Overall accessibility to traveling by rail for the elderly with and without functional limitations: the whole-trip perspective.

PubMed

Sundling, Catherine; Berglund, Birgitta; Nilsson, Mats E; Emardson, Ragne; Pendrill, Leslie R

2014-12-01

Elderly persons' perceived accessibility to railway traveling depends on their functional limitations/diseases, their functional abilities and their travel behaviors in interaction with the barriers encountered during whole trips. A survey was conducted on a random sample of 1000 city residents (65-85 years old; 57% response rate). The travels were perceived least accessible by respondents with severely reduced functional ability and by those with more than one functional limitation/disease (e.g., restricted mobility and chronic pain). Those who traveled "often", perceived the accessibility to be better than those who traveled less frequently. For travelers with high functional ability, the main barriers to more frequent traveling were travel costs and low punctuality. For those with low functional ability, one's own health was reported to be the main barrier. Our results clarify the links among existing functional limitations/functional abilities, the barriers encountered, the travel behavior, and the overall accessibility to traveling. By operationalizing the whole-trip concept as a chain of events, we deliver practical knowledge on vulnerable groups for decision-making to improve the transport environment for all.

Band-limited Green's Functions for Quantitative Evaluation of Acoustic Emission Using the Finite Element Method

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leser, William P.; Yuan, Fuh-Gwo; Leser, William P.

2013-01-01

A method of numerically estimating dynamic Green's functions using the finite element method is proposed. These Green's functions are accurate in a limited frequency range dependent on the mesh size used to generate them. This range can often match or exceed the frequency sensitivity of the traditional acoustic emission sensors. An algorithm is also developed to characterize an acoustic emission source by obtaining information about its strength and temporal dependence. This information can then be used to reproduce the source in a finite element model for further analysis. Numerical examples are presented that demonstrate the ability of the band-limited Green's functions approach to determine the moment tensor coefficients of several reference signals to within seven percent, as well as accurately reproduce the source-time function.

Identifying Specific Combinations of Multimorbidity that Contribute to Health Care Resource Utilization: An Analytic Approach.

PubMed

Schiltz, Nicholas K; Warner, David F; Sun, Jiayang; Bakaki, Paul M; Dor, Avi; Given, Charles W; Stange, Kurt C; Koroukian, Siran M

2017-03-01

Multimorbidity affects the majority of elderly adults and is associated with higher health costs and utilization, but how specific patterns of morbidity influence resource use is less understood. The objective was to identify specific combinations of chronic conditions, functional limitations, and geriatric syndromes associated with direct medical costs and inpatient utilization. Retrospective cohort study using the Health and Retirement Study (2008-2010) linked to Medicare claims. Analysis used machine-learning techniques: classification and regression trees and random forest. A population-based sample of 5771 Medicare-enrolled adults aged 65 and older in the United States. Main covariates: self-reported chronic conditions (measured as none, mild, or severe), geriatric syndromes, and functional limitations. Secondary covariates: demographic, social, economic, behavioral, and health status measures. Medicare expenditures in the top quartile and inpatient utilization. Median annual expenditures were $4354, and 41% were hospitalized within 2 years. The tree model shows some notable combinations: 64% of those with self-rated poor health plus activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living disabilities had expenditures in the top quartile. Inpatient utilization was highest (70%) in those aged 77-83 with mild to severe heart disease plus mild to severe diabetes. Functional limitations were more important than many chronic diseases in explaining resource use. The multimorbid population is heterogeneous and there is considerable variation in how specific combinations of morbidity influence resource use. Modeling the conjoint effects of chronic conditions, functional limitations, and geriatric syndromes can advance understanding of groups at greatest risk and inform targeted tailored interventions aimed at cost containment.

Measuring Disability in Population Based Surveys: The Interrelationship between Clinical Impairments and Reported Functional Limitations in Cameroon and India

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Purpose To investigate the relationship between two distinct measures of disability: self-reported functional limitations and objectively-screened clinical impairments. Methods We undertook an all age population-based survey of disability in two areas: North-West Cameroon (August/October 2013) and Telangana State, India (Feb/April 2014). Participants were selected for inclusion via two-stage cluster randomised sampling (probability proportionate to size cluster selection and compact segment sampling within clusters). Disability was defined as the presence of self-reported functional limitations across eight domains, or presence of moderate or greater clinical impairments. Clinical impairment screening comprised of visual acuity testing for vision impairment, pure tone audiometry for hearing impairment, musculoskeletal functioning assessment for musculoskeletal impairment, reported seizure history for epilepsy and reported symptoms of clinical depression (depression adults only). Information was collected using structured questionnaires, observations and examinations. Results Self-reported disability prevalence was 5.9% (95% CI 4.7–7.4) and 7.5% (5.9–9.4) in Cameroon and India respectively. The prevalence of moderate or greater clinical impairments in the same populations were 8.4% (7.5–9.4) in Cameroon and 10.5% (9.4–11.7) in India. Overall disability prevalence (self-report and/or screened positive to a moderate or greater clinical impairment) was 10.5% in Cameroon and 12.2% in India, with limited overlap between the sub-populations identified using the two types of tools. 33% of participants in Cameroon identified to have a disability, and 45% in India, both reported functional limitations and screened positive to objectively-screened impairments, whilst the remainder were identified via one or other tool only. A large proportion of people with moderate or severe clinical impairments did not self-report functional difficulties despite reporting participation restrictions. Conclusion Tools to assess reported functional limitation alone are insufficient to identify all persons with participation restrictions and moderate or severe clinical impairments. A self-reported functional limitation tool followed by clinical screening of all those who report any level of difficulty would identify 94% of people with disabilities in Cameroon and 95% in India, meeting the study criteria. PMID:27741320

Measuring Disability in Population Based Surveys: The Interrelationship between Clinical Impairments and Reported Functional Limitations in Cameroon and India.

PubMed

Mactaggart, Islay; Kuper, Hannah; Murthy, G V S; Oye, Joseph; Polack, Sarah

2016-01-01

To investigate the relationship between two distinct measures of disability: self-reported functional limitations and objectively-screened clinical impairments. We undertook an all age population-based survey of disability in two areas: North-West Cameroon (August/October 2013) and Telangana State, India (Feb/April 2014). Participants were selected for inclusion via two-stage cluster randomised sampling (probability proportionate to size cluster selection and compact segment sampling within clusters). Disability was defined as the presence of self-reported functional limitations across eight domains, or presence of moderate or greater clinical impairments. Clinical impairment screening comprised of visual acuity testing for vision impairment, pure tone audiometry for hearing impairment, musculoskeletal functioning assessment for musculoskeletal impairment, reported seizure history for epilepsy and reported symptoms of clinical depression (depression adults only). Information was collected using structured questionnaires, observations and examinations. Self-reported disability prevalence was 5.9% (95% CI 4.7-7.4) and 7.5% (5.9-9.4) in Cameroon and India respectively. The prevalence of moderate or greater clinical impairments in the same populations were 8.4% (7.5-9.4) in Cameroon and 10.5% (9.4-11.7) in India. Overall disability prevalence (self-report and/or screened positive to a moderate or greater clinical impairment) was 10.5% in Cameroon and 12.2% in India, with limited overlap between the sub-populations identified using the two types of tools. 33% of participants in Cameroon identified to have a disability, and 45% in India, both reported functional limitations and screened positive to objectively-screened impairments, whilst the remainder were identified via one or other tool only. A large proportion of people with moderate or severe clinical impairments did not self-report functional difficulties despite reporting participation restrictions. Tools to assess reported functional limitation alone are insufficient to identify all persons with participation restrictions and moderate or severe clinical impairments. A self-reported functional limitation tool followed by clinical screening of all those who report any level of difficulty would identify 94% of people with disabilities in Cameroon and 95% in India, meeting the study criteria.

Sensitivity to Change and Responsiveness of Four Balance Measures for Community-Dwelling Older Adults

PubMed Central

Latham, Nancy K.; Jette, Alan M.; Wagenaar, Robert C.; Ni, Pengsheng; Slavin, Mary D.; Bean, Jonathan F.

2012-01-01

Background Impaired balance has a significant negative impact on mobility, functional independence, and fall risk in older adults. Although several, well-respected balance measures are currently in use, there is limited evidence regarding the most appropriate measure to assess change in community-dwelling older adults. Objective The aim of this study was to compare floor and ceiling effects, sensitivity to change, and responsiveness across the following balance measures in community-dwelling elderly people with functional limitations: Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment total scale (POMA-T), POMA balance subscale (POMA-B), and Dynamic Gait Index (DGI). Design Retrospective data from a 16-week exercise trial were used. Secondary analyses were conducted on the total sample and by subgroups of baseline functional limitation or baseline balance scores. Methods Participants were 111 community-dwelling older adults 65 years of age or older, with functional limitations. Sensitivity to change was assessed using effect size, standardized response mean, and paired t tests. Responsiveness was assessed using minimally important difference (MID) estimates. Results No floor effects were noted. Ceiling effects were observed on all measures, including in people with moderate to severe functional limitations. The POMA-T, POMA-B, and DGI showed significantly larger ceiling effects compared with the BBS. All measures had low sensitivity to change in total sample analyses. Subgroup analyses revealed significantly better sensitivity to change in people with lower compared with higher baseline balance scores. Although both the total sample and lower baseline balance subgroups showed statistically significant improvement from baseline to 16 weeks on all measures, only the lower balance subgroup showed change scores that consistently exceeded corresponding MID estimates. Limitations This study was limited to comparing 4 measures of balance, and anchor-based methods for assessing MID could not be reported. Conclusions Important limitations, including ceiling effects and relatively low sensitivity to change and responsiveness, were noted across all balance measures, highlighting their limited utility across the full spectrum of the community-dwelling elderly population. New, more challenging measures are needed for better discrimination of balance ability in community-dwelling elderly people at higher functional levels. PMID:22114200

Lung Function Abnormalities in Smokers with Ischemic Heart Disease.

PubMed

Franssen, Frits M E; Soriano, Joan B; Roche, Nicolas; Bloomfield, Paul H; Brusselle, Guy; Fabbri, Leonardo M; García-Rio, Francisco; Kearney, Mark T; Kwon, Namhee; Lundbäck, Bo; Rabe, Klaus F; Raillard, Alice; Muellerova, Hana; Cockcroft, John R

2016-09-01

The aim of the ALICE (Airflow Limitation in Cardiac Diseases in Europe) study was to investigate the prevalence of airflow limitation in patients with ischemic heart disease and the effects on quality of life, healthcare use, and future health risk. To examine prebronchodilator and post-bronchodilator spirometry in outpatients aged greater than or equal to 40 years with clinically documented ischemic heart disease who were current or former smokers. This multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted in 15 cardiovascular outpatient clinics in nine European countries. Airflow limitation was defined as post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC less than 0.70. Among the 3,103 patients with ischemic heart disease who were recruited, lung function was defined for 2,730 patients. Airflow limitation was observed in 30.5% of patients with ischemic heart disease: 11.3% had mild airflow limitation, 15.8% moderate airflow limitation, 3.3% severe airflow limitation, and 0.1% very severe airflow limitation. Most patients with airflow limitation (70.6%) had no previous spirometry testing or diagnosed pulmonary disease. Airflow limitation was associated with greater respiratory symptomatology, impaired health status, and more frequent emergency room visits (P < 0.05). Airflow limitation compatible with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease affects almost one-third of patients with ischemic heart disease. Although airflow limitation is associated with additional morbidity and societal burden, it is largely undiagnosed and untreated. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT 01485159).

Time use patterns among women with rheumatoid arthritis: association with functional limitations and psychological status.

PubMed

Katz, P; Morris, A

2007-03-01

This study assessed time use patterns among 375 women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We hypothesized that (i) as functional limitations increased, time use imbalances would occur (i.e. time needed for obligatory activities would conflict with time needed for productive and free-time activities) and (ii) time use imbalances would be associated with psychological distress. Time use estimates were obtained from written questionnaires; other study data were collected from annual telephone interviews. Activities were categorized as obligatory, committed or discretionary, as defined by Verbrugge. Time use estimates were aggregated to define number of obligatory (e.g. self-care) activities requiring >2 h/day and a number of committed and discretionary activities in which no time was spent each day. After adjusting for age, education, marital status and pain severity, women with more functional limitations were significantly more likely to spend >2 h/day in obligatory activities. As functional limitations increased, the proportion spending no time in each committed activity and many discretionary activities increased. Spending >2 h/day in obligatory activities was not significantly associated with poor psychological status, but spending no time in a greater number of committed and discretionary activities was associated with lower life satisfaction and higher levels of depressive symptoms. Having more severe functional limitations appears to shift time use patterns towards more time spent in obligatory activities and less time spent in committed and discretionary activities. These imbalances in time use were associated with psychological distress, highlighting the need for women with RA to maintain important productive, social and discretionary activities.

Power and limitation of soil properties as predictors of rangeland health and ecosystem functioning in a Northern mixed-grass prairie[Abstract

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Soil properties are thought to affect rangeland ecosystem functioning (e.g. primary productivity, hydrology), and thus soil variables that are consistently correlated with key ecosystem functions may be general indicators of rangeland health. We summarize results from several studies in mixed-grass...

Patient-reported symptoms and changes up to 1 year after meniscal surgery.

PubMed

Skou, Søren T; Pihl, Kenneth; Nissen, Nis; Jørgensen, Uffe; Thorlund, Jonas Bloch

2018-06-01

Background and purpose - Detailed information on the symptoms and limitations that patients with meniscal tears experience is lacking. This study was undertaken to map the most prevalent self-reported symptoms and functional limitations among patients undergoing arthroscopic meniscal surgery and investigate which symptoms and limitations had improved most at 1 year after surgery. Patients and methods - Patients aged 18-76 years from the Knee Arthroscopy Cohort Southern Denmark (KACS) undergoing arthroscopic meniscal surgery were included in this analysis of individual subscale items from the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score and 1 question on knee stability. Severity of each item was scored as none, mild, moderate, severe, or extreme. Improvements were evaluated using Wilcoxon's signed-rank test and effect size (ES). Results - The most common symptoms were knee grinding and clicking, knee pain in general, pain when twisting and bending the knee and climbing stairs (88-98%), while the most common functional limitations were difficulty bending to the floor, squatting, twisting, kneeling, and knee awareness (97-99%). Knee pain in general and knee awareness improved most 1 year after meniscal surgery (ES -0.47 and -0.45; p < 0.001), while knee instability and general knee difficulties improved least (ES 0.10 and -0.08; p < 0.006). Interpretation - Adults undergoing surgery for a meniscal tear commonly report clinical symptoms and functional limitations related to their daily activities. Moderate improvements were observed in some symptoms and functional limitations and small to no improvement in others at 1 year after surgery. These findings can assist the clinical discussion of symptoms, treatments, and patients' expectations.

