, Sung Pyo

2018-01-01

In patients with irretrievable or intractable bile duct stone, temporary insertion of a plastic stent (PS) followed by further endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) or surgery has been recommended as a 'bridge' therapy. However, the exact mechanism of stone fragmentation has not been discovered. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether PS shape can facilitate stone fragmentation. Using a new in vitro bile flow phantom model, we compared the friction effect among three different PS groups (straight PS group, double pigtail-shaped PS group, and screw-shaped PS group) and a control group. Each group had 10 silicon tube blocks that separately contained one stone and two PS. The control group had 10 blocks each with only a stone and no PS. We carried out analysis of the friction effect by stone weight and volume changes among the groups, excluding fragmented stones. After 8 weeks, complete fragmentation was noted in one out of 34 cholesterol stones (2.9%) and in four out of six pigmented stones (66.7%). Fragmentation tended to be more prominent in the screw-shaped PS group than in the straight PS group, double pigtail-shaped group, and control group (volume change: -11.33%, 7.94%, 4.43%, and 2.05%, respectively, P = 0.1390; weight change: -9.30%, 0.71%, -0.10%, and -1.23%, respectively, P = 0.3553). Stone fragmentation may be induced by PS friction effect. Also, screw-shaped plastic stents may improve friction effect. These results may help guide future PS development and clinical decisions. © 2017 Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society.

Diffusion Entropy: A Potential Neuroimaging Biomarker of Bipolar Disorder in the Temporal Pole.

PubMed

Spuhler, Karl; Bartlett, Elizabeth; Ding, Jie; DeLorenzo, Christine; Parsey, Ramin; Huang, Chuan

2018-02-01

Despite much research, bipolar depression remains poorly understood, with no clinically useful biomarkers for its diagnosis. The paralimbic system has become a target for biomarker research, with paralimbic structural connectivity commonly reported to distinguish bipolar patients from controls in tractography-based diffusion MRI studies, despite inconsistent findings in voxel-based studies. The purpose of this analysis was to validate existing findings with traditional diffusion MRI metrics and investigate the utility of a novel diffusion MRI metric, entropy of diffusion, in the search for bipolar depression biomarkers. We performed group-level analysis on 9 un-medicated (6 medication-naïve; 3 medication-free for at least 33 days) bipolar patients in a major depressive episode and 9 matched healthy controls to compare: (1) average mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) and; (2) MD and FA histogram entropy-a statistical measure of distribution homogeneity-in the amygdala, hippocampus, orbitofrontal cortex and temporal pole. We also conducted classification analyses with leave-one-out and separate testing dataset (N = 11) approaches. We did not observe statistically significant differences in average MD or FA between the groups in any region. However, in the temporal pole, we observed significantly lower MD entropy in bipolar patients; this finding suggests a regional difference in MD distributions in the absence of an average difference. This metric allowed us to accurately characterize bipolar patients from controls in leave-one-out (accuracy = 83%) and prediction (accuracy = 73%) analyses. This novel application of diffusion MRI yielded not only an interesting separation between bipolar patients and healthy controls, but also accurately classified bipolar patients from controls. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Unbiased Metabolite Profiling of Schizophrenia Fibroblasts under Stressful Perturbations Reveals Dysregulation of Plasmalogens and Phosphatidylcholines.

PubMed

Huang, Joanne H; Park, Hyoungjun; Iaconelli, Jonathan; Berkovitch, Shaunna S; Watmuff, Bradley; McPhie, Donna; Öngür, Dost; Cohen, Bruce M; Clish, Clary B; Karmacharya, Rakesh

2017-02-03

We undertook an unbiased metabolite profiling of fibroblasts from schizophrenia patients and healthy controls to identify metabolites and pathways that are dysregulated in disease, seeking to gain new insights into the disease biology of schizophrenia and to discover potential disease-related biomarkers. We measured polar and nonpolar metabolites in the fibroblasts under normal conditions and under two stressful physiological perturbations: growth in low-glucose media and exposure to the steroid hormone dexamethasone. We found that metabolites that were significantly different between schizophrenia and control subjects showed separation of the two groups by partial least-squares discriminant analysis methods. This separation between schizophrenia and healthy controls was more robust with metabolites identified under the perturbation conditions. The most significant individual metabolite differences were also found in the perturbation experiments. Metabolites that were significantly different between schizophrenia and healthy controls included a number of plasmalogens and phosphatidylcholines. We present these results in the context of previous reports of metabolic profiling of brain tissue and plasma in schizophrenia. These results show the applicability of metabolite profiling under stressful perturbations to reveal cellular pathways that may be involved in disease biology.

Brain mass estimation by head circumference and body mass methods in neonatal glycaemic modelling and control.

PubMed

Gunn, Cameron Allan; Dickson, Jennifer L; Pretty, Christopher G; Alsweiler, Jane M; Lynn, Adrienne; Shaw, Geoffrey M; Chase, J Geoffrey

2014-07-01

Hyperglycaemia is a common complication of stress and prematurity in extremely low-birth-weight infants. Model-based insulin therapy protocols have the ability to safely improve glycaemic control for this group. Estimating non-insulin-mediated brain glucose uptake by the central nervous system in these models is typically done using population-based body weight models, which may not be ideal. A head circumference-based model that separately treats small-for-gestational-age (SGA) and appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) infants is compared to a body weight model in a retrospective analysis of 48 patients with a median birth weight of 750g and median gestational age of 25 weeks. Estimated brain mass, model-based insulin sensitivity (SI) profiles, and projected glycaemic control outcomes are investigated. SGA infants (5) are also analyzed as a separate cohort. Across the entire cohort, estimated brain mass deviated by a median 10% between models, with a per-patient median difference in SI of 3.5%. For the SGA group, brain mass deviation was 42%, and per-patient SI deviation 13.7%. In virtual trials, 87-93% of recommended insulin rates were equal or slightly reduced (Δ<0.16mU/h) under the head circumference method, while glycaemic control outcomes showed little change. The results suggest that body weight methods are not as accurate as head circumference methods. Head circumference-based estimates may offer improved modelling accuracy and a small reduction in insulin administration, particularly for SGA infants. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Results from clinical trials of a selective ionotropic glutamate receptor 5 (iGluR5) antagonist, LY5454694 tosylate, in 2 chronic pain conditions.

PubMed

Chappell, Amy S; Iyengar, Smriti; Lobo, Evelyn D; Prucka, William R

2014-06-01

This article reports results of 2 studies investigating LY545694 in pain due to osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee and diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP). Study I randomized patients to either of 2 doses of LY545694 or to placebo, and study II randomized patients to either of 3 doses of LY545694, to pregabalin, or to placebo. No significant differences between LY545694 groups and placebo were observed on the primary (average pain severity) or secondary efficacy measures in either study. Notably, study I lacked an active control, and, in study II, pregabalin, did not separate from placebo. Treatment-emergent nausea, vomiting, and dizziness were significantly more frequent in the LY545694 groups in both trials (P⩽.05), and significantly more LY545694-treated patients discontinued because of adverse events (P<.001). Steady-state concentrations of LY545694 were comparable in patients in both studies but were lower than exposures required for efficacy in animal models of pain behavior. Because the active control did not separate from placebo in the DPNP study, the study was potentially failed, rather than negative. Without an active control, it is unknown whether the OA study was negative or failed. Consequently, efficacy of selective ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonism in chronic pain conditions may warrant further investigation. Future trials should consider different pain conditions, contain a positive control with larger patient numbers per arm, and be conducted within a single region. Copyright © 2014 International Association for the Study of Pain. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Experimental hypertony caused by obstruction of the anterior chamber angle ab interno (author's transl)].

PubMed

Maguritsas, N; Vikas, C; Theodossiadis, G; Vergados, I; Velissaropoulos, P

1976-07-01

In 30 rabbits, separated into 3 groups (A, B and C), the entire area (A), three quarters (B) half of the anterior chamber angle (C) was experimentally obstructed by means of a homologous scleral graft. In groups A and B a statistically significant change of the intraocular pressure and of the cornea diameter was shown as compared with the control eye and group C. This change is due to the obstructed area of the angle. The increased intraocular pressure lasted for some months. The graft was well tolerated by the tissue of the angle and the obstruction of the angle was total, as was confirmed by means of the histological preparations.

The Effect of Two Soft Drinks on Bracket Bond Strength and on Intact and Sealed Enamel: An In Vitro Study.

PubMed

Pasha, Azam; Sindhu, D; Nayak, Rabindra S; Mamatha, J; Chaitra, K R; Vishwakarma, Swati

2015-01-01

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of two soft drinks, Coca-Cola and Mirinda orange on bracket bond strength, on adhesive remnant on teeth after debonding the bracket, and to observe by means of scanning electron microscope (SEM) the effect of these drinks on intact and sealed enamel. 120 non-carious maxillary premolar teeth already extracted for Orthodontic purposes were taken and divided into three groups, i.e., Coca-Cola drink, Mirinda orange, and control (artificial saliva) group. Brackets were bonded using conventional methods. Teeth were kept in soft drinks for 15 days, for 15 min, 3 times a day, separated by intervals of 2 h. At other times, they were kept in artificial saliva. The samples, thus obtained were evaluated for shear bond strength using the universal testing machine and subsequently subjected for adhesive remnant index (ARI) scores. SEM study on all the three groups was done for evaluating enamel surface of the intact and sealed enamel. The lowest mean resistance to shearing forces was shown by Mirinda orange group (5.30 ± 2.74 Mpa) followed by Coca-Cola group (6.24 ± 1.59 Mpa) and highest resistance to shearing forces by control group (7.33 ± 1.72 Mpa). The ARI scores revealed a cohesive failure in control samples and an adhesive failure in Mirinda and cola samples. SEM results showed areas of defect due to erosion caused by acidic soft drinks on intact and sealed enamel surface. Mirinda group showed the lowest resistance to shearing forces, followed by Coca-Cola group and with the highest resistance to shearing forces by the control group. There were significant differences between the control group and the study groups. Areas of defects, which were caused by erosion related to acidic soft drinks on the enamel surface around the adhesive, were seen. Areas of defects caused by Coca-Cola were more extensive when compared to Mirinda orange drink.

Turbulent flow separation control through passive techniques

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lin, J. C.; Howard, F. G.; Selby, G. V.

1989-01-01

Several passive separation control techniques for controlling moderate two-dimensional turbulent flow separation over a backward-facing ramp are studied. Small transverse and swept grooves, passive porous surfaces, large longitudinal grooves, and vortex generators were among the techniques used. It was found that, unlike the transverse and longitudinal grooves of an equivalent size, the 45-deg swept-groove configurations tested tended to enhance separation.

Cyberbullying: The Discriminant Factors Among Cyberbullies, Cybervictims, and Cyberbully-Victims in a Czech Adolescent Sample.

PubMed

Bayraktar, Fatih; Machackova, Hana; Dedkova, Lenka; Cerna, Alena; Ševčíková, Anna

2015-11-01

Although the research on cyberbullying has increased dramatically in recent years, still little is known about how cyberbullying participant groups (i.e., cyberbullies, cybervictims, and cyberbully-victims) differ from one another. This study aims to discriminate between these groups at an individual and relational level by controlling for age and gender. Self-control, offline aggression, and self-esteem are analyzed as individual-level variables. Parental attachment and peer rejection are involved as relational-level variables. A total of 2,092 Czech adolescents aged 12 to 18 were enrolled from a random sample of 34 primary and secondary schools located in the South Moravian region of the Czech Republic. Discriminant function analyses indicated that the participant groups are discriminated by two functions. The first function increases the separation between cyberbullies and cyberbully-victims from cybervictims, indicating that cyberbullies and cyberbully-victims are similar to each other in terms of low self-control, offline aggression, and gender, and have higher scores on measures of low self-esteem and offline aggression. However, cyberbully-victims had the highest scores on these measures. The second function discriminates between all three groups, which indicates that those variables included in the second function (i.e., parental attachment, peer rejection, self-esteem, and age) distinguish all three involved groups. © The Author(s) 2014.

The glycemic and peak incremental indices of honey, sucrose and glucose in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus: effects on C-peptide level-a pilot study.

PubMed

Abdulrhman, Mamdouh; El-Hefnawy, Mohamed; Hussein, Rasha; El-Goud, Ahmad Abou

2011-06-01

Our study was a case-control cross-sectional study that was conducted on 20 children and adolescents suffering from type 1 diabetes mellitus and ten healthy non-diabetic children and adolescents serving as controls. The mean age of patients was 10.95 years. Oral sugar tolerance tests using glucose, sucrose and honey and measurement of fasting and postprandial serum C-peptide levels were done for all subjects in three separate sittings. The glycemic index (GI) and the peak incremental index (PII) were then calculated for each subject. Honey, compared to sucrose, had lower GI and PII in both patients (P < 0.001) and control (P < 0.05) groups. In the patients group, the increase in the level of C-peptide after using honey was not significant when compared with using either glucose or sucrose. However, in the control group, honey produced a significant higher C-peptide level, when compared with either glucose or sucrose. In conclusion, honey, because of its lower GI and PII when compared with sucrose, may be used as a sugar substitute in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Intergroup conflict management strategies as related to perceptions of dual identity and separate groups.

PubMed

Bizman, Aharon; Yinon, Yoel

2004-04-01

The authors examined the relations between (a) the perceptions of dual identity and separate groups and (b) intergroup conflict management strategies, in two contexts: the conflict between the secular and religious sectors in Israel and the allocation of resources among organizational subunits. In both contexts, contention (i.e., forcing one's will on the other party) was associated with the perception of separate groups. Only in the organizational context, avoidance (i.e., doing nothing or discontinuing participation in the conflict) was associated with the perception of dual identity. Problem solving (i.e., finding a solution that is acceptable to both parties) was related to the perception of dual identity in the secular-religious context. In the organizational context, this relation appeared only under a low perception of separate groups. Yielding (i.e., satisfying the other party's needs at the expense of one's own) was related to the perception of dual identity in the organizational context. In the secular-religious context, this relation appeared only under a high perception of separate groups. The authors discussed the varying pattern of the associations between (a) the perceptions of dual identity and separate groups and (b) the conflict management strategies in the two contexts in terms of the Dual Concern Model and the perceived feasibility of the strategies.