Overall Accessibility to Traveling by Rail for the Elderly with and without Functional Limitations: The Whole-Trip Perspective

PubMed Central

Sundling, Catherine; Berglund, Birgitta; Nilsson, Mats E.; Emardson, Ragne; Pendrill, Leslie R.

2014-01-01

Elderly persons’ perceived accessibility to railway traveling depends on their functional limitations/diseases, their functional abilities and their travel behaviors in interaction with the barriers encountered during whole trips. A survey was conducted on a random sample of 1000 city residents (65–85 years old; 57% response rate). The travels were perceived least accessible by respondents with severely reduced functional ability and by those with more than one functional limitation/disease (e.g., restricted mobility and chronic pain). Those who traveled “often”, perceived the accessibility to be better than those who traveled less frequently. For travelers with high functional ability, the main barriers to more frequent traveling were travel costs and low punctuality. For those with low functional ability, one’s own health was reported to be the main barrier. Our results clarify the links among existing functional limitations/functional abilities, the barriers encountered, the travel behavior, and the overall accessibility to traveling. By operationalizing the whole-trip concept as a chain of events, we deliver practical knowledge on vulnerable groups for decision-making to improve the transport environment for all. PMID:25514149

Functional Impact of a Minor Thoracic Injury: An Investigation of Age, Delayed Hemothorax, and Rib Fracture Effects.

PubMed

Émond, Marcel; Sirois, Marie-Josée; Guimont, Chantal; Chauny, Jean-Marc; Daoust, Raoul; Bergeron, Éric; Vanier, Laurent; Camden, Stephanie; Le Sage, Natalie

2015-12-01

To investigate whether minor thoracic injuries (MTIs) relate to subsequent functional limitations. Approximately 75% of patients with an MTI are discharged after an emergency department (ED) visit, whereas significant functional limitations can occur in the weeks that follow. A 19 months' prospective cohort study with a 90-day follow-up was conducted at 4 university-affiliated EDs. Patients 16 years and older with an MTI were assessed at initial ED visit, 7, 14, 30, and 90 days after injury. Functional outcome was measured using the SF-12 scale. General linear model were used to assess outcome. A total of 482 patients were included, of whom 127 (26.3%) were 65 or older. Overall, 147 patients (30.5%) presented with at least 1 rib fracture and 59 subjects (12.2%) with delayed hemothorax. At 90 days, 22.8% of patients still had severe or moderate disabilities on global physical health score. Patients with solely delayed hemothorax and no rib fracture had the lowest global physical health score (46.4 vs 61.1, P < 0.01, effect size =  -2.60) than patients with simple MTI. Generally, functional limitations also increase with increments of number of rib fracture detected on radiograph. Outcomes were not different among patients 65 years or older when compared to their younger counterparts. In this prospective study of MTIs, severe to moderate disabilities were present in nearly 1 patient out of 5 at 90 days. The presence of delayed hemothorax and the number of rib fracture were associated with increased functional limitations after a MTI.

Instructional Applications of Hypermedia: Functional Features, Limitations, and Research Issues.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Park, Ok-choon

1992-01-01

Defines hypermedia and describes the structure and functional requirements of a hypermedia program. Potentials of hypermedia for instructional delivery, idea generation and organization, file storage and organization, and development of computer-based instruction materials are discussed. Several research issues related to instructional…

Characterizing and Understanding the Remarkably Slow Basis Set Convergence of Several Minnesota Density Functionals for Intermolecular Interaction Energies

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

Mardirossian, Narbe; Head-Gordon, Martin

2013-08-22

For a set of eight equilibrium intermolecular complexes, it is discovered in this paper that the basis set limit (BSL) cannot be reached by aug-cc-pV5Z for three of the Minnesota density functionals: M06-L, M06-HF, and M11-L. In addition, the M06 and M11 functionals exhibit substantial, but less severe, difficulties in reaching the BSL. By using successively finer grids, it is demonstrated that this issue is not related to the numerical integration of the exchange-correlation functional. In addition, it is shown that the difficulty in reaching the BSL is not a direct consequence of the structure of the augmented functions inmore » Dunning’s basis sets, since modified augmentation yields similar results. By using a very large custom basis set, the BSL appears to be reached for the HF dimer for all of the functionals. As a result, it is concluded that the difficulties faced by several of the Minnesota density functionals are related to an interplay between the form of these functionals and the structure of standard basis sets. It is speculated that the difficulty in reaching the basis set limit is related to the magnitude of the inhomogeneity correction factor (ICF) of the exchange functional. A simple modification of the M06-L exchange functional that systematically reduces the basis set superposition error (BSSE) for the HF dimer in the aug-cc-pVQZ basis set is presented, further supporting the speculation that the difficulty in reaching the BSL is caused by the magnitude of the exchange functional ICF. In conclusion, the BSSE is plotted with respect to the internuclear distance of the neon dimer for two of the examined functionals.« less

Precision medicine for cancer with next-generation functional diagnostics.

PubMed

Friedman, Adam A; Letai, Anthony; Fisher, David E; Flaherty, Keith T

2015-12-01

Precision medicine is about matching the right drugs to the right patients. Although this approach is technology agnostic, in cancer there is a tendency to make precision medicine synonymous with genomics. However, genome-based cancer therapeutic matching is limited by incomplete biological understanding of the relationship between phenotype and cancer genotype. This limitation can be addressed by functional testing of live patient tumour cells exposed to potential therapies. Recently, several 'next-generation' functional diagnostic technologies have been reported, including novel methods for tumour manipulation, molecularly precise assays of tumour responses and device-based in situ approaches; these address the limitations of the older generation of chemosensitivity tests. The promise of these new technologies suggests a future diagnostic strategy that integrates functional testing with next-generation sequencing and immunoprofiling to precisely match combination therapies to individual cancer patients.

20 CFR 404.1520a - Evaluation of mental impairments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... evaluate functional consequences of the mental disorder(s) relevant to your ability to work; and (3... not limited to, chronic mental disorders, structured settings, medication, and other treatment. (2) We... severe, we will then determine if it meets or is equivalent in severity to a listed mental disorder. We...

Self-Determination for Individuals with the Most Severe Disabilities: Moving beyond Chimera.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Fredda; Gothelf, Carole R.; Guess, Doug; Lehr, Donna H.

1998-01-01

This article explores implications of people's interpretations of communicative efforts by people with severe disabilities. Recent initiatives to support and promote self-determination are critically assessed as possibly functioning to limit self-determination. Use of preference assessments and behavior supports is discussed as a key to…

Associations between disability and employment 1 year after traumatic brain injury in a working age population.

PubMed

Andelic, Nada; Stevens, Lillian Flores; Sigurdardottir, Solrun; Arango-Lasprilla, Juan Carlos; Roe, Cecilie

2012-01-01

To investigate associations between disability and employment 1 year after traumatic brain injury (TBI) using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) as a conceptual model. A prospective study including 93 patients with moderate-to-severe TBI (aged 16-55 year). Disability components of the ICF model (impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions) and personal factors (age, gender, pre-injury employment status) were used as independent variables. The outcome measure was employment at 1 year post-injury categorized into unemployed and employed groups. Personal factors, impairments (brain injury severity, overall trauma severity and number of impaired body functions) and activity limitations (motor and cognitive abilities) accounted for 57% of the variance in employment outcome. Multivariate analyses showed that the probabilities of being employed 1 year post-injury were 95% lower for patients who were unemployed pre-injury (OR = 0.05), 74% lower for those with more severe brain injury (OR = 0.26) and 82% lower for those with more cognitive limitations (OR = 0.18). Rehabilitation professionals should take into account the importance of the ICF model when planning vocational rehabilitation interventions for individuals with TBI and focus on targeting modifiable aspects related to employment outcome, such as the individual's cognitive ability.

Design of a Linear Gaussian Control Law for an Adaptive Optics System

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-12-01

3-7 3.4. X-Axis Slice of Actuator :#49 Influence Function .. .. .... ...... ...... 3-9 3.5. Approximate Influence Function for Actuator #49... influence function is a mathematical representation of the effect of a single ac- tuator voltage on the local mirror shape. Usually, the influence ... function is nonzero only in the vicinity of the actuator: the influence function of an actualor has a limited spa- tial domain. Several factors affect the

Explaining the increasing disability prevalence among mid-life US adults, 2002 to 2016.

PubMed

Zajacova, Anna; Montez, Jennifer Karas

2018-05-24

Several recent studies have documented an alarming upward trend in disability and functional limitations among US adults. In this study, we draw on the sociomedical Disablement Process framework to produce up-to-date estimates of the trends and identify key social and medical precursors of the trends. Using data on US adults aged 45-64 in the 2002-2016 National Health Interview Surveys, we estimate parametric and semiparametric models of disability and functional limitations as a function of interview time. We also determine the impact of socioeconomic resources, health behaviors, and health conditions on the trends. Our results show increasing prevalence of disability and functional limitations. These trends reflect the net result of complex countervailing forces, some associated with increases in functioning problems (unfavorable trends in economic well-being, especially income, and psychological distress) while other factors have suppressed the growth of functioning problems (favorable trends in educational attainment and some health behaviors, such as smoking and alcohol use). The results underscore that disability prevention must expand beyond medical interventions to include fundamental social factors and be focused on preventing or delaying the onset of chronic health problems and functional limitations. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Capturing the Family Context of Emotion Regulation: A Family Systems Model Comparison Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fosco, Gregory M.; Grych, John H.

2013-01-01

Several dimensions of family functioning are recognized as formative influences on children's emotion regulation. Historically, they have been studied separately, limiting our ability to understand how they function within the family system. The present investigation tested models including family emotional climate, interparental conflict, and…

Partner Abuse of Mothers Compromises Children's Behavioral Functioning Through Maternal Mental Health Dysfunction: Analysis of 300 Mother-Child Pairs.

PubMed

Maddoux, John A; Liu, Fuqin; Symes, Lene; McFarlane, Judith; Paulson, Rene; Binder, Brenda K; Fredland, Nina; Nava, Angeles; Gilroy, Heidi

2016-04-01

Partner violence is associated with numerous negative consequences for victims, especially poor mental health. Children who are exposed to partner violence are more likely to have behavior problems. Nevertheless, research on the relationship between severity of abuse, maternal mental health functioning following partner violence, and child behavior problems is limited. We explored the direct and indirect effects on the child's behavioral functioning of severity of maternal abuse and maternal mental health functioning following abuse. A sample of 300 mothers was recruited when they sought assistance for abuse for the first time at shelters for abused women or at the district attorney's office. Severity of abuse, mothers' mental health functioning, and child behavioral functioning were measured by maternal self-report at entry into the study and 4 months later. In SEM analysis, at both entry and 4 months, severity of abuse had a direct effect on maternal mental health functioning, which in turn had a direct effect on child behavioral functioning. The path from severity of abuse to child behavioral functioning also was significant but became non- significant once maternal mental health functioning was added to the equation, indicating that the path from severity of abuse to child behavioral functioning was indirect and occurred as a result of the mother's mental health functioning, which remained directly linked to child behavioral problems. Intergenerational interventions are needed to address both maternal mental health and child behavioral functioning when a mother reports partner violence and is experiencing mental health problems. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Exploring the Relationship of Autonomic and Endocrine Activity with Social Functioning in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smeekens, I.; Didden, R.; Verhoeven, E. W. M.

2015-01-01

Several studies indicate that autonomic and endocrine activity may be related to social functioning in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), although the number of studies in adults is limited. The present study explored the relationship of autonomic and endocrine activity with social functioning in young adult males with ASD compared…

Multivariate Limits and Continuity: A Survey of Calculus Textbooks.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thompson, Thomas M.; Wiggins, Kenneth L.

There has been much recent discussion concerning the content of the standard calculus course for students majoring in mathematics and the sciences. Some of this discussion has focused on the available textbooks. One weakness noted in some of these books involves the definitions of limit and continuity for functions of several variables. A…

Grief-related panic symptoms in Complicated Grief.

PubMed

Bui, Eric; Horenstein, Arielle; Shah, Riva; Skritskaya, Natalia A; Mauro, Christine; Wang, Yuanjia; Duan, Naihua; Reynolds, Charles F; Zisook, Sidney; Shear, M Katherine; Simon, Naomi M

2015-01-01

Although Complicated Grief (CG) has been associated with comorbid Panic Disorder (PD), little is known about panic attacks in CG, and whether panic symptoms may be grief-related. The present study examines the presence and impact of grief-related panic symptoms in CG. Individuals with CG (n=146, 78% women, mean (SD) age=52.4(15.0)) were assessed for CG, DSM-IV diagnoses, work and social impairment, and with the Panic Disorder Severity Scale modified to assess symptoms "related to or triggered by reminders of your loss" and anticipatory worry. Overall, 39.7% reported at least one full or limited-symptom grief-related panic attack over the past week, and 32.2% reported some level of anticipatory worry about grief-related panic. Of interest, 17% met DSM criteria for PD. Among those without PD, 34.7% reported at least one full or limited-symptom grief-related panic attack over the past week, and this was associated with higher CG symptom severity (t=-2.23, p<0.05), and functional impairment (t=-3.31, p<0.01). Among the full sample, controlling for CG symptom severity and current PD, the presence of at least one full or limited-symptom grief-related panic attack was independently associated with increased functional impairment (B(SE)=4.86(1.7), p<0.01). Limitations include a lack of assessment of non-grief-related panic symptoms and examination of a sample of individuals seeking treatment for CG. Grief-related panic symptoms may be prevalent among individuals with CG and independently contribute to distress and functional impairment. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Aging, Breast Cancer and the Mouse Model

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-05-01

architecture and function of the of normal human cells in culture ( Hayflick , 1965). This limit surrounding tissue and stimulate (or inhibit) the... LIMITATION 18. NUMBER 19a. NAME OF RESPONSIBLE PERSON OF ABSTRACT OF PAGES USAMRMC a. REPORT b. ABSTRACT c. THIS PAGE 19b. TELEPHONE NUMBER (include area U...mammary cancers in the mouse and that these tumors have strikingly similar histology. Nonetheless, several limitations exists to this model system and

Protein-based underwater adhesives and the prospects for their biotechnological production.

PubMed

Stewart, Russell J

2011-01-01

Biotechnological approaches to practical production of biological protein-based adhesives have had limited success over the last several decades. Broader efforts to produce recombinant adhesive proteins may have been limited by early disappointments. More recent synthetic polymer approaches have successfully replicated some aspects of natural underwater adhesives. For example, synthetic polymers, inspired by mussels, containing the catecholic functional group of 3,4-L-dihydroxyphenylalanine adhere strongly to wet metal oxide surfaces. Synthetic complex coacervates inspired by the Sandcastle worm are water-borne adhesives that can be delivered underwater without dispersing. Synthetic approaches offer several advantages, including versatile chemistries and scalable production. In the future, more sophisticated mimetic adhesives may combine synthetic copolymers with recombinant or agriculture-derived proteins to better replicate the structural and functional organization of natural adhesives.

Protein-based underwater adhesives and the prospects for their biotechnological production

PubMed Central

Stewart, Russell J.

2011-01-01

Biotechnological approaches to practical production of biological protein-based adhesives have had limited success over the last several decades. Broader efforts to produce recombinant adhesive proteins may have been limited by early disappointments. More recent synthetic polymer approaches have successfully replicated some aspects of natural underwater adhesives. For example, synthetic polymers, inspired by mussels, containing the catecholic functional group of 3,4-L-dihydroxyphenylalanine adhere strongly to wet metal oxide surfaces. Synthetic complex coacervates inspired by the Sandcastle worm are water-borne adhesives that can be delivered underwater without dispersing. Synthetic approaches offer several advantages, including versatile chemistries and scalable production. In the future, more sophisticated mimetic adhesives may combine synthetic copolymers with recombinant or agriculture-derived proteins to better replicate the structural and functional organization of natural adhesives. PMID:20890598

Identification of Fitness Determinants during Energy-Limited Growth Arrest in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

PubMed Central

Basta, David W.; Bergkessel, Megan

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT Microbial growth arrest can be triggered by diverse factors, one of which is energy limitation due to scarcity of electron donors or acceptors. Genes that govern fitness during energy-limited growth arrest and the extent to which they overlap between different types of energy limitation are poorly defined. In this study, we exploited the fact that Pseudomonas aeruginosa can remain viable over several weeks when limited for organic carbon (pyruvate) as an electron donor or oxygen as an electron acceptor. ATP values were reduced under both types of limitation, yet more severely in the absence of oxygen. Using transposon-insertion sequencing (Tn-seq), we identified fitness determinants in these two energy-limited states. Multiple genes encoding general functions like transcriptional regulation and energy generation were required for fitness during carbon or oxygen limitation, yet many specific genes, and thus specific activities, differed in their relevance between these states. For instance, the global regulator RpoS was required during both types of energy limitation, while other global regulators such as DksA and LasR were required only during carbon or oxygen limitation, respectively. Similarly, certain ribosomal and tRNA modifications were specifically required during oxygen limitation. We validated fitness defects during energy limitation using independently generated mutants of genes detected in our screen. Mutants in distinct functional categories exhibited different fitness dynamics: regulatory genes generally manifested a phenotype early, whereas genes involved in cell wall metabolism were required later. Together, these results provide a new window into how P. aeruginosa survives growth arrest. PMID:29184024

Concerted Changes in Gene Expression and Cell Physiology of the Cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. Strain PCC 6803 during Transitions between Nitrogen and Light-Limited Growth1[W][OA

PubMed Central

Aguirre von Wobeser, Eneas; Ibelings, Bas W.; Bok, Jasper; Krasikov, Vladimir; Huisman, Jef; Matthijs, Hans C.P.

2011-01-01

Physiological adaptation and genome-wide expression profiles of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 in response to gradual transitions between nitrogen-limited and light-limited growth conditions were measured in continuous cultures. Transitions induced changes in pigment composition, light absorption coefficient, photosynthetic electron transport, and specific growth rate. Physiological changes were accompanied by reproducible changes in the expression of several hundred open reading frames, genes with functions in photosynthesis and respiration, carbon and nitrogen assimilation, protein synthesis, phosphorus metabolism, and overall regulation of cell function and proliferation. Cluster analysis of the nearly 1,600 regulated open reading frames identified eight clusters, each showing a different temporal response during the transitions. Two large clusters mirrored each other. One cluster included genes involved in photosynthesis, which were up-regulated during light-limited growth but down-regulated during nitrogen-limited growth. Conversely, genes in the other cluster were down-regulated during light-limited growth but up-regulated during nitrogen-limited growth; this cluster included several genes involved in nitrogen uptake and assimilation. These results demonstrate complementary regulation of gene expression for two major metabolic activities of cyanobacteria. Comparison with batch-culture experiments revealed interesting differences in gene expression between batch and continuous culture and illustrates that continuous-culture experiments can pick up subtle changes in cell physiology and gene expression. PMID:21205618

[Evaluation of a German version of WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities) Arthrosis Index].

PubMed

Stucki, G; Meier, D; Stucki, S; Michel, B A; Tyndall, A G; Dick, W; Theiler, R

1996-01-01

The WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities) Osteoarthritis Index is a tested questionnaire to assess symptoms and physical functional disability. We adapted the WOMAC for the German language and tested its metric properties, test-retest reliability and validity in 51 patients with knee and hip OA. All WOMAC scales (pain, stiffness, function) were internally consistent with Cronbach's coefficient alpha ranging from 0.80 to 0.96. Test-retest reliability was satisfactory with intraclass correlation coefficients ranging from 0.55 to 0.74. All scales and the global index calculated as the mean of scale scores had a bimodal distribution and a slight ceiling effect. As hypothesized the WOMAC scales were associated with radiological OA-severity and limitations of range-of-motion. Patients with more severe symptoms and functional disability perceived more limitations in their roles at home and at work. The presented German version of the WOMAC is a reliable and valid instrument for the assessment of symptoms and physical functional disability in patients with knee and hip OA.

Effects of different types of moderate severity disturbance on forest structural complexity and ecosystem functioning: A story of ice and fire

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fahey, R. T.; Atkins, J.; Gough, C. M.; Hardiman, B. S.; Haber, L.; Stuart-Haentjens, E.; David, O.; Campbell, J. L.; Rustad, L.; Duffy, M.

2017-12-01

Disturbances that alter the structure and function of forest ecosystems occur along a continuum of severity. In contrast to the extremes of the disturbance gradient (i.e., stand-replacing disturbance and small gap formation), moderate severity disturbances are poorly understood, even though they make up the majority of the gradient and their spatial extent (and likely overall importance to regional disturbance regimes) often exceeds that of more severe disturbances. Moderate severity disturbances originate from a variety of causes, such as fires, ice storms, or pest and pathogen outbreaks, and each of these could reshape structure and function in different ways. Observational data from a limited number of sites shows that moderate disturbance can increase ecosystem complexity, but the generality of this effect has not been tested across a broad range of disturbance types and severities. Here, we utilize data from a set of five case studies of experimental or natural moderate disturbance to assess the effects of different types and severities of disturbance on forest canopy structural complexity (CSC) and the relationship of canopy structure with ecosystem functioning. Using pre- and post-disturbance measures of CSC derived from aerial and terrestrial LiDAR, UAV imagery, and Landsat data we quantified changes in CSC following an experimental ice storm, a low-severity surface fire, Beech Bark Disease and Hemlock Wooly Adelgid outbreaks, and experimental accelerated succession. Our initial findings indicate that different disturbance types have highly variable effects on CSC, and also that progressive increases in disturbance severity alter CSC differently among disturbance types. Differential effects of variable disturbance types on CSC has implications for the carbon cycle, as forest structure is strongly linked with both growth-limiting resource (e.g., nutrients and light) acquisition and net primary productivity. Understanding how different types and severities of moderate disturbance affect canopy structural complexity is thus crucial to informing and improving modeling the earth system and predicting how global shifts in moderate disturbance type, frequency, and severity will alter the land carbon sink.

Emotional functioning of adolescents and adults with congenital heart disease: a meta-analysis.

PubMed

Jackson, Jamie L; Misiti, Brian; Bridge, Jeffrey A; Daniels, Curt J; Vannatta, Kathryn

2015-01-01

This study aimed to quantitatively compare findings of emotional functioning across studies of adolescents and adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) through meta-analysis. The current meta-analysis included 22 studies of adolescent and adult survivors of CHD who completed measures of emotional functioning. Effect sizes were represented by Hedge's g. Heterogeneity was calculated and possible moderators (i.e., lesion severity, age, study location, study quality) were examined. Overall, adolescent and adult survivors of CHD did not differ in emotional functioning from healthy controls or normative data. However, significant heterogeneity was found, and there was a trend for degree of lesion severity to moderate emotional functioning. Further analysis of lesion severity indicated that individuals with moderate lesions reported better emotional functioning than controls/normative data. Limitations in existing literature precluded examination of patient age as a moderator. Study location and quality did not explain a significant portion of the variance in effects. Findings suggest that differences in emotional functioning may exist across lesion severities, and individuals with moderately severe lesions are emotionally thriving. Given the diversity within CHD lesion classifications, future studies should include other indicators of disease severity, such as measures of morbidity, to determine how disease may affect emotional functioning among survivors of CHD. Furthermore, authors and journals need to ensure that research is reported in enough detail to facilitate meta-analysis, a critically important tool in answering discrepancies in the literature. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Body Dysmorphic Symptoms, Functional Impairment, and Depression: The Role of Appearance-Based Teasing.

PubMed

Weingarden, Hilary; Renshaw, Keith D

2016-01-01

Body dysmorphic disorder is associated with elevated social and occupational impairment and comorbid depression, but research on risk factors for body dysmorphic symptoms and associated outcomes is limited. Appearance-based teasing may be a potential risk factor. To examine the specificity of this factor, the authors assessed self-reported appearance-based teasing, body dysmorphic, and obsessive-compulsive symptom severity, functional impairment (i.e., social, occupational, family impairment), and depression in a nonclinical sample of undergraduates. As hypothesized, appearance-based teasing was positively correlated with body dysmorphic symptoms. The correlation between teasing and body dysmorphic symptoms was stronger than that between teasing and obsessive-compulsive symptom severity. Last, body dysmorphic symptom severity and appearance-based teasing interacted in predicting functional impairment and depression. Specifically, appearance-based teasing was positively associated with depression and functional impairment only in those with elevated body dysmorphic symptoms. When a similar moderation was tested with obsessive-compulsive, in place of body dysmorphic, symptom severity, the interaction was nonsignificant. Findings support theory that appearance-based teasing is a specific risk factor for body dysmorphic symptoms and associated functional impairment.

Responsiveness to Change of Functional Limitation Reporting: Cross-sectional Study Using the Intermountain ROMS Scale in Outpatient Rehabilitation.

PubMed

Brennan, Gerard P; Hunter, Stephen J; Snow, Greg; Minick, Kate I

2017-12-01

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) require physical therapists document patients' functional limitations. The process is not standardized. 
A systematic approach to determine a patient's functional limitations and responsiveness to change is needed. The purpose of this study is to compare patient-reported outcomes (PROs) responsiveness to change using 7-level severity/complexity modifier scale proposed by Medicare to a derived scale implemented by Intermountain Healthcare's Rehabilitation Outcomes Management System (ROMS). This was a retrospective, observational cohort design. 165,183 PROs prior to July 1, 2013, were compared to 46,334 records from July 1, 2013, to December 31, 2015. Histograms and ribbon plots illustrate distribution and change of patients' scores. ROMS raw score ranges were calculated and compared to CMS' severity/complexity levels based on score percentage. Distribution of the population was compared based on the 2 methods. Sensitivity and specificity were compared for responsiveness to change based on minimal clinically important difference (MCID). Histograms demonstrated few patient scores placed in CMS scale levels at the extremes, whereas the majority of scores placed in 2 middle levels (CJ, CK). ROMS distributed scores more evenly across levels. Ribbon plots illustrated advantage of ROMS' using narrower score ranges. Greater chance for patients to change levels was observed with ROMS when an MCID was achieved. ROMS narrower scale levels resulted in greater sensitivity and good specificity. Geographic representation for the United States was limited. Without patients' global rating of change, a reference standard to gauge validation of improvement could not be provided. ROMS provides a standard approach to identify accurately functional limitation modifier levels and to detect improvement more accurately than a straight across transposition using the CMS scale. © 2017 American Physical Therapy Association

Effects of exercise training on pulmonary hemodynamics, functional capacity and inflammation in pulmonary hypertension

PubMed Central

Richter, Manuel J.; Grimminger, Jan; Krüger, Britta; Ghofrani, Hossein A.; Mooren, Frank C.; Gall, Henning; Pilat, Christian; Krüger, Karsten

2017-01-01

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is characterized by severe exercise limitation mainly attributed to the impairment of right ventricular function resulting from a concomitant elevation of pulmonary vascular resistance and pressure. The unquestioned cornerstone in the management of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is specific vasoactive medical therapy to improve pulmonary hemodynamics and strengthen right ventricular function. Nevertheless, evidence for a beneficial effect of exercise training (ET) on pulmonary hemodynamics and functional capacity in patients with PH has been growing during the past decade. Beneficial effects of ET on regulating factors, inflammation, and metabolism have also been described. Small case-control studies and randomized clinical trials in larger populations of patients with PH demonstrated substantial improvements in functional capacity after ET. These findings were accompanied by several studies that suggested an effect of ET on inflammation, although a direct link between this effect and the therapeutic benefit of ET in PH has not yet been demonstrated. On this background, the aim of the present review is to describe current concepts regarding the effects of exercise on the pulmonary circulation and pathophysiological limitations, as well as the clinical and mechanistic effects of exercise in patients with PH. PMID:28680563

Zeta functions on tori using contour integration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elizalde, Emilio; Kirsten, Klaus; Robles, Nicolas; Williams, Floyd

2015-12-01

A new, seemingly useful presentation of zeta functions on complex tori is derived by using contour integration. It is shown to agree with the one obtained by using the Chowla-Selberg series formula, for which an alternative proof is thereby given. In addition, a new proof of the functional determinant on the torus results, which does not use the Kronecker first limit formula nor the functional equation of the non-holomorphic Eisenstein series. As a bonus, several identities involving the Dedekind eta function are obtained as well.