Therapeutic Exercise Training to Reduce Chronic Headache in Working Women: Design of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

PubMed

Rinne, Marjo; Garam, Sanna; Häkkinen, Arja; Ylinen, Jari; Kukkonen-Harjula, Katriina; Nikander, Riku

2016-05-01

Cervicogenic headache and migraine are common causes of visits to physicians and physical therapists. Few randomized trials utilizing active physical therapy and progressive therapeutic exercise have been previously published. The existing evidence on active treatment methods supports a moderate effect on cervicogenic headache. The aim of this study is to investigate whether a progressive, group-based therapeutic exercise program decreases the intensity and frequency of chronic headache among women compared with a control group receiving a sham dose of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and stretching exercises. A randomized controlled trial with 6-month intervention and follow-up was developed. The participants were randomly assigned to either a treatment group or a control group. The study is being conducted at 2 study centers. The participants are women aged 18 to 60 years with chronic cervicogenic headache or migraine. The treatment group's exercise program consisted of 6 progressive therapeutic exercise modules, including proprioceptive low-load progressive craniocervical and cervical exercises and high-load exercises for the neck muscles. The participants in the control group received 6 individually performed sham TENS treatment sessions. The primary outcome is the intensity of headache. The secondary outcomes are changes in frequency and duration of headache, neck muscle strength, neck and shoulder flexibility, impact of headache on daily life, neck disability, fear-avoidance beliefs, work ability, and quality of life. Between-group differences will be analyzed separately at 6, 12, and 24 months with generalized linear mixed models. In the case of count data (eg, frequency of headache), Poisson or negative binomial regression will be used. The therapists are not blinded. The effects of specific therapeutic exercises on frequency, intensity, and duration of chronic headache and migraine will be reported. © 2016 American Physical Therapy Association.

Does hydrotherapy help or hinder adaptation to training in competitive cyclists?

PubMed

Halson, Shona L; Bartram, Jason; West, Nicholas; Stephens, Jessica; Argus, Christos K; Driller, Matthew W; Sargent, Charli; Lastella, Michele; Hopkins, Will G; Martin, David T

2014-08-01

Cold water immersion (CWI) may be beneficial for acute recovery from exercise, but it may impair long-term performance by attenuating the stimuli responsible for adaptation to training. We compared effects of CWI and passive rest on cycling performance during a simulated cycling grand tour. Thirty-four male endurance-trained competitive cyclists were randomized to CWI for four times per week for 15 min at 15°C or control (passive recovery) groups for 7 d of baseline training, 21 d of intensified training, and an 11-d taper. Criteria for completion of training and testing were satisfied by 10 cyclists in the CWI group (maximal aerobic power, 5.13 ± 0.21 W·kg; mean ± SD) and 11 in the control group (5.01 ± 0.41 W·kg). Each week, cyclists completed a high-intensity interval cycling test and two 4-min bouts separated by 30 min. CWI was performed four times per week for 15 min at 15°C. Between baseline and taper, cyclists in the CWI group had an unclear change in overall 4-min power relative to control (2.7% ± 5.7%), although mean power in the second effort relative to the first was likely higher for the CWI group relative to control (3.0% ± 3.8%). The change in 1-s maximum mean sprint power in the CWI group was likely beneficial compared with control (4.4% ± 4.2%). Differences between groups for the 10-min time trial were unclear (-0.4% ± 4.3%). Although some effects of CWI on performance were unclear, data from this study do not support recent speculation that CWI is detrimental to performance after increased training load in competitive cyclists.

Intralanthanide Separation on Layered Titanium(IV) Organophosphate Materials via a Selective Transmetalation Process.

PubMed

Zhang, Wenzhong; Hietala, Sami; Khriachtchev, Leonid; Hatanpää, Timo; Doshi, Bhairavi; Koivula, Risto

2018-06-21

The lanthanides (Ln) are an essential part of many advanced technologies. Our societal transformation toward renewable energy drives their ever-growing demand. The similar chemical properties of the Ln pose fundamental difficulties in separating them from each other, yet high purity elements are crucial for specific applications. Here, we propose an intralanthanide separation method utilizing a group of titanium(IV) butyl phosphate coordination polymers as solid-phase extractants. These materials are characterized, and they contain layered structures directed by the hydrophobic interaction of the alkyl chains. The selective Ln uptake results from the transmetalation reaction (framework metal cation exchange), where the titanium(IV) serves as sacrificial coordination centers. The "tetrad effect" is observed from a dilute Ln 3+ mixture. However, smaller Ln 3+ ions are preferentially extracted in competitive binary separation models between adjacent Ln pairs. The intralanthanide ion-exchange selectivity arises synergistically from the coordination and steric strain preferences, both of which follow the reversed Ln contraction order. A one-step aqueous separation of neodymium (Nd) and dysprosium (Dy) is quantitatively achievable by simply controlling the solution pH in a batch mode, translating into a separation factor of greater than 2000 and 99.1% molar purity of Dy in the solid phase. Coordination polymers provide a versatile platform for further exploring selective Ln separation processes via the transmetalation process.

Economic consequences of improved temperature forecasts: An experiment with the Florida citrus growers (control group results). Executive summary. [weather forecasting

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1977-01-01

A demonstration experiment is being planned to show that frost and freeze prediction improvements are possible utilizing timely Synchronous Meteorological Satellite temperature measurements and that this information can affect Florida citrus grower operations and decisions so as to significantly reduce the cost for frost and freeze protection and crop losses. The design and implementation of the first phase of an economic experiment which will monitor citrus growers decisions, actions, costs and losses, and meteorological forecasts and actual weather events was carried out. The economic experiment was designed to measure the change in annual protection costs and crop losses which are the direct result of improved temperature forecasts. To estimate the benefits that may result from improved temperature forecasting capability, control and test groups were established with effective separation being accomplished temporally. The control group, utilizing current forecasting capability, was observed during the 1976-77 frost season and the results are reported. A brief overview is given of the economic experiment, the results obtained to date, and the work which still remains to be done.

[Inhibitory effect on Microcystis aeruginosa as well as separation and identification of the allelochemicals of welsh onion].

PubMed

Zhou, Yang; Li, Yuan; Li, Cheng; Liu, Lu; Zhang, Tingting

2013-11-01

To study the inhibition of welsh onion on Microcystis aeruginosa, and separat and identify of the allelochemicals from welsh onion. METHEDS: The inhibitory effect of different concentrations of fistular onion stalk and fistular onion leaf water extracts on M. aeruginosa were studied; besides, separation and identification of the allelochemicals of welsh onion were also studied. Both fistular onion stalk and fistular onion leaf water extracts had, to different degree, inhibitory effect on the growth of M. aeruginosat. Compared with the control group, the fluorescence intensity of fistular onion stalk and fistular onion leaf were lower than the control group in the same period, and the inhibitory effect were more obvious with the increase of the water extract concentrations, to the fifth day, M. aeruginosa almost completely dead of the highest concentration(50 ml/L) of fistular onion stalk water extract treated group, the EC50 of water extract from fistular onion stalk to M. aeruginosa was 12.7 ml/L, equivalent to fresh weight 1.27 g/L. Main allelochemicals in fistular onion stalk includes allyl mercaptan, cyclopentyl mercaptan, and so on. The inhibiting assay on M. aeruginosa showed that the EC50 of allyl mercaptan and cyclopentyl mercaptan respectively were 0.03 and 0.02 g/L. The fistular onion stalk water extracts has very good algicidal effect, allelopathic algal inhibiting substances primarily are sulfocompound, which have the potential to develop into biological algicide.

Three nested randomized controlled trials of peer-only or multiple stakeholder group feedback within Delphi surveys during core outcome and information set development.

PubMed

Brookes, Sara T; Macefield, Rhiannon C; Williamson, Paula R; McNair, Angus G; Potter, Shelley; Blencowe, Natalie S; Strong, Sean; Blazeby, Jane M

2016-08-17

Methods for developing a core outcome or information set require involvement of key stakeholders to prioritise many items and achieve agreement as to the core set. The Delphi technique requires participants to rate the importance of items in sequential questionnaires (or rounds) with feedback provided in each subsequent round such that participants are able to consider the views of others. This study examines the impact of receiving feedback from different stakeholder groups, on the subsequent rating of items and the level of agreement between stakeholders. Randomized controlled trials were nested within the development of three core sets each including a Delphi process with two rounds of questionnaires, completed by patients and health professionals. Participants rated items from 1 (not essential) to 9 (absolutely essential). For round 2, participants were randomized to receive feedback from their peer stakeholder group only (peer) or both stakeholder groups separately (multiple). Decisions as to which items to retain following each round were determined by pre-specified criteria. Whilst type of feedback did not impact on the percentage of items for which a participant subsequently changed their rating, or the magnitude of change, it did impact on items retained at the end of round 2. Each core set contained discordant items retained by one feedback group but not the other (3-22 % discordant items). Consensus between patients and professionals in items to retain was greater amongst those receiving multiple group feedback in each core set (65-82 % agreement for peer-only feedback versus 74-94 % for multiple feedback). In addition, differences in round 2 scores were smaller between stakeholder groups receiving multiple feedback than between those receiving peer group feedback only. Variability in item scores across stakeholders was reduced following any feedback but this reduction was consistently greater amongst the multiple feedback group. In the development of a core outcome or information set, providing feedback within Delphi questionnaires from all stakeholder groups separately may influence the final core set and improve consensus between the groups. Further work is needed to better understand how participants rate and re-rate items within a Delphi process. The three randomized controlled trials reported here were each nested within the development of a core information or outcome set to investigate processes in core outcome and information set development. Outcomes were not health-related and therefore trial registration was not applicable.

Acute Alcohol Consumption Impairs Controlled but Not Automatic Processes in a Psychophysical Pointing Paradigm

PubMed Central

Johnston, Kevin; Timney, Brian; Goodale, Melvyn A.

2013-01-01

Numerous studies have investigated the effects of alcohol consumption on controlled and automatic cognitive processes. Such studies have shown that alcohol impairs performance on tasks requiring conscious, intentional control, while leaving automatic performance relatively intact. Here, we sought to extend these findings to aspects of visuomotor control by investigating the effects of alcohol in a visuomotor pointing paradigm that allowed us to separate the influence of controlled and automatic processes. Six male participants were assigned to an experimental “correction” condition in which they were instructed to point at a visual target as quickly and accurately as possible. On a small percentage of trials, the target “jumped” to a new location. On these trials, the participants’ task was to amend their movement such that they pointed to the new target location. A second group of 6 participants were assigned to a “countermanding” condition, in which they were instructed to terminate their movements upon detection of target “jumps”. In both the correction and countermanding conditions, participants served as their own controls, taking part in alcohol and no-alcohol conditions on separate days. Alcohol had no effect on participants’ ability to correct movements “in flight”, but impaired the ability to withhold such automatic corrections. Our data support the notion that alcohol selectively impairs controlled processes in the visuomotor domain. PMID:23861934

33 CFR 239.7 - Separation of flood control works from urban drainage.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 3 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Separation of flood control works... OF THE ARMY, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE WATER RESOURCES POLICIES AND AUTHORITIES: FEDERAL PARTICIPATION IN COVERED FLOOD CONTROL CHANNELS § 239.7 Separation of flood control works from urban drainage. Covered...

[Immediate analgesic effect of wrist-ankle acupuncture for acute lumbago: a randomized controlled trial].

PubMed

Su, Jiang-tao; Zhou, Qing-hui; Li, Rui; Zhang, Jie; Li, Wei-hong; Wang, Qiong

2010-08-01

To assess the immediate analgesic effect of wrist-ankle acupuncture on acute lumbago and the relationship between the analgesic effect and the expectation of patients. A randomized, single-blind, sham-controlled trial was designed. Sixty cases of acute lumbago were randomly divided into two groups, 30 cases in each one. In observation group, wrist-ankle acupuncture was adopted to the Lower 5 and Lower 6 bilaterally, no requirement of Deqi (arrival of qi). In control group, sham acupuncture was adopted. The treatment was applied once in either group, with the needles retained for 30 min. The Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) and the Modified-Modified Schober (MMS) test were used to assess the motion related pain and the situation of spinal flexion in 3 min before treatment and 5 min, 10 min, 15 min, during treatment and 30 min (needle removed), respectively. The Expectation and Treatment Credibility Scale (ETCS) was applied to analyze the relationship between the expectation of patients and the analgesic effect. The adverse reaction was recorded. There were no statistically significant differences in SF-MPQ, MMS and ETCS before treatment between two groups (all P>0.05). In 5 min after needles insertion, the scores of the items in SF-MPQ in observation group were lower than those in control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). In 10 min after needles insertion, the scores of SF-MPQ in observation group were lower than those in control group and the scores of MMS were higher than those in control group (P<0.05). In 15 min after needles insertion, except the sensory pain rating index, the scores of the rest items in SF-MPQ in observation group were all lower than those in control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). In 30 min (needles removed), the scores of affective pain rating index of SF-MPQ and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) in observation group were lower than those in control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The expectation before treatment was negatively correlated with VAS scores in 5 min, 10 min, 15 min and 30 min after needle insertion separately in observation group (P<0.05), while the correlation was not found in control group (P>0.05). No adverse reaction was reported. Wrist-ankle acupuncture can reduce acute lumbago immediately and significantly. The higher the expectation on the analgesic effect of wrist-ankle acupuncture the patients have, the better the analgesic effect will be. This therapy is highly safe in the treatment.

The effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Cannabis Sativa on appetite hormone in rat.

PubMed

Mazidi, Mohsen; Baghban Taraghdari, Sara; Rezaee, Peyman; Kamgar, Maryam; Jomezadeh, Mohammad Reza; Akbarieh Hasani, Omid; Soukhtanloo, Mohammad; Hosseini, Mahmoud; Gholamnezhad, Zahra; Rakhshandeh, Hassan; Norouzy, Abdolreza; Esmaily, Habibollah; Patterson, Michael; Nematy, Mohsen

2014-12-01

Ghrelin is an orexigenic peptide which is secreted from stomach. Cannabis sativa is known as an orexigenic herb in Iranian traditional medicine. Little evidence is published about its effect on energy intake and its mechanism. In the current study, the possible effect of hydroalcoholic extract of C. sativa on appetite and ghrelin is evaluated. Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups. Two control groups were selected, the first group received 0.5 mL water per day (vehicle group) and another group did not receive anything (control group). The other three groups were treated daily with 50, 100 or 150 mg/kg of C. sativa for 7 days, respectively. Daily energy intake of the rats was calculated for 10 days prior to the> intervention and for the 7 day intervention. To investigate changes in plasma ghrelin as a potential mechanism, an orexigenic dose (150 mg/kg) of C. sativa or distilled water (vehicle) was fed to two separate groups of six rats by gavage. Total ghrelin levels in plasma were measured for 3 h post-gavage. There was no significant difference in energy intake between control and vehicle groups. Treatment with 100 and 150 mg/kg of the extract significantly increased energy intake vs the other groups (p<0.05). Total ghrelin levels were significantly elevated in the C. sativa group vs vehicle 30 and 60 min post-gavage. This study showed that C. sativa had both positive and dose-related effects on appetite of rats. Future studies are warranted to evaluate the orexigenic effect of this plant in human.

Impacts of fresh lime juice and peel on atherosclerosis progression in an animal model.

PubMed

Boshtam, Maryam; Asgary, Sedigheh; Moshtaghian, Jamal; Naderi, Gholamali; Jafari-Dinani, Narges

2013-11-01

The main protective role of antioxidants in the progression of atherosclerosis has been shown in some studies. Therefore, this project evaluated the effects of Citrus aurantifolia (Christm) juice and peel on antioxidant activity and atherosclerosis progression in rabbits receiving a hypercholesterolemic diet. Forty white New Zealand male rabbits were randomly allocated to four groups. All groups were on hypercholesterolemic diet for two months. While the first group was considered as the hypercholesterolemic control, groups 2 and 3 (intervention groups) received 5 ml/day lime juice and 1 g/day dried lime peel powder, respectively. Group 4 was fed a normal diet (normal control). Before and after the study, weight was measured and a fasting blood specimen was taken from the rabbits. Serum lipids analyses and antioxidant activity evaluations were then performed. The rabbits' aorta and coronary arteries were separated and the presence of fatty streaks was studied. Comparing to the hypercholesterolemic control group (-25.2 ± 7.0), only the plasma total antioxidant capacity change was significantly more in rabbits supplemented with lime juice (16.3 ± 14.7) and peel (8.6 ± 7.1) (P = 0.008). The presence of fatty streaks in coronary arteries and aorta of the intervention groups [juice (0.2 ± 0.01); peel (0.0 ± 0.00)] was significantly decreased compared to the hypercholesterolemic control group (1.2 ± 0.4) (P < 0.001). Based on our findings, Citrus aurantifolia peel and juice increase plasma antioxidant capacity in rabbits, and can thus prevent or decelerate the process of atherogenesis. However, lime peel is more effective than lime juice.

Physical therapy treatments for low back pain in children and adolescents: a meta-analysis

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Low back pain (LBP) in adolescents is associated with LBP in later years. In recent years treatments have been administered to adolescents for LBP, but it is not known which physical therapy treatment is the most efficacious. By means of a meta-analysis, the current study investigated the effectiveness of the physical therapy treatments for LBP in children and adolescents. Methods Studies in English, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese, and carried out by March 2011, were selected by electronic and manual search. Two independent researchers coded the moderator variables of the studies, and performed the effect size calculations. The mean effect size index used was the standardized mean change between the pretest and posttest, and it was applied separately for each combination of outcome measures, (pain, disability, flexibility, endurance and mental health) and measurement type (self-reports, and clinician assessments). Results Eight articles that met the selection criteria enabled us to define 11 treatment groups and 5 control groups using the group as the unit of analysis. The 16 groups involved a total sample of 334 subjects at the posttest (221 in the treatment groups and 113 in the control groups). For all outcome measures, the average effect size of the treatment groups was statistically and clinically significant, whereas the control groups had negative average effect sizes that were not statistically significant. Conclusions Of all the physical therapy treatments for LBP in children and adolescents, the combination of therapeutic physical conditioning and manual therapy is the most effective. The low number of studies and control groups, and the methodological limitations in this meta-analysis prevent us from drawing definitive conclusions in relation to the efficacy of physical therapy treatments in LBP. PMID:23374375

Remotely controlled steerable sheath improves result and procedural parameters of atrial fibrillation ablation with magnetic navigation.

PubMed

Errahmouni, Abdelkarim; Latcu, Decebal Gabriel; Bun, Sok-Sithikun; Rijo, Nicolas; Dugourd, Céline; Saoudi, Nadir

2015-07-01

The magnetic navigation (MN) system may be coupled with a new advancement system that fully controls both the catheter and a robotic deflectable sheath (RSh) or with a fixed-curve sheath and a catheter-only advancement system (CAS). We aimed to compare these approaches for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. Atrial fibrillation ablation patients (45, 23 paroxysmal and 22 persistent) performed with MN-RSh (RSh group) were compared with a control group (37, 18 paroxysmal and19 persistent) performed with MN-CAS (CAS group). Setup duration was measured from the procedure's start to operator transfer to control room. Ablation step duration was defined as the time from the beginning of the first radiofrequency (RF) pulse to the end of the last one and was separately acquired for the left and the right pulmonary vein (PV) pairs. Clinical characteristics, left atrial size, and AF-type distribution were similar between the groups. Setup duration as well as mapping times was also similar. Ablation step duration for the left PVs was similar, but was shorter for the right PVs in RSh group (46 ± 9 vs. 63 ± 12 min, P < 0.0001). Radiofrequency delivery time (34 ± 9 vs. 40 ± 11 min, P = 0.007) and procedure duration (227 ± 36 vs. 254 ± 62 min, P = 0.01) were shorter in RSh group. No complication occurred in RSh group. During follow-up, there were five recurrences (11%) in RSh group and 11 (29%) in CAS group (P = 0.027). The use of the RSh for AF ablation with MN is safe and improves outcome. Right PV isolation is faster, RF delivery time and procedure time are reduced. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.

Remotely controlled steerable sheath improves result and procedural parameters of atrial fibrillation ablation with magnetic navigation

PubMed Central

Errahmouni, Abdelkarim; Latcu, Decebal Gabriel; Bun, Sok-Sithikun; Rijo, Nicolas; Dugourd, Céline; Saoudi, Nadir

2015-01-01

Aims The magnetic navigation (MN) system may be coupled with a new advancement system that fully controls both the catheter and a robotic deflectable sheath (RSh) or with a fixed-curve sheath and a catheter-only advancement system (CAS). We aimed to compare these approaches for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. Methods and results Atrial fibrillation ablation patients (45, 23 paroxysmal and 22 persistent) performed with MN–RSh (RSh group) were compared with a control group (37, 18 paroxysmal and19 persistent) performed with MN–CAS (CAS group). Setup duration was measured from the procedure's start to operator transfer to control room. Ablation step duration was defined as the time from the beginning of the first radiofrequency (RF) pulse to the end of the last one and was separately acquired for the left and the right pulmonary vein (PV) pairs. Clinical characteristics, left atrial size, and AF-type distribution were similar between the groups. Setup duration as well as mapping times was also similar. Ablation step duration for the left PVs was similar, but was shorter for the right PVs in RSh group (46 ± 9 vs. 63 ± 12 min, P < 0.0001). Radiofrequency delivery time (34 ± 9 vs. 40 ± 11 min, P = 0.007) and procedure duration (227 ± 36 vs. 254 ± 62 min, P = 0.01) were shorter in RSh group. No complication occurred in RSh group. During follow-up, there were five recurrences (11%) in RSh group and 11 (29%) in CAS group (P = 0.027). Conclusion The use of the RSh for AF ablation with MN is safe and improves outcome. Right PV isolation is faster, RF delivery time and procedure time are reduced. PMID:25662989

Physical therapy treatments for low back pain in children and adolescents: a meta-analysis.

PubMed

Calvo-Muñoz, Inmaculada; Gómez-Conesa, Antonia; Sánchez-Meca, Julio

2013-02-02

Low back pain (LBP) in adolescents is associated with LBP in later years. In recent years treatments have been administered to adolescents for LBP, but it is not known which physical therapy treatment is the most efficacious. By means of a meta-analysis, the current study investigated the effectiveness of the physical therapy treatments for LBP in children and adolescents. Studies in English, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese, and carried out by March 2011, were selected by electronic and manual search. Two independent researchers coded the moderator variables of the studies, and performed the effect size calculations. The mean effect size index used was the standardized mean change between the pretest and posttest, and it was applied separately for each combination of outcome measures, (pain, disability, flexibility, endurance and mental health) and measurement type (self-reports, and clinician assessments). Eight articles that met the selection criteria enabled us to define 11 treatment groups and 5 control groups using the group as the unit of analysis. The 16 groups involved a total sample of 334 subjects at the posttest (221 in the treatment groups and 113 in the control groups). For all outcome measures, the average effect size of the treatment groups was statistically and clinically significant, whereas the control groups had negative average effect sizes that were not statistically significant. Of all the physical therapy treatments for LBP in children and adolescents, the combination of therapeutic physical conditioning and manual therapy is the most effective. The low number of studies and control groups, and the methodological limitations in this meta-analysis prevent us from drawing definitive conclusions in relation to the efficacy of physical therapy treatments in LBP.

One year study on the integrative intervention of acupressure and interactive multimedia for visual health in school children.

PubMed

Yeh, Mei-Ling; Chen, Hsing-Hsia; Chung, Yu-Chu

2012-12-01

This study used a larger sample size, added a long-term observation of the effect of intervention, and provided an integrated intervention of acupressure and interactive multimedia of visual health instruction for school children. The short- and long-term effects of the interventions were then evaluated by visual health knowledge, visual acuity, and refractive error. A repeated pretest-posttest controlled trial was used with two experimental groups and one control group. Four elementary schools in northern Taiwan. 287 School children with visual impairment in fourth grade were recruited. One experimental group received the integrative intervention of acupressure and interactive multimedia of visual health instruction (ACIMU), and another received auricular acupressure (AC) alone; whereas a control group received no intervention. Two 10-week interventions were separately given in the fall and spring semesters. The short- and long-term effects of the interventions were then evaluated by visual health knowledge, visual acuity, and refractive error. During the school year the visual health knowledge was significantly higher in the ACIMU group than the control group (p<0.001). A significant difference in the changing visual acuity was in the three groups (p<0.001), with the improvement in the ACIMU group. No difference in the refractive error was found between any two groups (p>0.05). This study demonstrated that a long-term period of acupressure is required to improve school children's visual health. School children receiving the intervention of acupressure combined with interactive multimedia had better improvement of visual health and related knowledge than others. Further study is suggested in which visual health and preventative needs can be established for early childhood. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Role of Intralipid Emulsion in the Rat Model of Digoxin Intoxication.

PubMed

Turan, Cansu Arslan; Ozturk, Tuba Cimilli; Akoglu, Ebru Unal; Ak, Rohat; Aygun, Kemal; Sahiner, Ali; Sumer, Engin; Somay, Adnan; Onur, Ozge Ecmel

2018-02-03

Although the mechanism of action is not well known, intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) has been shown to be effective in the treatment of lipophilic drug intoxications. It is thought that, ILE probably separates the lipophilic drugs from target tissue by creating a lipid-rich compartment in the plasma. The second theory is that ILE provides energy to myocardium with high-dose free fatty acids activating the voltage-gated calcium channels in the myocytes. In this study, effects of ILE treatment on digoxin overdose were searched in an animal model in terms of cardiac side effects and survival. Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups. As the pre-treatment, the groups were administered saline, ILE, DigiFab and DigiFab and ILE. Following that, digoxin was infused to all groups until death except the control group. First arrhythmia and cardiac arrest observation times were recorded. According to the results, there was no statistically significant difference among the group in terms of first arrhythmia time and cardiac arrest times. However, when the saline group compared with ILE-treated group separately, significant difference was observed. DigiFab, ILE or ILE-DigiFab treatment make no significant difference in terms of the first arrhythmia and cardiac arrest duration in digoxin-intoxicated rats. However, it is not possible to say that at the given doses, ILE treatment might be successful at least as a known antidote. The fact that the statistical significance between the two groups is not observed in the subgroup analysis, the study should be repeated with larger groups.

Comparison of the antimicrobial efficacy of photodynamic therapy with two mediators against Lactobacillus acidophilus in vitro.