Colossal spin-orbit coupling in functionalized graphene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balakrishnan, Jayakumar; Koon, Gavin; Oezyilmaz, Barbaros

2013-03-01

Graphene's low intrinsic spin orbit (SO) interaction strongly limits the realization of several functional spintronics devices. It is therefore quite desirable to develop methods to tune this SO coupling strength. Among the different approaches, the functionalization of graphene seems to be more promising from an application perspective. Recent theoretical and experimental results on functionalized graphene have shown interesting magnetic properties. Here, we will show our preliminary spin-transport results on such functionally modified graphene and discuss the various possibilities it holds for future graphene-based spintronics applications.

Functional Limitations, Depression, and Cash Assistance are Associated with Food Insecurity among Older Urban Adults in Mexico City.

PubMed

Vilar-Compte, Mireya; Martínez-Martínez, Oscar; Orta-Alemán, Dania; Perez-Escamilla, Rafael

2016-01-01

To examine factors associated with food insecurity among urban older adults (65 years and older). Three hundred and fifty two older adults attending community centers in a neighborhood of Mexico City were surveyed for food insecurity, functional impairments, health and mental health status, cash-transfer assistance, socio-demographic characteristics, social isolation, and the built food environment. Having at least primary education and receiving cash-transfers were significantly associated with a lower probability of being moderately-severely food insecure (OR=0.478 and 0.597, respectively). The probability of moderate-severe food insecurity was significantly higher among elderly at risk of depression (OR=2.843), those with at least one activity of daily living impaired (OR=2.177) and those with at least one instrumental activity of daily living impaired (OR=1.785). Higher educational attainment and cash-transfers may have a positive influence on reducing food insecurity. Depression and functional limitations may increase the likelihood of food insecurity among older adults.

Automatic speech recognition and training for severely dysarthric users of assistive technology: the STARDUST project.

PubMed

Parker, Mark; Cunningham, Stuart; Enderby, Pam; Hawley, Mark; Green, Phil

2006-01-01

The STARDUST project developed robust computer speech recognizers for use by eight people with severe dysarthria and concomitant physical disability to access assistive technologies. Independent computer speech recognizers trained with normal speech are of limited functional use by those with severe dysarthria due to limited and inconsistent proximity to "normal" articulatory patterns. Severe dysarthric output may also be characterized by a small mass of distinguishable phonetic tokens making the acoustic differentiation of target words difficult. Speaker dependent computer speech recognition using Hidden Markov Models was achieved by the identification of robust phonetic elements within the individual speaker output patterns. A new system of speech training using computer generated visual and auditory feedback reduced the inconsistent production of key phonetic tokens over time.

Impact of Asthma on the Sexual Functioning of Patients. A Case-Control Study.

PubMed

Soto Campos, José Gregorio; Rojas Villegas, Josefa; Padilla Galo, Alicia; Marina Malanda, Nuria; Garcia Rivero, Juan Luis; Pinedo Sierra, Celia; Garcia Salmones, Mercedes; Cabrera Galán, Carmen; Segura Molina, Esperanza; Plaza, Vicente; Pascual Erquicia, Silvia

2017-12-01

Sexual limitations play an important role in the quality of life of patients with chronic diseases. Very limited information is available on the impact of asthma on the sexual functioning of these individuals. Cross-sectional, observational, multicenter study. Asthma patients and healthy individuals were recruited. All subjects participated in an interview in which demographic and clinical data were recorded, and completed the Goldberg Anxiety-Depression Scale (GADS) to evaluate the presence of concomitant psychiatric disease. Men also completed the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), and women, the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). A total of 276cases were included, comprising 172asthma patients (63 men and 109 women) with a mean age of 42 (±14) years, and 104 controls (52men and 51women) with a mean age of 39 (±12) years. Time since onset of asthma was 15 years and severity distribution was: 6.4% intermittent, 17.9% mild persistent, 47.4% moderate, and 28.2% severe. Disease was considered controlled in 57.7%, partially controlled in 28.2%, and uncontrolled in 14.1%. Women with asthma had greater sexual limitations than women in the control group, with a total FSFI score of 22.1 (±9) compared to 26.5 (±6.8), respectively (P<.005). Men with asthma had significantly more severe erectile dysfunction with a total IIEF score of 59.5 (±12.5) compared to 64.3 (±8.2) in male controls (P<.05). An association was also observed between sexual problems and poorer asthma control. Asthma is associated with a poorer sexual quality of life among patients. These results should arouse the interest of healthcare professionals in detecting and alleviating possible sexual limitations among their asthma patients in routine clinical practice. Copyright © 2017 SEPAR. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Significantly improved neurocognitive function in major depressive disorders 6 weeks after ECT.

PubMed

Mohn, Christine; Rund, Bjørn Rishovd

2016-09-15

Cognitive side effects may occur after electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) in depressive disorder patients. Previous studies have been limited by small numbers of cognitive functions assessed. The present study reports the first results from a prospective project monitoring cognitive effects of ECT using a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery and subjective report of everyday cognitive function. Thirty-one patients with major depressive disorder were assessed with the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). Subjective cognitive complaints were described with the Everyday Memory Questionnaire (EMQ). Severity of depression symptoms were assessed with the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). These assessments were performed prior to and 6 weeks after non-standardized ECT. Compared to baseline, the mean depression severity level was nearly halved and there were significant improvements in mean levels of Speed of Processing, Attention/Vigilance, and Visual Learning 6 weeks after ECT. The other cognitive domains were not altered from baseline. There was no significant change in subjective cognitive complaints. At baseline, there were several significant correlations between the MADRS and MCCB scores. There was no strong association between the EMQ and MCCB scores at either assessment point, but the post-ECT EMQ score was significantly correlated with depression severity. Major limitations were low N and lack of uniform ECT procedure. There was significant improvement in Speed of Processing, Attention/Vigilance, and Visual Learning 6 weeks after ECT. Cognitive tests scores were related to severity of depression, but not to subjective memory complaints. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Functional assessment in vocational rehabilitation: a systematic approach to diagnosis and goal setting.

PubMed

Crewe, N M; Athelstan, G T

1981-07-01

The Functional Assessment Inventory (FAI) has been developed for diagnostic use in vocational rehabilitation. This study involved field testing and initial validation of the Inventory as a diagnostic tool. Thirty vocational rehabilitation counselors administered the Inventory to 351 clients. Factor analysis identified 8 scales: Cognitive Function, Motor Function, Personality and Behavior. Vocational Qualifications, Medical Condition, Vision, Hearing, and Economic Disincentives. Content and concurrent validity of the Inventory were assessed by comparing the scores of clients grounded by medical diagnosis and by relating scores to counselors' judgments of severity of disability and employability. Clients with various primary disabilities appeared to differ from one another on the factor scales and on individual items in predictable ways. Total Functional Limitations scores were highly correlated with counselors' ratings of severity of disability and employability.

Beyond the constraints underlying Kolmogorov-Johnson-Mehl-Avrami theory related to the growth laws.

PubMed

Tomellini, M; Fanfoni, M

2012-02-01

The theory of Kolmogorov-Johnson-Mehl-Avrami for phase transition kinetics is subjected to severe limitations concerning the functional form of the growth law. This paper is devoted to sidestepping this drawback through the use of the correlation function approach. Moreover, we put forward an easy-to-handle formula, written in terms of the experimentally accessible actual extended volume fraction, which is found to match several types of growths. Computer simulations have been performed for corroborating the theoretical approach. © 2012 American Physical Society

Treatment effects between monotherapy of donepezil versus combination with memantine for Alzheimer disease: A meta-analysis.

PubMed

Chen, Ruey; Chan, Pi-Tuan; Chu, Hsin; Lin, Yu-Cih; Chang, Pi-Chen; Chen, Chien-Yu; Chou, Kuei-Ru

2017-01-01

This is the first meta-analysis to compare the treatment effects and safety of administering donepezil alone versus a combination of memantine and donepezil to treat patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer Disease, particularly regarding cognitive functions, behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia (BPSD), and global functions. PubMed, Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, and Cochrane databases were used to search for English and non-English articles for inclusion in the meta-analysis to evaluate the effect size and incidence of adverse drug reactions of different treatments. Compared with patients who received donepezil alone, those who received donepezil in combination with memantine exhibited limited improvements in cognitive functions (g = 0.378, p < .001), BPSD (g = -0.878, p < .001) and global functions (g = -0.585, p = .004). Gradual titration of memantine plus a fixed dose and gradual titration of donepezil as well as a fixed dose and gradual titration of memantine resulted in limited improvements in cognitive functions(g = 0.371, p = .005), BPSD(g = -0.913, p = .001), and global functions(g = -0.371, p = .001). Both in the 24th week and at the final evaluation point, the combination of donepezil and memantine led to greater improvement in cognitive functions, BPSD, and global functions than did donepezil alone in patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer Disease.

Combined reduced forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and peripheral artery disease in sedentary elders with functional limitations.

PubMed

Vaz Fragoso, Carlos A; Hsu, Fang-Chi; Brinkley, Tina; Church, Timothy; Liu, Christine K; Manini, Todd; Newman, Anne B; Stafford, Randall S; McDermott, Mary M; Gill, Thomas M

2014-09-01

Because they are potentially modifiable and may coexist, we evaluated the combined occurrence of a reduced forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and peripheral artery disease (PAD), including its association with exertional symptoms, physical inactivity, and impaired mobility, in sedentary elders with functional limitations. Cross sectional. Lifestyle Interventions and Independence in Elder (LIFE) Study. A total of 1307 sedentary community-dwelling persons, mean age 78.9, with functional limitations (Short Physical Performance Battery [SPPB] <10). A reduced FEV1 was defined by a z-score less than -1.64 (

Joint proprioception, muscle strength, and functional ability in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.

PubMed

van der Esch, M; Steultjens, M; Harlaar, J; Knol, D; Lems, W; Dekker, J

2007-06-15

To test the hypotheses that poor knee joint proprioception is related to limitations in functional ability, and poor proprioception aggravates the impact of muscle weakness on limitations in functional ability in osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. Sixty-three patients with symptomatic OA of the knee were tested. Proprioceptive acuity was assessed by establishing the joint motion detection threshold (JMDT) in the anteroposterior direction. Muscle strength was measured using a computer-driven isokinetic dynamometer. Functional ability was assessed by the 100-meter walking test, the Get Up and Go (GUG) test, and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index physical function (WOMAC-PF) questionnaire. Correlation analyses were performed to assess the relationship between proprioception, muscle strength, and functional ability. Regression analyses were performed to assess the impact of proprioception on the relationship between muscle strength and functional ability. Poor proprioception (high JMDT) was related to more limitation in functional ability (walking time r = 0.30, P < 0.05; GUG time r = 0.30, P < 0.05; WOMAC-PF r = 0.26, P <0.05). In regression analyses, the interaction between proprioception and muscle strength was significantly related to functional ability (walking time, P < 0.001 and GUG time, P < 0.001) but not to WOMAC-PF score (P = 0.625). In patients with poor proprioception, reduction of muscle strength was associated with more severe deterioration of functional ability than in patients with accurate proprioception. Patients with poor proprioception show more limitation in functional ability, but this relationship is rather weak. In patients with poor proprioception, muscle weakness has a stronger impact on limitations in functional ability than in patients with accurate proprioception.

An Early Years Toolbox for Assessing Early Executive Function, Language, Self-Regulation, and Social Development: Validity, Reliability, and Preliminary Norms

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Howard, Steven J.; Melhuish, Edward

2017-01-01

Several methods of assessing executive function (EF), self-regulation, language development, and social development in young children have been developed over previous decades. Yet new technologies make available methods of assessment not previously considered. In resolving conceptual and pragmatic limitations of existing tools, the Early Years…

Langlands Parameters of Quivers in the Sato Grassmannian

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luu, Martin T.; Penciak, Matej

2018-01-01

Motivated by quantum field theoretic partition functions that can be expressed as products of tau functions of the KP hierarchy we attach several types of local geometric Langlands parameters to quivers in the Sato Grassmannian. We study related questions of Virasoro constraints, of moduli spaces of relevant quivers, and of classical limits of the Langlands parameters.

Respiratory muscle function and exercise limitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a review.

PubMed

Charususin, Noppawan; Dacha, Sauwaluk; Gosselink, Rik; Decramer, Marc; Von Leupoldt, Andreas; Reijnders, Thomas; Louvaris, Zafeiris; Langer, Daniel

2018-01-01

Respiratory muscle dysfunction is common and contributes to dyspnea and exercise limitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Improving dynamic function of respiratory muscles during exercise might help to reduce symptoms and improve exercise capacity. Areas covered: The aims of this review are to 1) summarize physiological mechanisms linking respiratory muscle dysfunction to dyspnea and exercise limitation; 2) provide an overview of available therapeutic approaches to better maintain load-capacity balance of respiratory muscles during exercise; and 3) to summarize current knowledge on potential mechanisms explaining effects of interventions aimed at optimizing dynamic respiratory muscle function with a special focus on inspiratory muscle training. Expert commentary: Several mechanisms which are potentially linking improvements in dynamic respiratory muscle function to symptomatic and functional benefits have not been studied so far in COPD patients. Examples of underexplored areas include the study of neural processes related to the relief of acute dyspnea and the competition between respiratory and peripheral muscles for limited energy supplies during exercise. Novel methodologies are available to non-invasively study these mechanisms. Better insights into the consequences of dynamic respiratory muscle dysfunction will hopefully contribute to further refine and individualize therapeutic approaches in patients with COPD.

Identification of widespread adenosine nucleotide binding in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

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

Ansong, Charles; Ortega, Corrie; Payne, Samuel H.

The annotation of protein function is almost completely performed by in silico approaches. However, computational prediction of protein function is frequently incomplete and error prone. In Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), ~25% of all genes have no predicted function and are annotated as hypothetical proteins. This lack of functional information severely limits our understanding of Mtb pathogenicity. Current tools for experimental functional annotation are limited and often do not scale to entire protein families. Here, we report a generally applicable chemical biology platform to functionally annotate bacterial proteins by combining activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) and quantitative LC-MS-based proteomics. As an example ofmore » this approach for high-throughput protein functional validation and discovery, we experimentally annotate the families of ATP-binding proteins in Mtb. Our data experimentally validate prior in silico predictions of >250 ATPases and adenosine nucleotide-binding proteins, and reveal 73 hypothetical proteins as novel ATP-binding proteins. We identify adenosine cofactor interactions with many hypothetical proteins containing a diversity of unrelated sequences, providing a new and expanded view of adenosine nucleotide binding in Mtb. Furthermore, many of these hypothetical proteins are both unique to Mycobacteria and essential for infection, suggesting specialized functions in mycobacterial physiology and pathogenicity. Thus, we provide a generally applicable approach for high throughput protein function discovery and validation, and highlight several ways in which application of activity-based proteomics data can improve the quality of functional annotations to facilitate novel biological insights.« less

Construction of exchange-correlation functionals through interpolation between the non-interacting and the strong-correlation limit

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

Zhou, Yongxi; Ernzerhof, Matthias, E-mail: Matthias.Ernzerhof@UMontreal.ca; Bahmann, Hilke

Drawing on the adiabatic connection of density functional theory, exchange-correlation functionals of Kohn-Sham density functional theory are constructed which interpolate between the extreme limits of the electron-electron interaction strength. The first limit is the non-interacting one, where there is only exchange. The second limit is the strong correlated one, characterized as the minimum of the electron-electron repulsion energy. The exchange-correlation energy in the strong-correlation limit is approximated through a model for the exchange-correlation hole that is referred to as nonlocal-radius model [L. O. Wagner and P. Gori-Giorgi, Phys. Rev. A 90, 052512 (2014)]. Using the non-interacting and strong-correlated extremes, variousmore » interpolation schemes are presented that yield new approximations to the adiabatic connection and thus to the exchange-correlation energy. Some of them rely on empiricism while others do not. Several of the proposed approximations yield the exact exchange-correlation energy for one-electron systems where local and semi-local approximations often fail badly. Other proposed approximations generalize existing global hybrids by using a fraction of the exchange-correlation energy in the strong-correlation limit to replace an equal fraction of the semi-local approximation to the exchange-correlation energy in the strong-correlation limit. The performance of the proposed approximations is evaluated for molecular atomization energies, total atomic energies, and ionization potentials.« less

The Potential Utility of Eye Movements in the Detection and Characterization of Everyday Functional Difficulties in Mild Cognitive Impairment.

PubMed

Seligman, Sarah C; Giovannetti, Tania

2015-06-01

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) refers to the intermediate period between the typical cognitive decline of normal aging and more severe decline associated with dementia, and it is associated with greater risk for progression to dementia. Research has suggested that functional abilities are compromised in MCI, but the degree of impairment and underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. The development of sensitive measures to assess subtle functional decline poses a major challenge for characterizing functional limitations in MCI. Eye-tracking methodology has been used to describe visual processes in everyday, naturalistic action among healthy older adults as well as several case studies of severely impaired individuals, and it has successfully differentiated healthy older adults from those with MCI on specific visual tasks. These studies highlight the promise of eye-tracking technology as a method to characterize subtle functional decline in MCI. However, to date no studies have examined visual behaviors during completion of naturalistic tasks in MCI. This review describes the current understanding of functional ability in MCI, summarizes findings of eye-tracking studies in healthy individuals, severe impairment, and MCI, and presents future research directions to aid with early identification and prevention of functional decline in disorders of aging.

Distressed Neighborhoods and Child Disability Rates: Analyses of 157,000 School-Age Children

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Msall, Michael E.; Avery, Roger C.; Msall, Emily R.; Hogan, Dennis P.

2007-01-01

The aim of this study was to assess rates of childhood disability as indicated by functional limitation of motor, sensory, or self-care skills in children living in severely-distressed neighborhoods. For a neighborhood in the US Census Track to be considered severely distressed, three of the following four characteristics need to be present:…

Physical Functional Limitations among Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Older Adults: Associations with Socio-Demographic Factors and Health

PubMed Central

Gubhaju, Lina; Banks, Emily; MacNiven, Rona; McNamara, Bridgette J.; Joshy, Grace; Bauman, Adrian; Eades, Sandra J.

2015-01-01

Background Australian Aboriginal people are disproportionately affected by physical disability; the reasons for this are unclear. This study aimed to quantify associations between severe physical functional limitations and socio-demographic and health-related factors among older Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal adults. Methods Questionnaire data from 1,563 Aboriginal and 226,802 non-Aboriginal participants aged ≥45 years from the Sax Institute’s 45 and Up Study (New South Wales, Australia) were used to calculate age- and sex-adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) for severe limitation [MOS-PF score <60] according to socio-demographic and health-related factors. Results Overall, 26% (410/1563) of Aboriginal participants and 13% (29,569/226,802) of non-Aboriginal participants had severe limitations (aPR 2.8, 95%CI 2.5–3.0). In both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal participants, severe limitation was significantly associated with: being ≥70 vs <70 years old (aPRs 1.8, 1.3–2.4 and 5.3, 5.0–5.5, within Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal participants, respectively), none vs tertiary educational qualifications (aPRs 2.4, 1.7–3.3 and 3.1, 3.0–3.2), lower vs higher income (aPRs 6.6, 4.2–10.5 and 5.5, 5.2–5.8), current vs never-smoking (aPRs 2.0, 1.6–2.5 and 2.2, 2.1–2.3), obese vs normal weight (aPRs 1.7, 1.3–2.2 and 2.7, 2.7–2.8) and sitting for ≥7 vs <7 hours/day (aPRs 1.6, 1.2–2.0 and 1.6, 1.6–1.7). Severe limitations increased with increasing ill-health, with aPRs rising to 5–6 for ≥5 versus no chronic conditions. It was significantly higher in those with few vs many social contacts (aPRs 1.7, 1.4–2.0 and 1.4, 1.4–1.4) and with very high vs low psychological distress (aPRs 4.4, 3.6–5.4 and 5.7, 5.5–5.9). Conclusions Although the prevalence of severe physical limitation among Aboriginal people in this study is around three-fold that of non-Aboriginal people, the factors related to it are similar, indicating that Aboriginal people have higher levels of risk factors for and consequences of severe limitations. Effective management of chronic disease and reducing the prevalence of obesity and smoking are important areas for attention. PMID:26422239

Does the Size of the Effect of Adverse Events at High Ages on Daily-Life Physical Functioning Depend on the Economic Conditions Around Birth?

PubMed

Scholte, Robert; van den Berg, Gerard J; Lindeboom, Maarten; Deeg, Dorly J H

2017-01-01

This paper considers determinants of physical functional limitations in daily-life activities at high ages. Specifically, we quantify the extent to which the impact of adverse life events on this outcome is larger in case of exposure to adverse economic conditions early in life. Adverse life events include bereavement, severe illness in the family, and the onset of chronic diseases. We use a longitudinal data set of individuals born in the first decades of the 20th century. The business cycle around birth is used as an indicator of economic conditions early in life. We find that the extent to which functional limitations suffer from the onset of chronic diseases is larger if the individual was born in a recession. The long-run effect of economic conditions early in life on functional limitations at high ages runs primarily via this life event. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Relationship of race and poverty to lower extremity function and decline: findings from the Women's Health and Aging Study.

PubMed

Thorpe, Roland James; Kasper, Judith D; Szanton, Sarah L; Frick, Kevin D; Fried, Linda P; Simonsick, Eleanor M

2008-02-01

Race- and poverty-related disparities in physical function are well documented, though little is known about effects of race and poverty on functional decline and the progression of disability. We examined cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between race, poverty and lower extremity function using data from moderately to severely disabled women in the U.S. Women's Health and Aging Study. Severity of lower extremity functional limitation was determined from scaled responses of reported difficulty walking (1/4) mile, walking across a room, climbing stairs, and stooping, crouching or kneeling. Usual walking speed assessed over 4m was our objective measure of function. Of the 996 women who described themselves as black or white, 284 (29%) were black and 367 (37%) were living at or below 100% of the federal poverty level. Independent of demographic and health-related factors, among white women, the poor exhibited consistently worse lower extremity function than the non-poor; this association, however, was not observed in black women. Among the non-poor, black women had slower walking speeds, and reported more limitation in lower extremity function than their non-poor white counterparts, even after adjusting for demographic variables and health-related characteristics. After 3 years, accounting for baseline function, demographic and health-related factors, race and poverty status were unrelated to functional decline. Thus, while race and poverty status were associated with functional deficits in old age, they do not appear to impact the rate of functional decline or progression of disability over 3 years.

Imaging the deep structures of the convergent plates along the Ecuadorian subduction zone through receiver function analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galve, A.; Charvis, P.; Regnier, M. M.; Font, Y.; Nocquet, J. M.; Segovia, M.

2017-12-01

The Ecuadorian subduction zone was affected by several large M>7.5 earthquakes. While we have low resolution on the 1942, 1958 earthquakes rupture zones extension, the 2016 Pedernales earthquake, that occurs at the same location than the 1942 earthquake, give strong constraints on the deep limit of the seismogenic zone. This downdip limit is caused by the onset of plasticity at a critical temperature (> 350-450 °C for crustal materials, or serpentinized mantle wedge, and eventually > 700 °C for dry mantle). However we still don't know exactly where is the upper plate Moho and therefore what controls the downdip limit of Ecuadorian large earthquakes seismogenic zone. For several years Géoazur and IG-EPN have maintained permanent and temporary networks (ADN and JUAN projects) along the margin to register the subduction zone seismological activity. Although Ecuador is not a good place to perform receiver function due to its position with respect to the worldwide teleseismic sources, the very long time deployment compensate this issue. We performed a frequency dependent receiver function analysis to derive (1) the thickness of the downgoing plate, (2) the interplate depth and (3) the upper plate Moho. These constraints give the frame to interpretation on the seismogenic zone of the 2016 Pedernales earthquake.

Irreducible correlation functions of the S matrix in the coordinate representation: application in calculating Lorentzian half-widths and shifts.

PubMed

Ma, Q; Tipping, R H; Boulet, C

2006-01-07

By introducing the coordinate representation, the derivation of the perturbation expansion of the Liouville S matrix is formulated in terms of classically behaved autocorrelation functions. Because these functions are characterized by a pair of irreducible tensors, their number is limited to a few. They represent how the overlaps of the potential components change with a time displacement, and under normal conditions, their magnitudes decrease by several orders of magnitude when the displacement reaches several picoseconds. The correlation functions contain all dynamical information of the collision processes necessary in calculating half-widths and shifts and can be easily derived with high accuracy. Their well-behaved profiles, especially the rapid decrease of the magnitude, enables one to transform easily the dynamical information contained in them from the time domain to the frequency domain. More specifically, because these correlation functions are well time limited, their continuous Fourier transforms should be band limited. Then, the latter can be accurately replaced by discrete Fourier transforms and calculated with a standard fast Fourier transform method. Besides, one can easily calculate their Cauchy principal integrations and derive all functions necessary in calculating half-widths and shifts. A great advantage resulting from introducing the coordinate representation and choosing the correlation functions as the starting point is that one is able to calculate the half-widths and shifts with high accuracy, no matter how complicated the potential models are and no matter what kind of trajectories are chosen. In any case, the convergence of the calculated results is always guaranteed. As a result, with this new method, one can remove some uncertainties incorporated in the current width and shift studies. As a test, we present calculated Raman Q linewidths for the N2-N2 pair based on several trajectories, including the more accurate "exact" ones. Finally, by using this new method as a benchmark, we have carried out convergence checks for calculated values based on usual methods and have found that some results in the literature are not converged.

Introduction: The challenge of optimum integration of propulsion systems and large space structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carlisle, R. F.

1980-01-01

A functional matrix of possible propulsion system characteristics for a spacecraft for deployable and assembled spacecraft structures shows that either electric propulsion or low thrust chemical propulsion systems could provide the propulsion required. The trade-off considerations of a single propulsion engine or multiengines are outlined and it is shown that a single point engine is bounded by some upper limit of thrust for assembled spacecraft. The matrix also shows several additional functions that can be provided to the spacecraft if a propulsion system is an integral part of the spacecraft. A review of all of the functions that can be provided for a spacecraft by an integral propulsion system may result in the inclusion of the propulsion for several functions even if no single function were mandatory. Propulsion interface issues for each combination of engines are identified.

The development of Human Functional Brain Networks

PubMed Central

Power, Jonathan D; Fair, Damien A; Schlaggar, Bradley L

2010-01-01

Recent advances in MRI technology have enabled precise measurements of correlated activity throughout the brain, leading to the first comprehensive descriptions of functional brain networks in humans. This article reviews the growing literature on the development of functional networks, from infancy through adolescence, as measured by resting state functional connectivity MRI. We note several limitations of traditional approaches to describing brain networks, and describe a powerful framework for analyzing networks, called graph theory. We argue that characterization of the development of brain systems (e.g. the default mode network) should be comprehensive, considering not only relationships within a given system, but also how these relationships are situated within wider network contexts. We note that, despite substantial reorganization of functional connectivity, several large-scale network properties appear to be preserved across development, suggesting that functional brain networks, even in children, are organized in manners similar to other complex systems. PMID:20826306

20 CFR 416.930 - Need to follow prescribed treatment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... you are a child, if the treatment can reduce your functional limitations so that they are no longer... the other eye resulting in a severe loss of vision and is not subject to improvement through treatment...