PubMed

Azizi, Arash; Mousavian, Shiva; Taheri, Soudabeh; Lawaf, Shirin; Gonoudi, Elnaz; Rahimi, Arash

2018-03-01

Lactobacillus is a cariogenic microorganism. Different therapeutic approaches including photodynamic therapy (PDT) have been suggested for treatment of bacterial infection. The purpose of the current study was to compare the effects of PDT with Indocyanine green (ICG) and Methylene blue (MB) photosensitizers (PSs) on Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus). In this in-vitro experimental study, 84 samples of L. acidophilus (1 McFarland standard) were compared in 14 experimental groups including: MB, ICG, 660-nm laser, 808-nm laser (pulsed, 74s/continuous-wave, 37s), different combinations of lasers and PSs, Chlorhexidine (CHX) 0.2%, sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) 2.5%, penicillin 6.3.3 and control groups. The samples were cultured in microplates containing blood agar culture medium. After incubation at 37 °C for 48 h, the colony forming units (CFUs) of L. acidophilus were counted and compared before and after therapeutic interventions. Data were analyzed using SPSS19 software program according to one-way ANOVA test. This study showed that the separate use of ICG, 660- and 808-nm lasers (pulsed, 74s/continuous-wave, 37s), and the combined use of 808-nm laser (pulsed, 74s/continuous-wave, 37s) and ICG have no significant inhibitory effect on L. acidophilus colonies (P > 0.05), whereas the separate use of MB and the combined use of 660-nm laser (continuous-wave, 37s/pulsed, 74s) and MB significantly inhibited the growth of L. acidophilus in comparison with the control group (p < 0.05). Likewise, CHX 0.2%, NaOCl 2.5% and penicillin 6.3.3 significantly inhibited the bacterial growth (p < 0.05). The results showed that separate use of MB and combined use of 660-nm laser and MB have a significant inhibitory effect on L. acidophilus growth. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Water outlet control mechanism for fuel cell system operation in variable gravity environments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vasquez, Arturo (Inventor); McCurdy, Kerri L. (Inventor); Bradley, Karla F. (Inventor)

2007-01-01

A self-regulated water separator provides centrifugal separation of fuel cell product water from oxidant gas. The system uses the flow energy of the fuel cell's two-phase water and oxidant flow stream and a regulated ejector or other reactant circulation pump providing the two-phase fluid flow. The system further uses a means of controlling the water outlet flow rate away from the water separator that uses both the ejector's or reactant pump's supply pressure and a compressibility sensor to provide overall control of separated water flow either back to the separator or away from the separator.

Comparing the effect of topical application of human milk and dry cord care on umbilical cord separation time in healthy newborn infants.

PubMed

Aghamohammadi, Azar; Zafari, Mandana; Moslemi, Leila

2012-06-01

Comparing the effect of topical human milk application and dry cord care on cord separation time. This research was a randomized clinical trial study on 130 singleton and mature newborns. Newborns were placed randomly in groups of topical application of human milk and dry cord care. The umbilical separation time was compared in the two groups. Data was analyzed by SPSS software. Independent Samples t-Test, χ(2), Fisher were used in this study. Median time of cord separation in human milk application group (150.95±28.68 hours) was significantly shorter than dry cord care group (180.93±37.42 hours) (P<0.001). Topical application of human milk on the remaining part of the cord reduces the cord separation time and it can be used as an easy, cheap and non invasive way for cord care.

2005 Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission Report. Volume 1

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-01-01

and Beale, and 15 A-10 aircraft realigned by the recommended closures of W.K. Kellogg Airport Air Guard Station, MI, and NAS Willow Grove, PA...functions of the Missile Defense Agency, except the Command and Control Battle Management and Communications Directorate, to Redstone Arsenal, AL... of other ships in the battle group. Systems are functionally integrated and not 287 separable as independent components. Furthermore, based on BRAC

International Aerospace and Ground Conference on Lightning and Static Electricity Held in Dayton, Ohio on 24-26 June 1986

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-10-01

developed by the AEH Group has the advantages: of compactness which makes it easily transportable; computer controlled acquisi- tion, signal processing...be available to a negatively charged aircraft. The experimental arrangement attempts to simulate the streamer propagation and growth in a quasi ...separate foam configurations: the operational configuration of non - conductive foam and a second configuration which contained an experimental

Promotion of Autonomy for Participation in Physical Activity: A Study Based on the Trans-Contextual Model of Motivation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

González-Cutre, David; Ferriz, Roberto; Beltrán-Carrillo, Vicente J.; Andrés-Fabra, José A.; Montero-Carretero, Carlos; Cervelló, Eduardo; Moreno-Murcia, Juan Antonio

2014-01-01

The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of a school-based intervention to promote physical activity, utilising the postulates of the trans-contextual model of motivation. The study examined two separate classes of elementary school students (mean age 11.28?years), one of which served as the control group (n?=?26) and the other as the…

Comparisons of false negative rates from a trend test alone and from a trend test jointly with a control-high groups pairwise test in the determination of the carcinogenicity of new drugs.

PubMed

Lin, Karl K; Rahman, Mohammad A

2018-05-21

Interest has been expressed in using a joint test procedure that requires that the results of both a trend test and a pairwise comparison test between the control and the high groups be statistically significant simultaneously at the levels of significance recommended in the FDA 2001 draft guidance for industry document for the separate tests in order for the drug effect on the development of an individual tumor type to be considered as statistically significant. Results of our simulation studies show that there is a serious consequence of large inflations of the false negative rate through large decreases of false positive rate in the use of the above joint test procedure in the final interpretation of the carcinogenicity potential of a new drug if the levels of significance recommended for separate tests are used. The inflation can be as high as 204.5% of the false negative rate when the trend test alone is required to test if the effect is statistically significant. To correct the problem, new sets of levels of significance have also been developed for those who want to use the joint test in reviews of carcinogenicity studies.

Umbilical hernia management during liver transplantation.

PubMed

de Goede, B; van Kempen, B J H; Polak, W G; de Knegt, R J; Schouten, J N L; Lange, J F; Tilanus, H W; Metselaar, H J; Kazemier, G

2013-08-01

Patients with liver cirrhosis scheduled for liver transplantation often present with a concurrent umbilical hernia. Optimal management of these patients is not clear. The objective of this study was to compare the outcomes of patients who underwent umbilical hernia correction during liver transplantation through a separate infra-umbilical incision with those who underwent correction through the same incision used to perform the liver transplantation. In the period between 1990 and 2011, all 27 patients with umbilical hernia and liver cirrhosis who underwent hernia correction during liver transplantation were identified in our hospital database. In 17 cases, umbilical hernia repair was performed through a separate infra-umbilical incision (separate incision group) and 10 were corrected from within the abdominal cavity without a separate incision (same incision group). Six patients died during follow-up; no deaths were attributable to intraoperative umbilical hernia repair. All 21 patients who were alive visited the outpatient clinic to detect recurrent umbilical hernia. One recurrent umbilical hernia was diagnosed in the separate incision group (6 %) and four (40 %) in the same incision group (p = 0.047). Two patients in the same incision group required repair of the recurrent umbilical hernia; one of whom underwent emergency surgery for bowel incarceration. The one recurrent hernia in the separate incision group was corrected electively. In the event of liver transplantation, umbilical hernia repair through a separate infra-umbilical incision is preferred over correction through the same incision used to perform the transplantation.

Effects of whole-body cryotherapy on recovery after hamstring damaging exercise: a crossover study.

PubMed

Fonda, B; Sarabon, N

2013-10-01

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) on biochemical, pain, and performance parameters during the 5-day recovery period after damaging exercise for hamstrings. Participants completed a bout of damaging exercise for the hamstring muscles on two separate occasions (control and experimental condition) separated by 10 weeks. During the control condition, subjects received no treatment after the damaging exercise. The experimental condition consisted of WBC everyday during the recovery period. WBC included single 3-min daily exposures to low temperatures (-140 to -19 °C) in the cryo-cabin. During the recovery period, subjects were tested for biochemical markers, perceived pain sensation, and physical performance (squat jump, counter movement jump, maximal isometric torque production, and maximally explosive isometric torque production). Majority of the observed variables showed statistically significant time effects (P < 0.05) in control group, which indicates the presence of muscle damage. Significant interaction between the control and WBC condition was evident for the rate of torque development (P < 0.05). Pain measures substantially differed between the WBC and the control condition after the exercise. Results of this study are not completely supportive of the use of WBC for recovery enhancement after strenuous training. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Utility of anti-HSP 70, TNF-alpha, ESR, antinuclear antibody, and antiphospholipid antibodies in the diagnosis and treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

PubMed

Süslü, Nilda; Yilmaz, Taner; Gürsel, Bülent

2009-02-01

To investigate the performance of various laboratory tests used for patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). Prospective clinical trial. Thirty patients who presented with SSNHL and 30 healthy people with no cochleovestibular disorders were selected as study and control groups. The laboratory panel includes the following tests: anti-HSP 70 antibody immunoassay, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), antinuclear antibody (ANA), and antiphospholipid antibodies. The study group was given corticosteroid therapy and separated into two groups: the corticosteroid responders and the corticosteroid nonresponders. In the follow-up, repeat audiograms were evaluated to determine the response to treatment. TNF-alpha was found at lower titers in the study group when compared with the control group in contrast to other studies. Also, anti-HSP 70 was not found in high titers in the study group. ANA and ESR were the two parameters that were significantly more positive in the study group compared with the control group. Because of the lack of association between a positive test and response to corticosteroid treatment, detection of the anti-HSP 70 antibody, TNF-alpha, ESR, and ANA, at present, do not offer clinically useful information in the treatment of SSNHL. Also, because of the lower titers of TNF-alpha documented in patients with SSNHL, we do not recommend the use of specific TNF-alpha inhibitors in SSNHL.

The influence of platelet-rich plasma on the healing of extraction sockets: an explorative randomised clinical trial.

PubMed

Alissa, Rami; Esposito, Marco; Horner, Keith; Oliver, Richard

2010-01-01

To investigate the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on the healing of hard and soft tissues of extraction sockets with a pilot study. Patients undergoing tooth extraction under intravenous sedation were asked to participate in the trial. Autologous platelet concentrates were prepared from the patients' blood and autologous thrombin was produced. Outcome measures were: pain level, analgesic consumption, oral function (ability to eat food, swallowing, mouth opening and speech), general activity, swelling, bruising, bleeding, bad taste or halitosis, food stagnation, patient satisfaction, healing complications, soft tissue healing, trabecular pattern of newly formed bone in extraction sockets, trabecular bone volume, trabecular separation, trabecular length, trabecular width, and trabecular number. Patients were followed up to 3 months post-extraction. Twelve patients (15 sockets) were randomly allocated to the PRP group and 11 patients (14 sockets) to the control group. Two patients from the control group did not attend any of the scheduled appointments following tooth extraction, and were considered dropouts. Additionally, one more patient from the control group and four patients from the PRP group did not attend their 3-month radiographic assessment appointments. Statistically significantly more pain was recorded in the control group for the first (P=0.02), second (P=0.02) and third (P=0.04) post-operative days for Visual Analogue Scale scores, whereas no differences were observed for the fourth (P=0.17), fifth (P=0.38), sixth (P=0.75) and seventh (P=0.75) post-operative days. There was a statistically significantly higher analgesic consumption for the first (P=0.03) and second (P=0.02) post-operative days in the control group and no differences thereafter. Differences in patients' responses in the health-related quality of life questionnaire were statistically significant in favour of PRP treatment only for the presence of bad taste or bad smell in the mouth (P=0.03), and food stagnation in the operation area (P=0.03). The difference between groups was not statistically significant for patient satisfaction with the treatment (P=0.31). Regarding complications, two dry sockets and one acutely inflamed alveolus occurred in patients of the control group, which determined a borderline statistically significant difference in favour of the PRP group (P=0.06). Soft tissue healing was significantly better in patients treated with PRP (P=0.03). Radiographic evaluation carried out by the two blinded examiners revealed a statistically significant difference (P=0.01) for sockets with dense homogeneous trabecular pattern, a borderline statistically significant difference in the trabecular pattern for bone volume (P=0.06) favouring PRP use, and no significant differences for trabecular separation (P=0.66), trabecular length (P=0.16), trabecular width (P=0.16) and trabecular number (P=0.38). PRP may have some benefits in reducing complications such as alveolar osteitis and improving healing of soft tissue of extraction sockets. There were insufficient data to support the use of PRP to promote bone healing or to enhance the quality of life of patients following tooth extraction, although the sample size was too small to detect statistically significant differences.

Virtual Reality Exposure Training for Musicians: Its Effect on Performance Anxiety and Quality.

PubMed

Bissonnette, Josiane; Dubé, Francis; Provencher, Martin D; Moreno Sala, Maria T

2015-09-01

Music performance anxiety affects numerous musicians, with many of them reporting impairment of performance due to this problem. This exploratory study investigated the effects of virtual reality exposure training on students with music performance anxiety. Seventeen music students were randomly assigned to a control group (n=8) or a virtual training group (n=9). Participants were asked to play a musical piece by memory in two separate recitals within a 3-week interval. Anxiety was then measured with the Personal Report of Confidence as a Performer Scale and the S-Anxiety scale from the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y). Between pre- and post-tests, the virtual training group took part in virtual reality exposure training consisting of six 1-hour long sessions of virtual exposure. The results indicate a significant decrease in performance anxiety for musicians in the treatment group for those with a high level of state anxiety, for those with a high level of trait anxiety, for women, and for musicians with high immersive tendencies. Finally, between the pre- and post-tests, we observed a significant increase in performance quality for the experimental group, but not for the control group.

[Is a sedentary lifestyle a risk factor for sleep-related respiratory disturbance?].

PubMed

Teculescu, D; Chenuel, B; Benamghar, L; Michaely, J-P; Hannhart, B

2010-09-01

This questionnaire-based epidemiological study was aimed at identifying possible sleep disturbance in a sample of active French males. Eight hundred and fifty male subjects, aged 22 to 66 years, completed a structured sleep questionnaire supplemented by information about their life habits and medical history. The study compared the prevalence of positive responses between an "at risk" group of sedentary people (with no declared leisure exercise) and a control group of "exercising" subjects (with more than 5 hours of planned exercise weekly). Among the symptoms suggesting sleep-disordered breathing, only the question "Have you ever been told that you snore?" significantly separated the two groups. In addition, the sedentary group declared a history of treated hypertension significantly more often. The present survey identified only one item that differed significantly between a sedentary of men and an exercising group - a history of treated hypertension. The result may be explained by the limitations of a questionnaire survey and by the limited contrast in exercise practice: the "sedentary" subjects had an occupational labour demand (not quantified), and the control group had a relatively modest leisure physical activity. Copyright © 2010 SPLF. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

A community-based Argentine tango dance program is associated with increased activity participation among individuals with Parkinson disease

PubMed Central

Foster, Erin R.; Golden, Laura; Duncan, Ryan P.; Earhart, Gammon M.

2012-01-01

Objective To determine the effect of a 12-month community-based tango dance program on activity participation among individuals with Parkinson disease (PD). Design Randomized controlled trial with assessment at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. Setting The intervention was administered in the community; assessments were completed in a university laboratory. Participants Sixty-two volunteers with PD enrolled in the study and were randomized to treatment group. Ten participants did not receive the allocated intervention, so the final analyzed sample included 52 participants. Intervention Participants were randomly assigned to the Tango group, which involved 12 months of twice weekly Argentine tango dance classes, or to the no intervention Control group (n = 26 per group). Main Outcome Measures Current, new and retained participation in instrumental, leisure and social activities as measured by the Activity Card Sort (with the “dance” activity removed). Results Total Current participation in the Tango group was higher at 3, 6, and 12 months compared to baseline (ps ≤ 0.008), while the Control group did not change (ps ≥ 0.11). Total Activity Retention (since onset of PD) in the Tango group increased from 77% to 90% (p = 0.006) over the course of the study, whereas the Control group remained around 80% (p = 0.60). These patterns were similar in the separate activity domains. The Tango group gained a significant number of New Social activities (p = 0.003), but the Control group did not (p = 0.71). Conclusions Individuals with PD who participated in a community-based Argentine tango class reported increased participation in complex daily activities, recovery of activities lost since the onset of PD, and engagement in new activities. Incorporating dance into the clinical management of PD may benefit participation and subsequently quality of life for this population. PMID:22902795

Non-targeted analyses of animal plasma: betaine and choline represent the nutritional and metabolic status.

PubMed

Katayama, K; Sato, T; Arai, T; Amao, H; Ohta, Y; Ozawa, T; Kenyon, P R; Hickson, R E; Tazaki, H

2013-02-01

Simple liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was applied to non-targeted metabolic analyses to discover new metabolic markers in animal plasma. Principle component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares-discriminate analysis (PLS-DA) were used to analyse LC-MS multivariate data. PCA clearly generated two separate clusters for artificially induced diabetic mice and healthy control mice. PLS-DA of time-course changes in plasma metabolites of chicks after feeding generated three clusters (pre- and immediately after feeding, 0.5-3 h after feeding and 4 h after feeding). Two separate clusters were also generated for plasma metabolites of pregnant Angus heifers with differing live-weight change profiles (gaining or losing). The accompanying PLS-DA loading plot detailed the metabolites that contribute the most to the cluster separation. In each case, the same highly hydrophilic metabolite was strongly correlated to the group separation. The metabolite was identified as betaine by LC-MS/MS. This result indicates that betaine and its metabolic precursor, choline, may be useful biomarkers to evaluate the nutritional and metabolic status of animals. © 2011 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Anti-skin-aging effect of epigallocatechin gallate by regulating epidermal growth factor receptor pathway on aging mouse model induced by d-Galactose.

PubMed

Chen, Jiming; Li, Yifan; Zhu, Qiangqiang; Li, Tong; Lu, Hao; Wei, Nan; Huang, Yewei; Shi, Ruoyu; Ma, Xiao; Wang, Xuanjun; Sheng, Jun

2017-06-01

Epigallocatechin gallate(EGCG) is a monomer separated from tea catechins, as an well-known antioxidant, which helps fight wrinkles and rejuvenate skin cells. In this study, we investigated the anti-aging effect of EGCG, and to clarify underlying mechanism of skin aging in a d-galactose-induced aging mouse model. Forty-five male mice were divided into 5 groups and treated with different dose of EGCG, Vitamin C (VitC) to mice as a positive control. All groups except vehicle were established aging model induced by d-galactose (200mg/kg/day) that was subcutaneously injected to mice for 8 weeks. Two weeks after injection of d-galactose, EGCG and Vit C groups were simultaneously administered once a day by subcutaneously inject after 5h for injecting d-galactose. The results show that EGCG can be absorbed by the skin. Overall, the conditions of the skin of EGCG-treatment groups were improved, the whole structure of skin were better than control groups, and the levels of oxidative stress and the expression of relate with EGFR proteins were significantly higher than control group after EGCG treatment. All these findings suggest that EGCG can resist skin senility effectively. And the EGFR with relate of downstream proteins are implicated in the skin aging. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

The effects of emotional intelligence training on the job performance of Australian aged care workers.

PubMed

Karimi, Leila; Leggat, Sandra G; Bartram, Timothy; Rada, Jiri

2018-05-09

Emotional intelligence (EI) training is popular among human resource practitioners, but there is limited evidence of the impact of such training on health care workers. In the current article, we examine the effects of EI training on quality of resident care and worker well-being and psychological empowerment in an Australian aged care facility. We use Bar-On's (1997) conceptualization of EI. We used a quasiexperimental design in 2014-2015 with experimental (training) and control (nontraining) groups of 60 participants in each group in two geographically separate facilities. Our final poststudy sample size was 27 participants for the training group and 17 participants for the control group. Over a 6-month period, we examined whether staff improved their well-being, psychological empowerment, and job performance measured as enhanced quality of care (self-rated and client-rated) by applying skills in EI. The results showed significant improvement among workers in the training group for EI scores, quality of care, general well-being, and psychological empowerment. There were no significant differences for the control group. Through examining the impact of EI training on staff and residents of an aged care facility, we demonstrate the benefits of EI training for higher quality of care delivery. This study demonstrates the practical process through which EI training can improve the work experiences of aged care workers, as well as the quality of care for residents.

[Treatment of herpes zoster with cotton sheet moxibustion: multicentral randomized controlled trial].

PubMed

Yang, Jun-Xiong; Xiang, Kai-Wei; Zhang, Yu-Xue

2012-05-01

To compare the therapeutic effects and safety of herpes zoster treated by the cotton sheet moxibustion combined with the plum-blossom-needle tapping therapy to western medicine. The multicentral random controlled method was adopted, 120 cases of herpes zoster were randomly divided into a comprehensive treatment group and a western medication group, 60 cases in each one. In the comprehensive treatment group, the tapping therapy of plum blossom needle was applied to the foci, corresponding Jiaji (EX-B 2), Quchi (LI 11), Waiguan (TE 5), Zusanli (ST 36), Taichong (LR 3), etc. Afterward, the cotton sheet moxibustion was given. In western medication group, Acyclovir ointment for external application, Valaciclovir Hydrochloride tablets and Vitamin B1 for oral administration were prescribed. In 7 days of treatment, the clinical symptom score, effect time, efficacy and safety were observed before and after treatment between two groups. The recurrence of disease was followed up for 1 month. In the comprehensive treatment group, the cured rate and the total effective rate were 80.0% (48/60) and 98.3% (59/60) separately, which were significantly better than 45.0% (27/60) and 71.7% (43/60) in western medication group separately (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). After treatment, in either group, the scores of clinical symptoms such as pain rating index (PRI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), present pain intensity (PPI), skin lesion and sleeping score, etc. were all reduced significantly (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The score reducing was much more obvious in the comprehensive treatment group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). In the comprehensive treatment group, the time of pain stopping, the time of blister stopping, the time of scarring and the time of healing were all shorter tha tn those in western medication group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). In the follow-up observation, 1 case (1.6%) was recurred in the comprehensive treatment group and 8 cases (13.3%) were in western medication group. In western medication group, 6 cases presented mild adverse reactions. The cotton sheet moxibustion combined with the plum-blossom-needle tapping therapy is advantageous at good efficacy, quick effect and short-time treatment for herpes zoster, which is apparently superior to the treatment with Acyclovir ointment for external application, Valaciclovir Hydrochloride tablets and Vitamin B1 for oral administration. It is the safe and effective therapy.

Methods to control for unmeasured confounding in pharmacoepidemiology: an overview.

PubMed

Uddin, Md Jamal; Groenwold, Rolf H H; Ali, Mohammed Sanni; de Boer, Anthonius; Roes, Kit C B; Chowdhury, Muhammad A B; Klungel, Olaf H

2016-06-01

Background Unmeasured confounding is one of the principal problems in pharmacoepidemiologic studies. Several methods have been proposed to detect or control for unmeasured confounding either at the study design phase or the data analysis phase. Aim of the Review To provide an overview of commonly used methods to detect or control for unmeasured confounding and to provide recommendations for proper application in pharmacoepidemiology. Methods/Results Methods to control for unmeasured confounding in the design phase of a study are case only designs (e.g., case-crossover, case-time control, self-controlled case series) and the prior event rate ratio adjustment method. Methods that can be applied in the data analysis phase include, negative control method, perturbation variable method, instrumental variable methods, sensitivity analysis, and ecological analysis. A separate group of methods are those in which additional information on confounders is collected from a substudy. The latter group includes external adjustment, propensity score calibration, two-stage sampling, and multiple imputation. Conclusion As the performance and application of the methods to handle unmeasured confounding may differ across studies and across databases, we stress the importance of using both statistical evidence and substantial clinical knowledge for interpretation of the study results.

Cluster-based control of a separating flow over a smoothly contoured ramp

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaiser, Eurika; Noack, Bernd R.; Spohn, Andreas; Cattafesta, Louis N.; Morzyński, Marek

2017-12-01

The ability to manipulate and control fluid flows is of great importance in many scientific and engineering applications. The proposed closed-loop control framework addresses a key issue of model-based control: The actuation effect often results from slow dynamics of strongly nonlinear interactions which the flow reveals at timescales much longer than the prediction horizon of any model. Hence, we employ a probabilistic approach based on a cluster-based discretization of the Liouville equation for the evolution of the probability distribution. The proposed methodology frames high-dimensional, nonlinear dynamics into low-dimensional, probabilistic, linear dynamics which considerably simplifies the optimal control problem while preserving nonlinear actuation mechanisms. The data-driven approach builds upon a state space discretization using a clustering algorithm which groups kinematically similar flow states into a low number of clusters. The temporal evolution of the probability distribution on this set of clusters is then described by a control-dependent Markov model. This Markov model can be used as predictor for the ergodic probability distribution for a particular control law. This probability distribution approximates the long-term behavior of the original system on which basis the optimal control law is determined. We examine how the approach can be used to improve the open-loop actuation in a separating flow dominated by Kelvin-Helmholtz shedding. For this purpose, the feature space, in which the model is learned, and the admissible control inputs are tailored to strongly oscillatory flows.

The influence of choice feeding and cereal type (corn or triticale) during the finishing period on performance of mule ducks.

PubMed

Arroyo, J; Fortun-Lamothe, L; Dubois, J P; Lavigne, F; Bijja, M; Molette, C

2014-09-01

The aim of this trial was to study the influence of choice feeding and cereal type (corn or triticale) during the finishing period on performance of ducks. In total, 624 one-day-old male mule ducks (Cairina moschata × Anas platyrhynchos) were divided into 3 groups differing in the diet they received between 56 and 84 d of age: a commercial complete pelleted diet (control group; AMEn 12.1 MJ/kg, CP 15%), or corn whole seeds (AMEn 14.4 MJ/kg, CP 7.3%) and protein-rich pellets (AMEn 9.9 MJ/kg, CP 22.7%) in 2 separated feeders [choice feeding with corn (CFC) group]; or triticale whole seeds (AMEn 13.0 MJ/kg, CP 10.5%) and protein-rich pellets (AMEn 11.2 MJ/kg, CP 19.5%) in 2 separated feeders [choice feeding with triticale (CFT) group]. From 85 to 96 d, 96 birds/group were overfed with corn. Feed intake (complete pellets or cereal and protein-rich pellets) per pen was measured at 60, 62, 65, 69, 78, and 84 d of age. Body weight and body traits were measured at 56 to 84 d of age. Over the entire period, from 56 to 84 d, the feed intake of the CFC group was 7% lower than the control group, and 5% lower than that in the CFT group (P = 0.002). Whatever the diet tested, at 56 and 84 d of age, the BW (4,099 and 4,779 g, P = 0.42 and P = 0.35, respectively) and the carcass traits (P > 0.05) of ducks were similar in the 3 groups. During and after overfeeding, the performances of the ducks were also similar (P > 0.05). The present results suggest that CFC during the finishing period is a solution to reduce the cost of diet destined to ducks. Indeed, using locally grown grains could reduce the economic and environmental impacts of duck feeding, reducing the transportation and crushing processes. © 2014 Poultry Science Association Inc.

Safety Assessment of Two Hybrid Instrumentation Techniques in a Dental Student Endodontic Clinic: A Retrospective Study.

PubMed

Coelho, Marcelo Santos; Card, Steven John; Tawil, Peter Zahi

2017-03-01

The aim of this study was to retrospectively assess the safety potential of a hybrid technique combining nickel-titanium (NiTi) reciprocating and rotary instruments by third- and fourth-year dental students in the predoctoral endodontics clinic at one U.S. dental school. For the study, 3,194 root canal treatments performed by 317 dental students from 2012 through 2015 were evaluated for incidence of ledge creation and instrument separation. The hybrid reciprocating and rotary technique (RRT) consisted of a glide path creation with stainless steel hand files up to size 15/02, a crown down preparation with a NiTi reciprocating instrument, and an apical preparation with NiTi rotary instruments. The control was a traditional rotary and hand technique (RHT) that consisted of the same glide path procedure followed by a crown down preparation with NiTi rotary instruments and an apical preparation with NiTi hand instruments. The results showed that the RHT technique presented a rate of ledge creation of 1.4% per root and the RRT technique was 0.5% per root (p<0.05). Three stainless steel hand files separated: two in the RHT group and one in the RRT group. There was no separation of any NiTi file in any of the techniques. The use of the reciprocating and rotary technique for root canal instrumentation by these dental students provided good safety. This hybrid technique offered a low rate of ledge creation along with no NiTi instrument separation.

A survey of the determination of the platinum group elements.