Classification of Airflow Limitation Based on z-Score Underestimates Mortality in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

PubMed

Tejero, Elena; Prats, Eva; Casitas, Raquel; Galera, Raúl; Pardo, Paloma; Gavilán, Adelaida; Martínez-Cerón, Elisabet; Cubillos-Zapata, Carolina; Del Peso, Luis; García-Río, Francisco

2017-08-01

Global Lung Function Initiative recommends reporting lung function measures as z-score, and a classification of airflow limitation (AL) based on this parameter has recently been proposed. To evaluate the prognostic capacity of the AL classifications based on z-score or percentage predicted of FEV 1 in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A cohort of 2,614 patients with COPD recruited outside the hospital setting was examined after a mean (± SD) of 57 ± 13 months of follow-up, totaling 10,322 person-years. All-cause mortality was analyzed, evaluating the predictive capacity of several AL staging systems. Based on Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease guidelines, 461 patients (17.6%) had mild, 1,452 (55.5%) moderate, 590 (22.6%) severe, and 111 (4.2%) very severe AL. According to z-score classification, 66.3% of patients remained with the same severity, whereas 23.7% worsened and 10.0% improved. Unlike other staging systems, patients with severe AL according to z-score had higher mortality than those with very severe AL (increase of risk by 5.2 and 3.9 times compared with mild AL, respectively). The predictive capacity for 5-year survival was slightly higher for FEV 1 expressed as percentage of predicted than as z-score (area under the curve: 0.714-0.760 vs. 0.649-0.708, respectively). A severity-dependent relationship between AL grades by z-score and mortality was only detected in patients younger than age 60 years. In patients with COPD, the AL classification based on z-score predicts worse mortality than those based on percentage of predicted. It is possible that the z-score underestimates AL severity in patients older than 60 years of age with severe functional impairment.

Pulsed CO2 characterization for lidar use

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jaenisch, Holger M.

1992-01-01

An account is given of a scaled functional testbed laser for space-qualified coherent-detection lidar applications which employs a CO2 laser. This laser has undergone modification and characterization for inherent performance capabilities as a model of coherent detection. While characterization results show good overall performance that is in agreement with theoretical predictions, frequency-stability and pulse-length limitations severely limit the laser's use in coherent detection.

Functioning and Disability of Children and Adolescents in a Vegetative State and a Minimally Conscious State: Identification of ICF-CY-Relevant Categories

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leonardi, Matilde; Sattin, Davide; Giovannetti, Ambra M.; Pagani, Marco; Strazzer, Sandra; Villa, Federica; Martinuzzi, Andrea; Buffoni, Mara; Castelli, Enrico; Lispi, Maria Luisa; Trabacca, Antonio; Gennaro, Leonarda; Raggi, Alberto

2012-01-01

Children in a vegetative state (VS) and a minimally conscious state (MCS) experience severe limitations as a consequence of nervous system deficits and require consistent environmental support. However, disability in VS and MCS children has never been described following a model that accounts for the presence of the symptoms, limitations and the…

Impacts and limitations of medialization thyroplasty on swallowing function of patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis.

PubMed

Tateya, Ichiro; Hirano, Shigeru; Kishimoto, Yo; Suehiro, Atsushi; Kojima, Tsuyohi; Ohno, Satoshi; Ito, Juichi

2010-11-01

Medialization thyroplasty was effective in improving swallowing function as well as vocal function in most cases with unilateral vocal fold paralysis. The impact of medialization thryoplasty was insufficient for the case with severe atrophy and that in which the vocal fold was fixed in the lateral position. To evaluate the impacts and limitations of medialization thyroplasty on swallowing function of the patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis. Eight cases (mean age 68.5 years) with unilateral vocal fold paralysis chiefly complaining of swallowing disturbance were studied. All patients underwent thyroplasty type I. The causes of the paralysis were lung cancer in four cases, esophageal cancer in one case, aortic aneurysm in one case, subarachnoid hemorrhage in one case, and unknown in one case. Subjective swallowing function score, maximum phonation time (MPT), mean flow rate (MFR), amplitude perturbation quotient (APQ), and pitch perturbation quotient (PPQ) were examined pre- and postoperatively. The swallowing score improved in all except two cases. However, bilateral thryoplasty was necessary for the case with severe vocal fold atrophy and arytenoid adduction was needed for the case in which the vocal fold was fixed in the lateral position. The swallowing score, MPT, and MFR showed significant improvement after surgery.

Prevalence and factors associated with recent intimate partner violence and relationships between disability and depression in post-partum women in one clinic in eThekwini Municipality, South Africa.

PubMed

Gibbs, Andrew; Carpenter, Bradley; Crankshaw, Tamaryn; Hannass-Hancock, Jill; Smit, Jennifer; Tomlinson, Mark; Butler, Lisa

2017-01-01

Intimate partner violence (IPV) experienced by pregnant and post-partum women has negative health effects for women, as well as the foetus, and the new-born child. In this study we sought to assess the prevalence and factors associated with recent IPV amongst post-partum women in one clinic in eThekwini Municipality, South Africa, and explore the relationship between IPV, depression and functional limitations/disabilities. Past 12 month IPV-victimisation was 10.55%. Logistic regression modelled relationships between IPV, functional limitations, depressive symptoms, socio-economic measures, and sexual relationship power. In logistic regression models, overall severity of functional limitations were not associated with IPV-victimisation when treated as a continuous overall score. In this model relationship power (aOR0.22, p = 0.001) and depressive symptoms (aOR1.26, p = 0.001) were significant. When the different functional limitations were separated out in a second model, significant factors were relationship power (aOR0.20, p = 0.001), depressive symptoms (aOR1.20, p = 0.011) and mobility limitations (aOR2.96, p = 0.024). The study emphasises that not all functional limitations are associated with IPV-experience, that depression and disability while overlapping can also be considered different drivers of vulnerability, and that women's experience of IPV is not dependent on pregnancy specific factors, but rather wider social factors that all women experience.

How functional connectivity between emotion regulation structures can be disrupted: preliminary evidence from adolescents with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury.

PubMed

Newsome, Mary R; Scheibel, Randall S; Mayer, Andrew R; Chu, Zili D; Wilde, Elisabeth A; Hanten, Gerri; Steinberg, Joel L; Lin, Xiaodi; Li, Xiaoqi; Merkley, Tricia L; Hunter, Jill V; Vasquez, Ana C; Cook, Lori; Lu, Hanzhang; Vinton, Kami; Levin, Harvey S

2013-09-01

Outcome of moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) includes impaired emotion regulation. Emotion regulation has been associated with amygdala and rostral anterior cingulate (rACC). However, functional connectivity between the two structures after injury has not been reported. A preliminary examination of functional connectivity of rACC and right amygdala was conducted in adolescents 2 to 3 years after moderate to severe TBI and in typically developing (TD)control adolescents, with the hypothesis that the TBI adolescents would demonstrate altered functional connectivity in the two regions. Functional connectivity was determined by correlating fluctuations in the blood oxygen level dependent(BOLD) signal of the rACC and right amygdala with that of other brain regions. In the TBI adolescents, the rACC was found to be significantly less functionally connected to medial prefrontal cortices and to right temporal regions near the amygdala (height threshold T = 2.5, cluster level p < .05, FDR corrected), while the right amygdala showed a trend in reduced functional connectivity with the rACC (height threshold T = 2.5, cluster level p = .06, FDR corrected). Data suggest disrupted functional connectivity in emotion regulation regions. Limitations include small sample sizes. Studies with larger sample sizes are necessary to characterize the persistent neural damage resulting from moderate to severe TBI during development.

Functional Status, Cognition, and Social Relationships in Dyadic Perspective.

PubMed

Wong, Jaclyn S; Hsieh, Ning

2017-03-28

Health limitations can change older adults' social relationships and social engagement. Yet, researchers rarely examine how the disability of one's spouse might affect one's social relationships, even though such life strains are often experienced as a couple. This study investigates the association between functional and cognitive limitations and social experience in a dyadic context. We use actor-partner interdependence models to analyze the partner data from 953 heterosexual couples in Wave II (2010-2011) of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project. One spouse's functional and cognitive health is associated with the other's relationship quality, but the pattern varies by gender. Husbands' functional limitations are associated with lower marital support and higher marital strain in wives, but wives' functional limitations are related to lower family and friendship strain in husbands. Husbands' cognitive impairment also predicts higher family and friend support in wives. Findings support a gendered dyadic relationship between health and social life and highlight women's caregiver role and better connection with family and friends. There are also differences between experiencing cognitive and physical limitations in couples. Finally, mild health impairment sometimes shows stronger effects on social relationships than severe impairment, suggesting adaptation to health transition. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Utility of functioning in predicting costs of care for patients with mood and anxiety disorders: a prospective cohort study

PubMed Central

Cieza, Alarcos; Baldwin, David S.

2017-01-01

Development of payment systems for mental health services has been hindered by limited evidence for the utility of diagnosis or symptoms in predicting costs of care. We investigated the utility of functioning information in predicting costs for patients with mood and anxiety disorders. This was a prospective cohort study involving 102 adult patients attending a tertiary referral specialist clinic for mood and anxiety disorders. The main outcome was total costs, calculated by applying unit costs to healthcare use data. After adjusting for covariates, a significant total costs association was yielded for functioning (eβ=1.02; 95% confidence interval: 1.01–1.03), but not depressive symptom severity or anxiety symptom severity. When we accounted for the correlations between the main independent variables by constructing an abridged functioning metric, a significant total costs association was again yielded for functioning (eβ=1.04; 95% confidence interval: 1.01–1.09), but not symptom severity. The utility of functioning in predicting costs for patients with mood and anxiety disorders was supported. Functioning information could be useful within mental health payment systems. PMID:28383309

Consequences of tropical land use for multitrophic biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.

PubMed

Barnes, Andrew D; Jochum, Malte; Mumme, Steffen; Haneda, Noor Farikhah; Farajallah, Achmad; Widarto, Tri Heru; Brose, Ulrich

2014-10-28

Our knowledge about land-use impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning is mostly limited to single trophic levels, leaving us uncertain about whole-community biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships. We analyse consequences of the globally important land-use transformation from tropical forests to oil palm plantations. Species diversity, density and biomass of invertebrate communities suffer at least 45% decreases from rainforest to oil palm. Combining metabolic and food-web theory, we calculate annual energy fluxes to model impacts of land-use intensification on multitrophic ecosystem functioning. We demonstrate a 51% reduction in energy fluxes from forest to oil palm communities. Species loss clearly explains variation in energy fluxes; however, this relationship depends on land-use systems and functional feeding guilds, whereby predators are the most heavily affected. Biodiversity decline from forest to oil palm is thus accompanied by even stronger reductions in functionality, threatening to severely limit the functional resilience of communities to cope with future global changes.

[Assessment of Functioning when Conducting Occupational Capacity Evaluations--What is "Evidence-Based"?].

PubMed

Canela, Carlos; Schleifer, Roman; Dube, Anish; Hengartner, Michael P; Ebner, Gerhard; Seifritz, Erich; Liebrenz, Michael

2016-03-01

Occupational capacity evaluations have previously been subject to criticism for lacking in quality and consistency. To the authors' knowledge, there is no clear consensus on the best way to formally assess functioning within capacity evaluations. In this review we investigated different instruments that are used to assess functioning in occupational capacity evaluations. Systematic review of the literature. Though several instruments that assess functional capacity were found in our search, a specific validated instrument assessing occupational capacity as part of a larger psychiatric evaluation was not found. The limitations of the existing instruments on assessing functional capacity are discussed. Medical experts relying on instruments to conduct functional capacity evaluations should be cognizant of their limitations. The findings call for the development and use of an instrument specifically designed to assess the functional and occupational capacity of psychiatric patients, which is also likely to improve the quality of these reports. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

On Improving Efficiency of Differential Evolution for Aerodynamic Shape Optimization Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Madavan, Nateri K.

2004-01-01

Differential Evolution (DE) is a simple and robust evolutionary strategy that has been provEn effective in determining the global optimum for several difficult optimization problems. Although DE offers several advantages over traditional optimization approaches, its use in applications such as aerodynamic shape optimization where the objective function evaluations are computationally expensive is limited by the large number of function evaluations often required. In this paper various approaches for improving the efficiency of DE are reviewed and discussed. Several approaches that have proven effective for other evolutionary algorithms are modified and implemented in a DE-based aerodynamic shape optimization method that uses a Navier-Stokes solver for the objective function evaluations. Parallelization techniques on distributed computers are used to reduce turnaround times. Results are presented for standard test optimization problems and for the inverse design of a turbine airfoil. The efficiency improvements achieved by the different approaches are evaluated and compared.

EEG-Based Brain–Computer Interfaces for Communication and Rehabilitation of People with Motor Impairment: A Novel Approach of the 21st Century

PubMed Central

Lazarou, Ioulietta; Nikolopoulos, Spiros; Petrantonakis, Panagiotis C.; Kompatsiaris, Ioannis; Tsolaki, Magda

2018-01-01

People with severe neurological impairments face many challenges in sensorimotor functions and communication with the environment; therefore they have increased demand for advanced, adaptive and personalized rehabilitation. During the last several decades, numerous studies have developed brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) with the goals ranging from providing means of communication to functional rehabilitation. Here we review the research on non-invasive, electroencephalography (EEG)-based BCI systems for communication and rehabilitation. We focus on the approaches intended to help severely paralyzed and locked-in patients regain communication using three different BCI modalities: slow cortical potentials, sensorimotor rhythms and P300 potentials, as operational mechanisms. We also review BCI systems for restoration of motor function in patients with spinal cord injury and chronic stroke. We discuss the advantages and limitations of these approaches and the challenges that need to be addressed in the future. PMID:29472849

Multipurpose Panel Display Device Investigation. [technology assessment and product development

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sliwa, R.

1977-01-01

A multipurpose panel was developed to provide a flexible control and a LED display panel with easily changeable nomenclature for use in applications where panel space is limited, but where a number of similar subsystems must be controlled, or where basic panel nomenclature and functions must be changed rapidly, as in the case of between mission changes of space shuttle payloads. In the first application, panel area limitations are overcome by time sharing a central control panel among several subsystems. In the latter case, entire control panel changes are effected by simply replacing a memory module, thereby reducing the extent of installation and checkout procedures between missions. Several types of control technologies (other than LED's) which show potential in meeting criteria for overcoming limitations of the panel are assessed.

Peak season carbon exchange shifts from a sink to a source following 50+ years of herbivore exclusion in an Arctic tundra ecosystem

DOE PAGES

Lara, Mark J.; Johnson, David R.; Andresen, Christian; ...

2016-08-27

To date, the majority of our knowledge regarding the impacts of herbivory on arctic ecosystem function has been restricted to short-term (<5 years) exclusion or manipulation experiments. Here, our understanding of long-term responses of sustained herbivory and/or herbivore exclusion on arctic tundra ecosystem function is severely limited.

Peak season carbon exchange shifts from a sink to a source following 50+ years of herbivore exclusion in an Arctic tundra ecosystem

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

Lara, Mark J.; Johnson, David R.; Andresen, Christian

To date, the majority of our knowledge regarding the impacts of herbivory on arctic ecosystem function has been restricted to short-term (<5 years) exclusion or manipulation experiments. Here, our understanding of long-term responses of sustained herbivory and/or herbivore exclusion on arctic tundra ecosystem function is severely limited.

On the Transition and Migration of Flight Functions in the Airspace System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morris, Allan Terry; Young, Steve D.

2012-01-01

Since 400 BC, when man first replicated flying behavior with kites, up until the turn of the 20th century, when the Wright brothers performed the first successful powered human flight, flight functions have become available to man via significant support from man-made structures and devices. Over the past 100 years or so, technology has enabled several flight functions to migrate to automation and/or decision support systems. This migration continues with the United States NextGen and Europe s Single European Sky (a.k.a. SESAR) initiatives. These overhauls of the airspace system will be accomplished by accommodating the functional capabilities, benefits, and limitations of technology and automation together with the unique and sometimes overlapping functional capabilities, benefits, and limitations of humans. This paper will discuss how a safe and effective migration of any flight function must consider several interrelated issues, including, for example, shared situation awareness, and automation addiction, or over-reliance on automation. A long-term philosophical perspective is presented that considers all of these issues by primarily asking the following questions: How does one find an acceptable level of risk tolerance when allocating functions to automation versus humans? How does one measure or predict with confidence what the risks will be? These two questions and others will be considered from the two most-discussed paradigms involving the use of increasingly complex systems in the future: humans as operators and humans as monitors.

COPD assessment test and severity of airflow limitation in patients with asthma, COPD, and asthma-COPD overlap syndrome.

PubMed

Kurashima, Kazuyoshi; Takaku, Yotaro; Ohta, Chie; Takayanagi, Noboru; Yanagisawa, Tsutomu; Sugita, Yutaka

2016-01-01

The COPD assessment test (CAT) consists of eight nonspecific scores of quality of life. The aim of this study was to compare the health-related quality of life and severity of airflow limitation in patients with asthma, COPD, and asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS) using the CAT. We examined CAT and lung functions in 138 patients with asthma, 99 patients with COPD, 51 patients with ACOS, and 44 patients with chronic cough as a control. The CAT score was recorded in all subjects, and the asthma control test was also administered to patients with asthma and ACOS. The CAT scores were compared, and the relationships between the scores and lung function parameters were analyzed. The total CAT scores and scores for cough, phlegm, and dyspnea were higher in patients with ACOS than in patients with asthma and COPD. The total CAT scores were correlated with the percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second only in patients with COPD. The total CAT scores and dyspnea scores adjusted by the percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second were higher in patients with ACOS than in patients with COPD and asthma. The CAT scores and asthma control test scores were more closely correlated in patients with ACOS than in patients with asthma. Patients with ACOS have higher disease impacts and dyspnea sensation unproportional to the severity of airflow limitation.

Combined application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and an artificial pacemaker in fulminant myocarditis in a child

PubMed Central

Ye, Sheng; Zhu, Lvchan; Ning, Botao; Zhang, Chenmei

2017-01-01

Fulminant myocarditis is severe and aggressive, but it is self-limited and usually has a favorable prognosis if the patients can survive the acute phase. When drug treatment is not effective, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation technology should be applied to support cardiopulmonary function. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation can simultaneously support function of the left ventricle, right ventricle, and lungs, and provide stable blood circulation for patients with heart and respiratory failure, which allows sufficient time for the cardiopulmonary system to recover. Fulminant myocarditis affects cardiac systolic function, as well as the function of autorhythmic cells and the conduction system. If severe bradycardia or atrioventricular block appears, a pacemaker needs to be installed. We report a child with fulminant myocarditis who was treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation combined with an artificial pacemaker. PMID:28747842

Combined application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and an artificial pacemaker in fulminant myocarditis in a child.

PubMed

Ye, Sheng; Zhu, Lvchan; Ning, Botao; Zhang, Chenmei

2017-06-01

Fulminant myocarditis is severe and aggressive, but it is self-limited and usually has a favorable prognosis if the patients can survive the acute phase. When drug treatment is not effective, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation technology should be applied to support cardiopulmonary function. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation can simultaneously support function of the left ventricle, right ventricle, and lungs, and provide stable blood circulation for patients with heart and respiratory failure, which allows sufficient time for the cardiopulmonary system to recover. Fulminant myocarditis affects cardiac systolic function, as well as the function of autorhythmic cells and the conduction system. If severe bradycardia or atrioventricular block appears, a pacemaker needs to be installed. We report a child with fulminant myocarditis who was treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation combined with an artificial pacemaker.

An analysis of the differences between early and late preeclampsia with severe hypertension.

PubMed

Li, X L; Guo, P L; Xue, Y; Gou, W L; Tong, M; Chen, Q

2016-01-01

Preeclampsia is clinically divided into early onset and late onset preeclampsia based on the gestational age at delivery. Although the diagnostic criteria are the same in each subgroup of preeclampsia, it has been suggested that the maternal and perinatal mortalities of early onset and late onset preeclampsia are different. However, studies that compare clinical parameters or laboratory biomarkers between early onset and late onset preeclampsia are limited. Data on 177 women with early or late preeclampsia with severe hypertension were collected from a University Teaching Hospital from January 2010 to January 2011 and analysed. Data included all the clinical parameters and laboratory biomarkers of liver and renal function. 63 women and 114 women were diagnosed with early and late preeclampsia with severe hypertension, respectively. There was no difference in the maternal age and the incidence of clinical symptoms including edema, vision disturbance, severe headache and stillbirth between two groups. There was a decrease in alkaline phosphatase levels in early preeclampsia with severe hypertension but other markers of liver function were not altered. However, renal function including blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and uric acid were significantly higher in early preeclampsia with severe hypertension. Umbilical artery systolic velocity/diastolic velocity ratio was significantly higher in early preeclampsia with severe hypertension. Our data demonstrates that the laboratory biomarkers of renal function differ between early and late preeclampsia with severe hypertension. The severity of renal dysfunction correlated with the time of delivery in preeclampsia with severe hypertension. Copyright © 2015 International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Temperament, Executive Control, and ADHD across Early Development

PubMed Central

Rabinovitz, Beth B.; O’Neill, Sarah; Rajendran, Khushmand; Halperin, Jeffrey M.

2015-01-01

Research examining factors linking early temperament and later ADHD is limited by cross-sectional approaches and having the same informant rate both temperament and psychopathology. We used multi-informant/multi-method longitudinal data to test the hypothesis that negative emotionality during preschool is positively associated with ADHD symptom severity in middle childhood, but developing executive control mediates this relation. Children (N=161) with and without ADHD were evaluated three times: Parent and teacher temperament ratings and NEPSY Visual Attention at ages 3–4 years; WISC-IV Working Memory Index and NEPSY Response Set at age 6 years; and ADHD symptoms using the Kiddie-SADS at age 7 years. Parent and teacher ratings of preschoolers’ temperament were combined to form an Anger/Frustration composite. Similarly, an Executive Functioning composite was derived from age 6 measures. Bootstrapping was used to determine whether age 6 Executive Functioning mediated the relation between early Anger/Frustration and later ADHD symptom severity, while controlling for early executive functioning. Preschoolers’ Anger/Frustration was significantly associated with later ADHD symptoms, with this relation partially mediated by age 6 Executive Functioning. Developing executive control mediates the relation between early Anger/Frustration and later ADHD symptom severity, suggesting that Anger/Frustration influences ADHD symptom severity through its impact on developing executive control. Early interventions targeting the harmful influences of negative emotionality or enhancing executive functioning may diminish later ADHD severity. PMID:26854505

Mild, moderate, meaningful? Examining the psychological and functioning correlates of DSM-5 eating disorder severity specifiers.

PubMed

Gianini, Loren; Roberto, Christina A; Attia, Evelyn; Walsh, B Timothy; Thomas, Jennifer J; Eddy, Kamryn T; Grilo, Carlos M; Weigel, Thomas; Sysko, Robyn

2017-08-01

This study evaluated the DSM-5 severity specifiers for treatment-seeking groups of participants with anorexia nervosa (AN), the purging form of bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge-eating disorder (BED). Hundred and sixty-two participants with AN, 93 participants with BN, and 343 participants with BED were diagnosed using semi-structured interviews, sub-categorized using DSM-5 severity specifiers and compared on demographic and cross-sectional clinical measures. In AN, the number of previous hospitalizations and the duration of illness increased with severity, but there was no difference across severity groups on measures of eating pathology, depression, or measures of self-reported physical or emotional functioning. In BN, the level of eating concerns increased across the severity groups, but the groups did not differ on measures of depression, self-esteem, and most eating pathology variables. In BN, support was also found for an alternative severity classification scheme based upon number of methods of purging. In BED, levels of several measures of eating pathology and self-reported physical and emotional functioning increased across the severity groups. For BED, however, support was also found for an alternative severity classification scheme based upon overvaluation of shape and weight. Preliminary evidence was also found for a transdiagnostic severity index based upon overvaluation of shape and weight. Overall, these data show limited support for the DSM-5 severity specifiers for BN and modest support for the DSM-5 severity specifiers for AN and BED. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Caracterization of adults with cerebral palsy.

PubMed

Margre, Anna L M; Reis, Maria G L; Morais, Rosane L S

2010-01-01

cerebral Palsy (CP) is a group of permanent disorders of the development of movement and posture that cause functional limitation and are attributed to non-progressive disorders which occur in the fetal or infant brain. In recent years, with the increase in life expectancy of individuals with CP, several studies have described the impact of musculoskeletal disabilities and functional limitations over the life cycle. to characterize adults with CP through sociodemographic information, classifications, general health, associated conditions, physical complications and locomotion. twenty-two adults with CP recruited from local rehabilitation centers in an inner town of Brazil participated in this study. A questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics, comorbities, and physical complications. A brief physical therapy evaluation was carried out, and the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) were applied. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics. the mean age was 28.7 (SD 10.6) years, 86.4% of participants lived with parents, and 4.5% were employed. Most of the sample consisted of spastic quadriplegic subjects, corresponding to levels IV and V of the GMFCS and MACS. Different comorbidities and important physical complications such as scoliosis and muscle contractures were present. More than half of the participants were unable to walk. Most participants demonstrated important restrictions in social participation and lower educational level. Adults with CP can be affected by several physical complications and progressive limitations in gait.

X-linked retinoschisis: RS1 mutation severity and age affect the ERG phenotype in a cohort of 68 affected male subjects.

PubMed

Bowles, Kristen; Cukras, Catherine; Turriff, Amy; Sergeev, Yuri; Vitale, Susan; Bush, Ronald A; Sieving, Paul A

2011-11-29

To assess the effect of age and RS1 mutation on the phenotype of X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS) subjects using the clinical electroretinogram (ERG) in a cross-sectional analysis. Sixty-eight XLRS males 4.5 to 55 years of age underwent genotyping, and the retinoschisis (RS1) mutations were classified as less severe (27 subjects) or more severe (41 subjects) based on the putative impact on the protein. ERG parameters of retinal function were analyzed by putative mutation severity with age as a continuous variable. The a-wave amplitude remained greater than the lower limit of normal (mean, -2 SD) for 72% of XLRS males and correlated with neither age nor mutation class. However, b-wave and b/a-ratio amplitudes were significantly lower in the more severe than in the less severe mutation groups and in older than in younger subjects. Subjects up to 10 years of age with more severe RS1 mutations had significantly greater b-wave amplitudes and faster a-wave trough implicit times than older subjects in this group. RS1 mutation putative severity and age both had significant effects on retinal function in XLRS only in the severe mutation group, as judged by ERG analysis of the b-wave amplitude and the b/a-ratio, whereas the a-wave amplitude remained normal in most. A new observation was that increasing age (limited to those aged 55 and younger) caused a significant delay in XLRS b-wave onset (i.e., a-wave implicit time), even for those who retained considerable b-wave amplitudes. The delayed b-wave onset suggested that dysfunction of the photoreceptor synapse or of bipolar cells increases with age of XLRS subjects.

The translocator protein gene is associated with symptom severity and cerebral pain processing in fibromyalgia.

PubMed

Kosek, Eva; Martinsen, Sofia; Gerdle, Björn; Mannerkorpi, Kaisa; Löfgren, Monika; Bileviciute-Ljungar, Indre; Fransson, Peter; Schalling, Martin; Ingvar, Martin; Ernberg, Malin; Jensen, Karin B

2016-11-01

The translocator protein (TSPO) is upregulated during glia activation in chronic pain patients. TSPO constitutes the rate-limiting step in neurosteroid synthesis, thus modulating synaptic transmission. Related serotonergic mechanisms influence if pro- or anti-nociceptive neurosteroids are produced. This study investigated the effects of a functional genetic polymorphism regulating the binding affinity to the TSPO, thus affecting symptom severity and cerebral pain processing in fibromyalgia patients. Gene-to-gene interactions with a functional polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene were assessed. Fibromyalgia patients (n=126) were genotyped regarding the polymorphisms of the TSPO (rs6971) and the serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR/rs25531). Functional magnetic resonance imaging (n=24) was used to study brain activation during individually calibrated pressure pain. Compared to mixed/low TSPO affinity binders, the high TSPO affinity binders rated more severe pain (p=0.016) and fibromyalgia symptoms (p=0.02). A significant interaction was found between the TSPO and the serotonin transporter polymorphisms regarding pain severity (p<0.0001). Functional connectivity analyses revealed that the TSPO high affinity binding group had more pronounced pain-evoked functional connectivity in the right frontoparietal network, between the dorsolateral prefrontal area and the parietal cortex. In conclusion, fibromyalgia patients with the TSPO high affinity binding genotype reported a higher pain intensity and more severe fibromyalgia symptoms compared to mixed/low affinity binders, and this was modulated by interaction with the serotonin transporter gene. To our knowledge this is the first evidence of functional genetic polymorphisms affecting pain severity in FM and our findings are in line with proposed glia-related mechanisms. Furthermore, the functional magnetic resonance findings indicated an effect of translocator protein on the affective-motivational components of pain perception. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Sleep-Wake Disturbances in Sedentary Community-Dwelling Elders With Functional Limitations

PubMed Central

Vaz Fragoso, Carlos A.; Miller, Michael E.; Fielding, Roger A.; King, Abby C.; Kritchevsky, Stephen B.; McDermott, Mary M.; Myers, Valerie; Newman, Anne B.; Pahor, Marco; Gill, Thomas M.