PubMed

Kallmann, S

1987-08-01

The platinum-group metals (PGMs), Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir and Pt, are widely used as catalysts in petroleum and chemical processes. They find wide applications in automotive exhaust-gas control converters and are of immense importance to the electronics industry. They are found in many items of jewellery and serve to an increasing extent as a form of investment. The PGMs are extracted in minute quantities from a limited number of ores, found mainly in S. Africa and the USSR. They are concentrated and separated from each other by elaborate chemical processes. Because of their great intrinsic value (Pt $650 per oz; Rh $1400 per oz), the recycling of the PGMs from literally hundreds of different forms of scrap is an essential factor in the overall management of the PGM economy. In this survey emphasis is placed on the need to tailor the analytical method according to (a) the environment in which the PGMs occur, (b) the individual PGM concentrations, and (c) the desired sensitivity and precision. The factors which determine the choice of chemical, physicochemical and/or instrumental approaches are discussed. They are further commented on in extensive presentations of dissolution and separation techniques and methods for the final measurement of individual PGMs. Appendices are provided which present the compositions and sources of the products most frequently encountered in PGM analysis, along with information on methods of decomposition, separations required, type of separation, and final determination.

Iminodiacetic acid functionalised organopolymer monoliths: application to the separation of metal cations by capillary high-performance chelation ion chromatography.

PubMed

Moyna, Áine; Connolly, Damian; Nesterenko, Ekaterina; Nesterenko, Pavel N; Paull, Brett

2013-03-01

Lauryl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate monoliths were polymerised within fused silica capillaries and subsequently photo-grafted with varying amounts of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA). The grafted monoliths were then further modified with iminodiacetic acid (IDA), resulting in a range of chelating ion-exchange monoliths of increasing capacity. The IDA functional groups were attached via ring opening of the epoxy group on the poly(GMA) structure. Increasing the amount of attached poly(GMA), via photo-grafting with increasing concentrations of GMA, from 15 to 35%, resulted in a proportional and controlled increase in the complexation capacity of the chelating monoliths. Scanning capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (sC(4)D) was used to characterise and verify homogenous distribution of the chelating ligand along the length of the capillaries non-invasively. Chelation ion chromatographic separations of selected transition and heavy metals were carried out, with retention factor data proportional to the concentration of grafted poly(GMA). Average peak efficiencies of close to 5,000 N/m were achieved, with the isocratic separation of Na, Mg(II), Mn(II), Co(II), Cd(II) and Zn(II) possible on a 250-mm-long monolith. Multiple monolithic columns produced to the same recipes gave RSD data for retention factors of <15% (averaged for several metal ions). The monolithic chelating ion-exchanger was applied to the separation of alkaline earth and transition metal ions spiked in natural and potable waters.

Investigation into the Effects of Boron on Liver Tissue Protein Carbonyl, MDA, and Glutathione Levels in Endotoxemia.

PubMed

Balabanlı, Barbaros; Balaban, Tuba

2015-10-01

Endotoxin has been known to cause the formation and damage of free radical. The importance of boron for human life is increasing each passing day, and its consuming fields are continuing to expand due to the advances in science and technology. Therefore, in our study, we intended to investigate into the effects of boron on liver tissue oxidative events. Eighteen male Wistar albino rats were randomly separated into three equal groups in the experiments; control group, boron + endotoxin group, and endotoxin group. Dissolved in distilled water, boric acid (100 mg/kg) was administered to boron + endotoxin group via gavage procedure for 28 days. Only distilled water was administered to control and endotoxin groups via gavage procedure for 28 days. Then 4 mg/kg endotoxin (LPS; Escherichia coli 0111:B4) was intraperitoneally (ip) administered to boron + endotoxin and endotoxin groups on the 28th day. Sterile saline was injected into control group on the 28th day (ip). Malondialdehyde (MDA), which is the end product of lipid peroxidation in liver tissues, protein carbonyl compounds (PC), which are protein oxidization markers, and glutathione (GSH) levels were measured spectrophotometrically. The results were compared with Mann-Whitney U test. When boron + endotoxin group is compared with endotoxin group, PC levels of endotoxin group showed a significant increase. When GSH levels are compared, GSH level in boron + endotoxin group decreased according to endotoxin group. Variations among all groups in MDA levels were found to be statistically insignificant. We are of the opinion that endotoxin affects the proteins by forming free radicals, and boron may also cause the structural and/or functional changes in proteins in order to protect proteins from oxidization.

Lymph node pick up by separate stations: Option or necessity.

PubMed

Morgagni, Paolo; Nanni, Oriana; Carretta, Elisa; Altini, Mattia; Saragoni, Luca; Falcini, Fabio; Garcea, Domenico

2015-05-27

To evaluate whether lymph node pick up by separate stations could be an indicator of patients submitted to appropriate surgical treatment. One thousand two hundred and three consecutive gastric cancer patients submitted to radical resection in 7 general hospitals and for whom no information was available on the extension of lymphatic dissection were included in this retrospective study. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group A, where the stomach specimen was directly formalin-fixed and sent to the pathologist, and group B, where lymph nodes were picked up after surgery and fixed for separate stations. Sixty-two point three percent of group A patients showed < 16 retrieved lymph nodes compared to 19.4% of group B (P < 0.0001). Group B (separate stations) patients had significantly higher survival rates than those in group A [46.1 mo (95%CI: 36.5-56.0) vs 27.7 mo (95%CI: 21.3-31.9); P = 0.0001], independently of T or N stage. In multivariate analysis, group A also showed a higher risk of death than group B (HR = 1.24; 95%CI: 1.05-1.46). Separate lymphatic station dissection increases the number of retrieved nodes, leads to better tumor staging, and permits verification of the surgical dissection. The number of dissected stations could potentially be used as an index to evaluate the quality of treatment received.

A HILIC-UHPLC-MS/MS untargeted urinary metabonomics combined with quantitative analysis of five polar biomarkers on osteoporosis rats after oral administration of Gushudan.

PubMed

Wu, Xiao; Huang, Yue; Sun, Jinghan; Wen, Yongqing; Qin, Feng; Zhao, Longshan; Xiong, Zhili

2018-01-01

A HILIC-UHPLC-MS/MS untargeted urinary metabonomic method combined with quantitative analysis of five potential polar biomarkers in rat urine was developed and validated, to further understand the anti-osteoporosis effect of Gushudan(GSD) and its mechanism on prednisolone-induced osteoporosis(OP) rats in this study. The metabolites were separated and identified on Waters BEH HILIC (2.1mm×100mm, 1.7μm) column using the Waters ACQUITY™ ultra performance liquid chromatography system (Waters Corporation, Milford, USA) coupled with a Micromass Quattro Micro™ API mass spectrometer (Waters Corp, Milford, MA, USA). Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to identify potential biomarkers. Primary potential polar biomarkers including creatinine, taurine, betaine, hypoxanthine and cytosine, which were related to energy metabolism, lipid metabolism and amino acid metabolism, were found in the untargeted metabonomic research. Moreover, these targeted biomarkers were further separated and quantified in multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) with positive ionization mode, using tinidazole as internal standard (I.S.). Good linearities (r>0.99) were obtained for all the analytes with the low limit of quantification from 1.00 to 12.8μg/mL. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of the intra-day and inter-day precisions were within 15.0% and the accuracy ranged from -14.3% to 13.5%. The recovery was more than 85.0%. And the validated method was successfully applied to investigate the urine samples of the control group, prednisolone-induced osteoporosis model group and Gushudan-treatment group in rats. Compared to the control group, the level of creatinine, taurine, betaine, hypoxanthine and cytosine in the model group revealed a significant decrease trend (p<0.05), while the Gushudan-treatment group showed no statistically differences by an independent sample t-test. This paper provided a better understanding of the therapeutic effect and mechanism of GSD on prednisolone-induced osteoporosis rats. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Melatonin and vitamin C exacerbate Cannabis sativa-induced testicular damage when administered separately but ameliorate it when combined in rats.

PubMed

Alagbonsi, Isiaka A; Olayaki, Luqman A; Salman, Toyin M

2016-05-01

The mechanisms involved in the spermatotoxic effect of Cannabis sativa are inconclusive. The involvement of oxidative stress in male factor infertility has been well documented, and the antioxidative potential of melatonin and vitamin C in many oxidative stress conditions has been well reported. This study sought to investigate whether melatonin and vitamin C will ameliorate C. sativa-induced spermatotoxicity or not. Fifty-five (55) male albino rats (250-300 g) were randomly divided in a blinded fashion into five oral treatment groups as follows: group I (control, n=5) received 1 mL/kg of 10% ethanol for 30 days; groups IIa, IIb, and IIc (n=5 each) received 2 mg/kg C. sativa for 20, 30, and 40 days, respectively; groups IIIa, IIIb, and IIIc (n=5 each) received a combination of 2 mg/kg C. sativa and 4 mg/kg melatonin for 20, 30, and 40 days, respectively; groups IVa, IVb, and IVc (n=5 each) received a combination of 2 mg/kg C. sativa and 1.25 g/kg vitamin C for 20, 30, and 40 days, respectively; group V (n=5) received a combination of 2 mg/kg C. sativa, 4 mg/kg melatonin, and 1.25 g/kg vitamin C for 30 days. Cannabis treatments reduced the Johnsen score, sperm count, motility, morphology, paired testicular/body weight ratio, and total antioxidant capacity, but increased lactate dehydrogenase activity. In addition, supplementation of cannabis-treated rats with either melatonin or vitamin C exacerbates the effect of cannabis on those parameters, whereas combination of melatonin and vitamin C reversed the trend to the level comparable to control. This study further showed the gonadotoxic effect of C. sativa, which could be mediated by oxidative stress. It also showed that melatonin and vitamin C exacerbate C. sativa-induced testicular damage when administered separately but ameliorate it when combined in rats.

Clinical correlates to assist with chronic traumatic encephalopathy diagnosis: Insights from a novel rodent repeat concussion model.

PubMed

Thomsen, Gretchen M; Ko, Ara; Harada, Megan Y; Ma, Annie; Wyss, Livia; Haro, Patricia; Vit, Jean-Philippe; Avalos, Pablo; Dhillon, Navpreet K; Cho, Noell; Shelest, Oksana; Ley, Eric J

2017-06-01

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disease linked to repetitive head injuries. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy symptoms include changes in mood, behavior, cognition, and motor function; however, CTE is currently diagnosed only postmortem. Using a rat model of recurrent traumatic brain injury (TBI), we demonstrate rodent deficits that predict the severity of CTE-like brain pathology. Bilateral, closed-skull, mild TBI was administered once per week to 35 wild-type rats; eight rats received two injuries (2×TBI), 27 rats received five injuries (5×TBI), and 13 rats were sham controls. To determine clinical correlates for CTE diagnosis, TBI rats were separated based on the severity of rotarod deficits and classified as "mild" or "severe" and further separated into "acute," "short," and "long" based on age at euthanasia (90, 144, and 235 days, respectively). Brain atrophy, phosphorylated tau, and inflammation were assessed. All eight 2×TBI cases had mild rotarod deficiency, 11 5×TBI cases had mild deficiency, and 16 cases had severe deficiency. In one cohort of rats, tested at approximately 235 days of age, balance, rearing, and grip strength were significantly worse in the severe group relative to both sham and mild groups. At the acute time period, cortical thinning, phosphorylated tau, and inflammation were not observed in either TBI group, whereas corpus callosum thinning was observed in both TBI groups. At later time points, atrophy, tau pathology, and inflammation were increased in mild and severe TBI groups in the cortex and corpus callosum, relative to sham controls. These injury effects were exacerbated over time in the severe TBI group in the corpus callosum. Our model of repeat mild TBI suggests that permanent deficits in specific motor function tests correlate with CTE-like brain pathology. Assessing balance and motor coordination over time may predict CTE diagnosis.

[Efficacy on hemiplegic spasticity treated with plum blossom needle tapping therapy at the key points and Bobath therapy: a randomized controlled trial].

PubMed

Wang, Fei; Zhang, Lijuan; Wang, Jianhua; Shi, Yan; Zheng, Liya

2015-08-01

To evaluate the efficacy on hemiplegic spasticity after cerebral infarction treated with plum blossom needle tapping therapy at the key points and Bobath therapy. Eighty patients were collected, in compliance with the inclusive criteria of hemiplegic spasticity after cerebral infarction, and randomized into an observation group and a control group, 40 cases in each one. In the control group, Bobath manipulation therapy was adopted to relieve spasticity and the treatment of 8 weeks was required. In the observation group, on the basis of the treatment as the control group, the tapping therapy with plum blossom needle was applied to the key points, named Jianyu (LI 15), Jianliao (LI 14), Jianzhen (SI 9), Hegu (LI 4), Chengfu (BL 36), Zusanli (ST 36), Xiyangguan (GB 33), etc. The treatment was given for 15 min each time, once a day. Before treatment, after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) and Barthel index (BI) were adopted to evaluate the motor function of the extremity and the activity of daily life in the patients of the two groups separately. The modified Ashworth scale was used to evaluate the effect of anti-spasticity. In 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, FMA: scores and BI scores were all significantly increased as compared with those before treatment in the two groups: (both P<0. 05). The results in 8 weeks of treatment in the observation group were significantly better than those in the control group (all P<0. 05). In 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, the scores of spasticity state were improved as compared with those before treatment in the patients of the two groups (all P<0. 05). The result in 8 weeks of treatment in the observation group was significantly better than that in the control group (P<0. 05). In 8 weeks of treatment, the total effective rate of anti-spasticity was 90. 0% (36/40) in the observation group, better than 75. 0% (30/40) in the control group (P<0. 05). The tapping therapy with plum blossom needle at the key points combined with Bobath therapy effectively relieves hemiplegic spasticity in the patients of cerebral infarction and improves the motor function of extremity and the activity of daily life.

[Cytotoxicity of the secondary metabolites of Marine Mangrove Fungus Paecilomyces sp. tree 1-7 on human hepatoma cell line HepG2].

PubMed

Cai, Xiao-Ling; Gao, Jun-Ping; Li, Qing; Wen, Lu; She, Zhi-Gang; Lin, Yong-Cheng

2008-06-01

To study the cytotoxicity of the secondary metabolites of Marine Mangrove Fungus Paecilomyces sp. Tree 1-7 on human hepatoma cell line HepG2 cultured in vitro. Three groups were divided: compounds group, 5-Fu group and control group. The cytotoxicity was measured by MTT method when HepG2 cells were treated by different concentration of the secondary metabolites of Paecilomyces sp. Tree 1-7. Secalonic acid A, tenellic acid A and alternin inhibited the growth of human hepatoma cell line HepG2, the IC50 separately were 2.0, 62.1 and 7.0 microg/ml. Secalonic acid A and alternin have strong cytotoxicity on HepG2 cultured in vitro.

Treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder in postwar Kosovo high school students using mind-body skills groups: a pilot study.

PubMed

Gordon, James S; Staples, Julie K; Blyta, Afrim; Bytyqi, Murat

2004-04-01

This preliminary study examined whether the practice of mind-body techniques decreases symptoms of posttraumatic stress in adolescents. Posttraumatic Stress Reaction Index questionnaires were collected from 139 high school students in Kosovo who participated in a 6-week program that included meditation, biofeedback, drawings, autogenic training, guided imagery, genograms, movement, and breathing techniques. Three separate programs were held approximately 2 months apart. There was no control group. Posttraumatic stress scores significantly decreased after participation in the programs. These scores remained decreased in the 2 groups that participated in the follow-up study when compared to pretest measures. These data indicate that mind-body skills groups were effective in reducing posttraumatic stress symptoms in war-traumatized high school students.

Active-Adaptive Control of Inlet Separation Using Supersonic Microjets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Alvi, Farrukh S.

2007-01-01

Flow separation in internal and external flows generally results in a significant degradation in aircraft performance. For internal flows, such as inlets and transmission ducts in aircraft propulsion systems, separation is undesirable as it reduces the overall system performance. The aim of this research has been to understand the nature of separation and more importantly, to explore techniques to actively control it. In this research, we extended our investigation of active separation control (under a previous NASA grant) where we explored the use of microjets for the control of boundary layer separation. The geometry used for the initial study was a simple diverging Stratford ramp, equipped with arrays of microjets. These early results clearly show that the activation of microjets eliminated flow separation. Furthermore, the velocity-field measurements, using PIV, also demonstrate that the gain in momentum due to the elimination of separation is at least an order of magnitude larger (two orders of magnitude larger in most cases) than the momentum injected by the microjets and is accomplished with very little mass flow through the microjets. Based on our initial promising results this research was continued under the present grant, using a more flexible model. This model allows for the magnitude and extent of separation as well as the microjet parameters to be independently varied. The results, using this model were even more encouraging and demonstrated that microjet control completely eliminated significant regions of flow separation over a wide range of conditions with almost negligible mass flow. Detailed studies of the flowfield and its response to microjets were further examined using 3-component PIV and unsteady pressure measurements, among others. As the results presented this report will show, microjets were successfully used to control the separation of a much larger extent and magnitude than demonstrated in our earlier experiments. In fact, using the appropriate combination of control parameters (microjet, location, angle and pressure) separation was completely eliminated for the largest separated flowfield we could generate with the present model. Separation control also resulted in a significant reduction in the unsteady pressures in the flow where the unsteady pressure field was found to be directly responsive to the state of the flow above the surface. Hence, our study indicates that the unsteady pressure signature is a strong candidate for a flow state sensor , which can be used to estimate the location, magnitude and other properties of the separated flowfield. Once better understood and properly utilized, this behavior can be of significant practical importance for developing and implementing online control.

Tailored functionalization of iron oxide nanoparticles for MRI, drug delivery, magnetic separation and immobilization of biosubstances.

PubMed

Hola, Katerina; Markova, Zdenka; Zoppellaro, Giorgio; Tucek, Jiri; Zboril, Radek

2015-11-01

In this critical review, we outline various covalent and non-covalent approaches for the functionalization of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs). Tuning the surface chemistry and design of magnetic nanoparticles are described in relation to their applicability in advanced medical technologies and biotechnologies including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents, targeted drug delivery, magnetic separations and immobilizations of proteins, enzymes, antibodies, targeting agents and other biosubstances. We review synthetic strategies for the controlled preparation of IONPs modified with frequently used functional groups including amine, carboxyl and hydroxyl groups as well as the preparation of IONPs functionalized with other species, e.g., epoxy, thiol, alkane, azide, and alkyne groups. Three main coupling strategies for linking IONPs with active agents are presented: (i) chemical modification of amine groups on the surface of IONPs, (ii) chemical modification of bioactive substances (e.g. with fluorescent dyes), and (iii) the activation of carboxyl groups mainly for enzyme immobilization. Applications for drug delivery using click chemistry linking or biodegradable bonds are compared to non-covalent methods based on polymer modified condensed magnetic nanoclusters. Among many challenges, we highlight the specific surface engineering allowing both therapeutic and diagnostic applications (theranostics) of IONPs and magnetic/metallic hybrid nanostructures possessing a huge potential in biocatalysis, green chemistry, magnetic bioseparations and bioimaging. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The relationship between stigma sentiments and self-identity of individuals with schizophrenia.

PubMed

Aakre, Jennifer M; Klingaman, Elizabeth A; Docherty, Nancy M

2015-06-01

Stigma sentiments are the attitudes held toward a culturally devalued label or group. The present study measures schizophrenia stigma sentiments and self-identity to assess self-stigma experienced by people with schizophrenia. Ninety individuals with schizophrenia and 23 controls with no history of psychosis rated the evaluation, potency, and activity of "A person with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder," (stigma sentiments) and of "Myself as I really am" (self-identity). t tests, correlations, and regression analysis were used to (a) test relationships among stigma sentiments and self-identity in the groups separately; (b) test a model for predicting self-identity in the schizophrenia group, using stigma sentiments, current symptoms, and current functioning; and (c) compare the participant groups' stigma sentiments and self-identities. The evaluation category of self-identity and of stigma sentiment were correlated in the schizophrenia group, r(88) = .44, p < .001, but not in the control group. Current symptoms and the evaluation category of stigma sentiments were significant predictors of the evaluation category of self-identity in the schizophrenia group. The evaluation and potency stigma sentiments reported by the 2 groups did not differ; the control group rated itself more favorably on evaluation and potency than did the schizophrenia group. Self-evaluation of individuals with schizophrenia was less favorable than self-evaluation of individuals with no psychosis history, and evaluation attitudes held by individuals with schizophrenia regarding the schizophrenia label were associated with their self-identity. Results suggest preliminary utility of this simple measure in identifying self-stigma experienced by individuals with schizophrenia. (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

Hierarchically partitioned nonlinear equation solvers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Padovan, Joseph

1987-01-01

By partitioning solution space into a number of subspaces, a new multiply constrained partitioned Newton-Raphson nonlinear equation solver is developed. Specifically, for a given iteration, each of the various separate partitions are individually and simultaneously controlled. Due to the generality of the scheme, a hierarchy of partition levels can be employed. For finite-element-type applications, this includes the possibility of degree-of-freedom, nodal, elemental, geometric substructural, material and kinematically nonlinear group controls. It is noted that such partitioning can be continuously updated, depending on solution conditioning. In this context, convergence is ascertained at the individual partition level.

Market diffusion and the effect of demonstrations: A study of Denver metro passive solar home program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lilien, G. L.

1981-10-01

The reactions to and effects of the Denver metro passive solar home demonstration program, conducted in the spring of 1981 are reported. The program provides impetus to builders for incorporating passive solar designs in spec built homes and demonstrates those designs to prospective buyers to increase buyer receptivity. A pre-post exposure analysis of the effect of the program is reported and four separate groups of prospective new home buyers are studied. The first group heard publicity about and voluntarily visited a demonstration home. The second group saw the home, but was recruited to come to the side. The third group, also in Denver, did not see the site, but answered the same set of questions after receiving a description of and pictures of passive solar homes. The fourth group was a control group, similar to the third, but located in Kansas City.

Randomized controlled trial of skin-to-skin contact from birth versus conventional incubator for physiological stabilization in 1200- to 2199-gram newborns.

PubMed

Bergman, N J; Linley, L L; Fawcus, S R

2004-06-01

Conventional care of prematurely born infants involves extended maternal-infant separation and incubator care. Recent research has shown that separation causes adverse effects. Maternal-infant skin-to-skin contact (SSC) provides an alternative habitat to the incubator, with proven benefits for stable prematures; this has not been established for unstable or newborn low-birthweight infants. SSC from birth was therefore compared to incubator care for infants between 1200 and 2199 g at birth. This was a prospective, unblinded, randomized controlled clinical trial; potential subjects were identified before delivery and randomized by computerized minimization technique at 5 min if eligible. Standardized care and observations were maintained for 6 h. Stability was measured in terms of a set of pre-determined physiological parameters, and a composite cardio-respiratory stabilization score (SCRIP). 34 infants were analysed in comparable groups: 3/18 SSC compared to 12/13 incubator babies exceeded the pre-determined parameters (p < 0.001). Stabilization scores were 77.11 for SSC versus 74.23 for incubator (maximum 78), mean difference 2.88 (95% CI: 0.3-5.46, p = 0.031). All 18 SSC subjects were stable in the sixth hour, compared to 6/13 incubator infants. Eight out of 13 incubator subjects experienced hypothermia. Newborn care provided by skin-to-skin contact on the mother's chest results in better physiological outcomes and stability than the same care provided in closed servo-controlled incubators. The cardio-respiratory instability seen in separated infants in the first 6 h is consistent with mammalian "protest-despair" biology, and with "hyper-arousal and dissociation" response patterns described in human infants: newborns should not be separated from their mothers.

Simultaneous Multiple-Location Separation Control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Greenblatt, David (Inventor)

2009-01-01

A method of controlling a shear layer for a fluid dynamic body introduces first periodic disturbances into the fluid medium at a first flow separation location. Simultaneously, second periodic disturbances are introduced into the fluid medium at a second flow separation location. A phase difference between the first and second periodic disturbances is adjusted to control flow separation of the shear layer as the fluid medium moves over the fluid dynamic body.

Distal renal tubular dysfunction: a common feature in calcium stone formers.

PubMed

Megevand, M; Favre, H

1984-12-01

Distal renal tubular acidosis has been reported as an uncommon cause of urinary calcium stone disease. However, this defect appears to be more frequent when appropriate tests are performed systematically. Twenty-nine patients with recurrent calcium stones have been separated into three groups: normocalciuric (group A), renal hypercalciuric (group B) and absorptive hypercalciuric (group C). Distal tubular functions were investigated by the (urine-blood) pCO2 gradient and by an ammonium chloride test. (Urine-blood) pCO2 gradient was (mean +/- SEM), 3.33 +/- 0.59 in group A, 2.95 +/- 0.34 in group B and 3.31 +/- 0.58 kPa in group C. All these values differ significantly from those observed in controls (4.11 +/- 0.28 kPa; P less than 0.05). After 3 days of ammonium chloride loading, ammonium excretion averaged 54.7 +/- 4.2 in group A, 54.4 +/- 4.3 in group B and 64.3 +/- 5.5 mumol min-1 in group C. Values obtained in the first two groups were significantly lower than that achieved by control subjects (76.4 +/- 14.9 mumol min-1). It is concluded that tubular dysfunctions defined as impairments in hydrogen ion secretion and ammonium excretion after an acid challenge are a common feature of the urinary calcium stone disease and play a contributory role in its pathogenesis.

A Novel Approach to Adaptive Flow Separation Control

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-09-03

particular, it considers control of flow separation over a NACA-0025 airfoil using microjet actuators and develops Adaptive Sampling Based Model...Predictive Control ( Adaptive SBMPC), a novel approach to Nonlinear Model Predictive Control that applies the Minimal Resource Allocation Network...Distribution Unlimited UU UU UU UU 03-09-2016 1-May-2013 30-Apr-2016 Final Report: A Novel Approach to Adaptive Flow Separation Control The views, opinions

Proteomic analysis of serum and sputum analytes distinguishes controlled and poorly controlled asthmatics.

PubMed

Kasaian, M T; Lee, J; Brennan, A; Danto, S I; Black, K E; Fitz, L; Dixon, A E

2018-04-17

A major goal of asthma therapy is to achieve disease control, with maintenance of lung function, reduced need for rescue medication, and prevention of exacerbation. Despite current standard of care, up to 70% of patients with asthma remain poorly controlled. Analysis of serum and sputum biomarkers could offer insights into parameters associated with poor asthma control. To identify signatures as determinants of asthma disease control, we performed proteomics using Olink proximity extension analysis. Up to 3 longitudinal serum samples were collected from 23 controlled and 25 poorly controlled asthmatics. Nine of the controlled and 8 of the poorly controlled subjects also provided 2 longitudinal sputum samples. The study included an additional cohort of 9 subjects whose serum was collected within 48 hours of asthma exacerbation. Two separate pre-defined Proseek Multiplex panels (INF and CVDIII) were run to quantify 181 separate protein analytes in serum and sputum. Panels consisting of 9 markers in serum (CCL19, CCL25, CDCP1, CCL11, FGF21, FGF23, Flt3L, IL-10Rβ, IL-6) and 16 markers in sputum (tPA, KLK6, RETN, ADA, MMP9, Chit1, GRN, PGLYRP1, MPO, HGF, PRTN3, DNER, PI3, Chi3L1, AZU1, and OPG) distinguished controlled and poorly controlled asthmatics. The sputum analytes were consistent with a pattern of neutrophil activation associated with poor asthma control. The serum analyte profile of the exacerbation cohort resembled that of the controlled group rather than that of the poorly controlled asthmatics, possibly reflecting a therapeutic response to systemic corticosteroids. Proteomic profiles in serum and sputum distinguished controlled and poorly controlled asthmatics, and were maintained over time. Findings support a link between sputum neutrophil markers and loss of asthma control. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Highly Stable, Functional Hairy Nanoparticles and Biopolymers from Wood Fibers: Towards Sustainable Nanotechnology.

PubMed

Sheikhi, Amir; Yang, Han; Alam, Md Nur; van de Ven, Theo G M

2016-07-20

Nanoparticles, as one of the key materials in nanotechnology and nanomedicine, have gained significant importance during the past decade. While metal-based nanoparticles are associated with synthetic and environmental hassles, cellulose introduces a green, sustainable alternative for nanoparticle synthesis. Here, we present the chemical synthesis and separation procedures to produce new classes of hairy nanoparticles (bearing both amorphous and crystalline regions) and biopolymers based on wood fibers. Through periodate oxidation of soft wood pulp, the glucose ring of cellulose is opened at the C2-C3 bond to form 2,3-dialdehyde groups. Further heating of the partially oxidized fibers (e.g., T = 80 °C) results in three products, namely fibrous oxidized cellulose, sterically stabilized nanocrystalline cellulose (SNCC), and dissolved dialdehyde modified cellulose (DAMC), which are well separated by intermittent centrifugation and co-solvent addition. The partially oxidized fibers (without heating) were used as a highly reactive intermediate to react with chlorite for converting almost all aldehyde to carboxyl groups. Co-solvent precipitation and centrifugation resulted in electrosterically stabilized nanocrystalline cellulose (ENCC) and dicarboxylated cellulose (DCC). The aldehyde content of SNCC and consequently surface charge of ENCC (carboxyl content) were precisely controlled by controlling the periodate oxidation reaction time, resulting in highly stable nanoparticles bearing more than 7 mmol functional groups per gram of nanoparticles (e.g., as compared to conventional NCC bearing < 1 mmol functional group/g). Atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) attested to the rod-like morphology. Conductometric titration, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), electrokinetic-sonic-amplitude (ESA) and acoustic attenuation spectroscopy shed light on the superior properties of these nanomaterials.

Detecting peanuts inoculated with toxigenic and atoxienic Aspergillus flavus strains with fluorescence hyperspectral imagery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xing, Fuguo; Yao, Haibo; Hruska, Zuzana; Kincaid, Russell; Zhu, Fengle; Brown, Robert L.; Bhatnagar, Deepak; Liu, Yang

2017-05-01

Aflatoxin contamination in peanut products has been an important and long-standing problem around the world. Produced mainly by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, aflatoxins are the most toxic and carcinogenic compounds among toxins. This study investigated the application of fluorescence visible near-infrared (VNIR) hyperspectral images to assess the spectral difference between peanut kernels inoculated with toxigenic and atoxigenic inocula of A. flavus and healthy kernels. Peanut kernels were inoculated with NRRL3357, a toxigenic strain of A. flavus, and AF36, an atoxigenic strain of A. flavus, respectively. Fluorescence hyperspectral images under ultraviolet (UV) excitation were recorded on peanut kernels with and without skin. Contaminated kernels exhibited different fluorescence features compared with healthy kernels. For the kernels without skin, the inoculated kernels had a fluorescence peaks shifted to longer wavelengths with lower intensity than healthy kernels. In addition, the fluorescence intensity of peanuts without skin was higher than that of peanuts with skin (10 times). The fluorescence spectra of kernels with skin are significantly different from that of the control group (p<0.001). Furthermore, the fluorescence intensity of the toxigenic, AF3357 peanuts with skin was lower than that of the atoxigenic AF36 group. Discriminate analysis showed that the inoculation group can be separated from the controls with 100% accuracy. However, the two inoculation groups (AF3357 vis AF36) can be separated with only ∼80% accuracy. This study demonstrated the potential of fluorescence hyperspectral imaging techniques for screening of peanut kernels contaminated with A. flavus, which could potentially lead to the production of rapid and non-destructive scanning-based detection technology for the peanut industry.

Weak cation magnetic separation technology and MALDI-TOF-MS in screening serum protein markers in primary type I osteoporosis.

PubMed

Shi, X L; Li, C W; Liang, B C; He, K H; Li, X Y

2015-11-30

We investigated weak cation magnetic separation technology and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) in screening serum protein markers of primary type I osteoporosis. We selected 16 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and nine postmenopausal women as controls to find a new method for screening biomarkers and establishing a diagnostic model for primary type I osteoporosis. Serum samples were obtained from controls and patients. Serum protein was extracted with the WCX protein chip system; protein fingerprints were examined using MALDI-TOF-MS. The preprocessed and model construction data were handled by the ProteinChip system. The diagnostic models were established using a genetic arithmetic model combined with a support vector machine (SVM). The SVM model with the highest Youden index was selected. Combinations with the highest accuracy in distinguishing different groups of data were selected as potential biomarkers. From the two groups of serum proteins, 123 cumulative MS protein peaks were selected. Significant intensity differences in the protein peaks of 16 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis were screened. The difference in Youden index between the four groups of protein peaks showed that the highest peaks had mass-to-charge ratios of 8909.047, 8690.658, 13745.48, and 15114.52. A diagnosis model was established with these four markers as the candidates, and the model specificity and sensitivity were found to be 100%. Two groups of specimens in the SVM results on the scatterplot were distinguishable. We established a diagnosis model, and provided a new serological method for screening and diagnosis of osteoporosis with high sensitivity and specificity.

Lung Sounds in Children before and after Respiratory Physical Therapy for Right Middle Lobe Atelectasis

PubMed Central

Adachi, Satoshi; Nakano, Hiroshi; Odajima, Hiroshi; Motomura, Chikako; Yoshioka, Yukiko

2016-01-01

Background Chest auscultation is commonly performed during respiratory physical therapy (RPT). However, the changes in breath sounds in children with atelectasis have not been previously reported. The aim of this study was to clarify the characteristics of breath sounds in children with atelectasis using acoustic measurements. Method The subjects of this study were 13 children with right middle lobe atelectasis (3–7 years) and 14 healthy children (3–7 years). Lung sounds at the bilateral fifth intercostal spaces on the midclavicular line were recorded. The right-to-left ratio (R/L ratio) and the expiration to inspiration ratio (E/I ratio) of the breath sound sound pressure were calculated separately for three octave bands (100–200 Hz, 200–400 Hz, and 400–800 Hz). These data were then compared between the atelectasis and control groups. In addition, the same measurements were repeated after treatment, including RPT, in the atelectasis group. Result Before treatment, the inspiratory R/L ratios for all the frequency bands were significantly lower in the atelectasis group than in the control group, and the E/I ratios for all the frequency bands were significantly higher in the atelectasis group than in the control group. After treatment, the inspiratory R/L ratios of the atelectasis group did not increase significantly, but the E/I ratios decreased for all the frequency bands and became similar to those of the control group. Conclusion Breath sound attenuation in the atelectatic area remained unchanged even after radiographical resolution, suggesting a continued decrease in local ventilation. On the other hand, the elevated E/I ratio for the atelectatic area was normalized after treatment. Therefore, the differences between inspiratory and expiration sound intensities may be an important marker of atelectatic improvement in children. PMID:27611433

Lung Sounds in Children before and after Respiratory Physical Therapy for Right Middle Lobe Atelectasis.

PubMed

Adachi, Satoshi; Nakano, Hiroshi; Odajima, Hiroshi; Motomura, Chikako; Yoshioka, Yukiko

2016-01-01

Chest auscultation is commonly performed during respiratory physical therapy (RPT). However, the changes in breath sounds in children with atelectasis have not been previously reported. The aim of this study was to clarify the characteristics of breath sounds in children with atelectasis using acoustic measurements. The subjects of this study were 13 children with right middle lobe atelectasis (3-7 years) and 14 healthy children (3-7 years). Lung sounds at the bilateral fifth intercostal spaces on the midclavicular line were recorded. The right-to-left ratio (R/L ratio) and the expiration to inspiration ratio (E/I ratio) of the breath sound sound pressure were calculated separately for three octave bands (100-200 Hz, 200-400 Hz, and 400-800 Hz). These data were then compared between the atelectasis and control groups. In addition, the same measurements were repeated after treatment, including RPT, in the atelectasis group. Before treatment, the inspiratory R/L ratios for all the frequency bands were significantly lower in the atelectasis group than in the control group, and the E/I ratios for all the frequency bands were significantly higher in the atelectasis group than in the control group. After treatment, the inspiratory R/L ratios of the atelectasis group did not increase significantly, but the E/I ratios decreased for all the frequency bands and became similar to those of the control group. Breath sound attenuation in the atelectatic area remained unchanged even after radiographical resolution, suggesting a continued decrease in local ventilation. On the other hand, the elevated E/I ratio for the atelectatic area was normalized after treatment. Therefore, the differences between inspiratory and expiration sound intensities may be an important marker of atelectatic improvement in children.

Retina nerve fiber layer and choroidal thickness changes in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

PubMed

Ozge, Gokhan; Dogan, Deniz; Koylu, Mehmet Talay; Ayyildiz, Onder; Akincioglu, Dorukcan; Mumcuoglu, Tarkan; Mutlu, Fatih Mehmet

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) on the submacular and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and choroidal thickness (ChT). Eighty-four eyes of 42 male patients with OSAS and 112 eyes of 56 aged-matched and body mass index-matched healthy male subjects were enrolled in this case-control study. The ChT and peripapillary RNFL thickness was measured using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography. The ChT and RNFL thickness measurements of the groups were compared, and correlations among the Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI) values and these measurements were calculated. Right and left eyes were separately evaluated. There were no significant differences in the subfoveal and temporal ChT between the groups (p > 0.05). The OSAS group had significantly thicker ChT at 0.5 and 1.5 mm nasal to the fovea in both eyes than the control group (p < 0.05). The peripapillary ChT were significantly thicker in the OSAS group at all segments except for the temporal and superotemporal segments when compared with the control group (p < 0.05 for all quadrants except temporal and superotemporal). When compared with controls, the OSAS group had significantly thinner nasal RNFL thickness in the right eye (p = 0.01) and thinner mean RNFL thickness in both eyes (p < 0.001). Other RNFL thickness measurements were similar between groups (p > 0.05). Between AHI and mean RNFL thickness showed a median negative correlation (r = - 0.411, p = 0.001). The choroidal thickening in patients with OSAS may be associated with the pathophysiology of the neurodegeneration process of the disease.

Blinded randomized controlled study of a web-based otoscopy simulator in undergraduate medical education.

PubMed

Stepniak, Camilla; Wickens, Brandon; Husein, Murad; Paradis, Josee; Ladak, Hanif M; Fung, Kevin; Agrawal, Sumit K

2017-06-01

OtoTrain is a Web-based otoscopy simulator that has previously been shown to have face and content validity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of this Web-based otoscopy simulator in teaching diagnostic otoscopy to novice learners STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, blinded randomized control trial. Second-year medical students were invited to participate in the study. A pretest consisted of a series of otoscopy videos followed by an open-answer format assessment pertaining to the characteristics and diagnosis of each video. Participants were then randomly divided into a control group and a simulator group. Following the pretest, both groups attended standard otology lectures, but the simulator group was additionally given unlimited access to OtoTrain for 1 week. A post-test was completed using a separate set of otoscopy videos. Tests were graded based on a comprehensive marking scheme. The pretest and post-test were anonymized, and the three evaluators were blinded to student allotment. A total of 41 medical students were enrolled in the study and randomized to the control group (n = 20) and the simulator group (n = 21). There was no significant difference between the two groups on their pretest scores. With the standard otology lectures, the control group had a 31% improvement in their post-test score (mean ± standard error of the mean, 30.4 ± 1.5) compared with their pretest score (23.3 ± 1.8) (P < .001). The simulator group had the addition of OtoTrain to the otology lectures, and their score improved by 71% on their post-test (37.8 ± 1.6) compared to their pretest (22.1 ± 1.9) (P < .001). Comparing the post-test results, the simulator group had a 24% higher score than the control group (P < .002). Inter-rater reliability between the blinded evaluators was excellent (r = 0.953, P < .001). The use of OtoTrain increased the diagnostic otoscopic performance in novice learners. OtoTrain may be an effective teaching adjunct for undergraduate medical students. 1b. Laryngoscope, 127:1306-1311, 2017. © 2016 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

Contrasting brain patterns of writing-related DTI parameters, fMRI connectivity, and DTI-fMRI connectivity correlations in children with and without dysgraphia or dyslexia.

PubMed

Richards, T L; Grabowski, T J; Boord, P; Yagle, K; Askren, M; Mestre, Z; Robinson, P; Welker, O; Gulliford, D; Nagy, W; Berninger, V

2015-01-01

Based on comprehensive testing and educational history, children in grades 4-9 (on average 12 years) were diagnosed with dysgraphia (persisting handwriting impairment) or dyslexia (persisting word spelling/reading impairment) or as typical writers and readers (controls). The dysgraphia group (n = 14) and dyslexia group (n = 17) were each compared to the control group (n = 9) and to each other in separate analyses. Four brain region seed points (left occipital temporal gyrus, supramarginal gyrus, precuneus, and inferior frontal gyrus) were used in these analyses which were shown in a metaanalysis to be related to written word production on four indicators of white matter integrity and fMRI functional connectivity for four tasks (self-guided mind wandering during resting state, writing letter that follows a visually displayed letter in alphabet, writing missing letter to create a correctly spelled real word, and planning for composing after scanning on topic specified by researcher). For those DTI indicators on which the dysgraphic group or dyslexic group differed from the control group (fractional anisotropy, relative anisotropy, axial diffusivity but not radial diffusivity), correlations were computed between the DTI parameter and fMRI functional connectivity for the two writing tasks (alphabet and spelling) by seed points. Analyses, controlled for multiple comparisons, showed that (a) the control group exhibited more white matter integrity than either the dysgraphic or dyslexic group; (b) the dysgraphic and dyslexic groups showed more functional connectivity than the control group but differed in patterns of functional connectivity for task and seed point; and (c) the dysgraphic and dyslexic groups showed different patterns of significant DTI-fMRI connectivity correlations for specific seed points and written language tasks. Thus, dysgraphia and dyslexia differ in white matter integrity, fMRI functional connectivity, and white matter-gray matter correlations. Of clinical relevance, brain differences were observed in dysgraphia and dyslexia on written language tasks yoked to their defining behavioral impairments in handwriting and/or in word spelling and on the cognitive mind wandering rest condition and composition planning.