2014-01-01

OBJECTIVES To evaluate sleep-wake disturbances in sedentary community-dwelling elders with functional limitations. DESIGN Cross-sectional. SETTING Lifestyle Interventions and Independence in Elder (LIFE) Study. PARTICIPANTS 1635 community-dwelling persons, mean age 78.9, who spent <20 minutes/week in the past month of regular physical activity and <125 minutes/week of moderate physical activity, and had a Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score <10. MEASUREMENTS Mobility was evaluated by the 400-meter walk time (slow gait speed defined as <0.8 m/s) and SPPB score (≤7 defined moderate-to-severe mobility impairment). Physical inactivity was defined by sedentary time, as percent of accelerometry wear time with activity <100 counts/min); top quartile established high sedentary time. Sleep-wake disturbances were evaluated by the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) (range 0–28; ≥8 defined insomnia), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) (range 0–24; ≥10 defined daytime drowsiness), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) (range 0–21; >5 defined poor sleep quality), and Berlin Questionnaire (high risk of sleep apnea). RESULTS Prevalence rates were 43.5% for slow gait speed and 44.7% for moderate-to-severe mobility impairment, with 77.0% of accelerometry wear time spent as sedentary time. Prevalence rates were 33.0% for insomnia, 18.1% for daytime drowsiness, 47.8% for poor sleep quality, and 32.9% for high risk of sleep apnea. Participants with insomnia, daytime drowsiness, and poor sleep quality had mean values of 12.1 for ISI, 12.5 for ESS, and 9.2 for PSQI, respectively. In adjusted models, measures of mobility and physical inactivity were generally not associated with sleep-wake disturbances, using continuous or categorical variables. CONCLUSION In a large sample of sedentary community-dwelling elders with functional limitations, sleep-wake disturbances were prevalent but only mildly severe, and were generally not associated with mobility impairment or physical inactivity. PMID:24889836

Development and validation of a questionnaire to measure the severity of functional limitations and reduction of sports ability in German-speaking patients with exercise-induced leg pain.

PubMed

Nauck, Tanja; Lohrer, Heinz; Padhiar, Nat; King, John B

2015-01-01

Currently, there is no generally agreed measure available to quantify a subject's perceived severity of exercise-induced leg pain symptoms. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a questionnaire that measures the severity of symptoms that impact on function and sports ability in patients with exercise-induced leg pain. The exercise-induced leg pain questionnaire for German-speaking patients (EILP-G) was developed in five steps: (1) initial item generation, (2) item reduction, (3) pretesting, (4) expert meeting and (5) validation. The resulting EILP-G was tested for reliability, validity and internal consistency in 20 patients with exercise-induced leg pain, 20 asymptomatic track and field athletes serving as a population at risk and 33 asymptomatic sport students. The patient group scored the EILP-G questionnaire significantly lower than both control groups (each p<0.001). Test-retest demonstrates an excellent reliability in all tested groups (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient, ICC=0.861-0.987). Concurrent validity of the EILP-G questionnaire showed a substantial agreement when correlated with the chronic exertional compartment syndrome classification system of Schepsis (r=-0.743; p<0.001). Internal consistency for the EILP-G questionnaire was 0.924. EILP-G questionnaire is a valid and reliable self-administered and disease-related outcome tool to measure the severity of symptoms that impact on function and sports ability in patients with exercise-induced leg pain. It can be recommended as a robust tool for measuring the subjectively perceived severity in German-speaking patients with exercise-induced leg pain. 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.

Learning disability and epilepsy. 2, a review of available outcome measures and position statement on development priorities.

PubMed

Espie, C A; Kerr, M; Paul, A; O'Brien, G; Betts, T; Clark, J; Jacoby, A; Baker, G

1997-10-01

People with epilepsy plus learning disabilities pose a challenge in terms of clinical management and research investigation, and, to date, the measurement of outcomes in this population has been limited. There have been uncertainties concerning both the 'what' and the 'how' of assessment. This paper presents a comprehensive review of available outcome measures across nine domains, i.e. relating to seizures, drugs, cognitive function, behaviour, social functioning, carer functioning, attitudes, motivation and 'quality of life'. This last domain reflects more global measures designed to encompass several assessment strands. The uses and limitations of each scale is discussed and, where data are available, psychometric properties are also presented. The paper concludes with suggestions for the further development of outcome measures in this population.

An Investigation of Executive Functioning in Pediatric Anxiety.

PubMed

Murphy, Yolanda E; Luke, Anna; Brennan, Elle; Francazio, Sarah; Christopher, Isabella; Flessner, Christopher A

2018-01-01

Although science's understanding (e.g., etiology, maintaining factors, etc.) of pediatric anxiety and related problems has grown substantially over recent years, several aspects to anxiety in youths remain elusive, particularly with relation to executive functioning. To this end, the current study sought to examine several facets to executive functioning (i.e., cognitive flexibility, inhibition, planning, working memory) within a transdiagnostic sample of youths exhibiting varying degrees of anxiety symptoms. One hundred six youths completed a comprehensive battery, including several self-report measures (e.g., Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children [MASC] or MASC-2) and an automated neurocognitive battery of several executive functioning tasks (Intradimensional/Extradimensional [IDED], Stop Signal [SST], Spatial Span [SSP], Stockings of Cambridge [SOC] tasks). Regression analyses indicated that youths exhibiting marked anxiety symptoms demonstrated increased planning time and probability of inhibition compared with youths with minimal or no anxiety symptoms. Youths with marked anxiety symptoms similarly demonstrated better cognitive flexibility (i.e., set shifting) compared with youths with minimal anxiety. In addition, analyses indicated a trend such that youths exhibiting marked anxiety symptoms demonstrated poorer working memory compared with youths with no anxiety symptoms. Group classification did not predict remaining outcomes. Limitations and future areas of research are discussed.

Mobility impairment is associated with urge but not stress urinary incontinence in community-dwelling older women: results from the Ossébo study.

PubMed

Fritel, X; Lachal, L; Cassou, B; Fauconnier, A; Dargent-Molina, P

2013-11-01

To assess the association between functional limitations related to mobility and urinary incontinence (UI) in elderly women. An observational cross-sectional study. Nine 'balance' workshops in France. A total of 1942 community-dwelling women aged 75-85 years, who were invited, based on voter registration lists, to a 'balance assessment'. Mobility and balance test results for incontinent women were compared with those for continent women according to the severity and type of incontinence. Data on UI were collected using a self-administered questionnaire (International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form). Motor-related physical abilities were assessed using standardised balance and functional gait tests. Forty-two per cent of women had involuntary urine leakage, with daily leaks in 57% of them; 24% had stress UI, 31% had urge UI, and 37% had mixed UI. Results for each functional test were poorer for women with UI and the limitation was more pronounced when the incontinence was severe. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that balance and gait impairments were significantly and independently associated with urge UI (walking speed, lower versus higher quartile, odds ratio (OR) 2.2; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.4-3.5; walking balance, unable versus able to do four tandem steps (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.2-2.2) but not with stress UI. In this large population of older women living at home, there was a strong association between limitation of motor and balance skills and UI, which was proportional to the severity of incontinence and related specifically to urge incontinence. These results offer new perspectives on the prevention and treatment of urge incontinence in elderly women. © 2013 RCOG.

Association of Pain With Physical Function, Depressive Symptoms, Fatigue, and Sleep Quality Among Veteran and non-Veteran Postmenopausal Women

PubMed Central

Patel, Kushang V.; Cochrane, Barbara B.; Turk, Dennis C.; Bastian, Lori A.; Haskell, Sally G.; Woods, Nancy F.; Zaslavsky, Oleg; Wallace, Robert B.; Kerns, Robert D.

2016-01-01

Abstract Purpose of Study: To characterize the prevalence and longitudinal effects of pain in older Veteran and non-Veteran women. Design and Methods: Data on 144,956 participants in the Women’s Health Initiative were analyzed. At baseline, Veteran status, pain severity, and pain interference with activity were assessed. Outcomes of physical function, depressive symptoms, fatigue, and sleep quality were reported at baseline by all study participants and longitudinally on two follow-up occasions (3 years and 13–18 years after baseline) in the observational study participants ( n = 87,336). Results: At baseline, a total of 3,687 (2.5%) had a history of military service and 22,813 (15.8%) reported that pain limited their activity level moderately to extremely during the past 4 weeks. Prevalence of pain interference did not differ in Veterans and non-Veterans (16.8% and 15.7%, respectively; p = .09). At baseline, women with moderate-to-extreme pain interference had substantially worse physical function and greater symptoms of depression, fatigue, and insomnia than those with less pain ( p < .001 for all comparisons), adjusting for several social, behavioral, and health related factors. There were no significant military service by pain interference interactions for any of the outcomes ( p > .2), indicating that the effect of pain interference on outcomes at baseline did not vary between Veterans and non-Veterans. Moderate-to-extreme pain interference was associated with a greater rate of decline in physical function over time ( p < .001) and higher incidence of limited physical functioning ( p < .001), but these effects did not vary by Veteran status. Similar results were observed with pain severity as the exposure variable. Implications: As the Veteran population ages and the number of women exposed to combat operations grows, there will be an increased need for health care services that address not only pain severity and interference but also other disabling comorbid symptoms. PMID:26768395

Piscivory limits diversification of feeding morphology in centrarchid fishes.

PubMed

Collar, David C; O'Meara, Brian C; Wainwright, Peter C; Near, Thomas J

2009-06-01

Proximity to an adaptive peak influences a lineage's potential to diversify. We tested whether piscivory, a high quality but functionally demanding trophic strategy, represents an adaptive peak that limits morphological diversification in the teleost fish clade, Centrarchidae. We synthesized published diet data and applied a well-resolved, multilocus and time-calibrated phylogeny to reconstruct ancestral piscivory. We measured functional features of the skull and performed principal components analysis on species' values for these variables. To assess the role of piscivory on morphological diversification, we compared the fit of several models of evolution for each principal component (PC), where model parameters were allowed to vary between lineages that differed in degree of piscivory. According to the best-fitting model, two adaptive peaks influenced PC 1 evolution, one peak shared between highly and moderately piscivorous lineages and another for nonpiscivores. Brownian motion better fit PCs 2, 3, and 4, but the best Brownian models infer a slow rate of PC 2 evolution shared among all piscivores and a uniquely slow rate of PC 4 evolution in highly piscivorous lineages. These results suggest that piscivory limits feeding morphology diversification, but this effect is most severe in lineages that exhibit an extreme form of this diet.

INTERNAL LIMITING MEMBRANE PEELING IN MACULAR HOLE SURGERY; WHY, WHEN, AND HOW?

PubMed

Chatziralli, Irini P; Theodossiadis, Panagiotis G; Steel, David H W

2018-05-01

To review the current rationale for internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling in macular hole (MH) surgery and to discuss the evidence base behind why, when, and how surgeons peel the ILM. Review of the current literature. Pars plana vitrectomy is an effective treatment for idiopathic MH, and peeling of the ILM has been shown to improve closure rates and to prevent postoperative reopening. However, some authors argue against ILM peeling because it results in a number of changes in retinal structure and function and may not be necessary in all cases. Furthermore, the extent of ILM peeling optimally performed and the most favorable techniques to remove the ILM are uncertain. Several technique variations including ILM flaps, ILM scraping, and foveal sparing ILM peeling have been described as alternatives to conventional peeling in specific clinical scenarios. Internal limiting membrane peeling improves MH closure rates but can have several consequences on retinal structure and function. Adjuvants to aid peeling, instrumentation, technique, and experience may all alter the outcome. Hole size and other variables are important in assessing the requirement for peeling and potentially its extent. A variety of evolving alternatives to conventional peeling may improve outcomes and need further study.

Functional measures developed for clinical populations identified impairment among active workers with upper extremity disorders

PubMed Central

Gardner, Bethany T.; Dale, Ann Marie; Buckner-Petty, Skye; Rachford, Robert; Strickland, Jaime; Kaskutas, Vicki; Evanoff, Bradley

2017-01-01

Purpose Few studies have explored measures of function across a range of health outcomes in a general working population. Using four upper extremity (UE) case definitions from the scientific literature, we described the performance of functional measures of work, activities of daily living, and overall health. Methods A sample of 573 workers completed several functional measures: modified recall versions of the QuickDASH, Levine Functional Status Scale (FSS), DASH Work module (DASH-W), and standard SF-8 physical component score. We determined case status based on four UE case definitions: 1) UE symptoms, 2) UE musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), 3) carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), and 4) work limitations due to UE symptoms. We calculated effect sizes for each case definition to show the magnitude of the differences that were detected between cases and non-cases for each case definition on each functional measure. Sensitivity and specificity analyses showed how well each measure identified functional impairments across the UE case definitions. Results All measures discriminated between cases and non-cases for each case definition with the largest effect sizes for CTS and work limitations, particularly for the modified FSS and DASH-W measures. Specificity was high and sensitivity was low for outcomes of UE symptoms and UE MSD in all measures. Sensitivity was high for CTS and work limitations. Conclusions Functional measures developed specifically for use in clinical, treatment-seeking populations may identify mild levels of impairment in relatively healthy, active working populations, but measures performed better among workers with CTS or those reporting limitations at work. PMID:26091980

Entanglement of 3000 atoms by detecting one photon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vuletic, Vladan

2016-05-01

Quantum-mechanically correlated (entangled) states of many particles are of interest in quantum information, quantum computing and quantum metrology. In particular, entangled states of many particles can be used to overcome limits on measurements performed with ensembles of independent atoms (standard quantum limit). Metrologically useful entangled states of large atomic ensembles (spin squeezed states) have been experimentally realized. These states display Gaussian spin distribution functions with a non-negative Wigner quasiprobability distribution function. We report the generation of entanglement in a large atomic ensemble via an interaction with a very weak laser pulse; remarkably, the detection of a single photon prepares several thousand atoms in an entangled state. We reconstruct a negative-valued Wigner function, and verify an entanglement depth (the minimum number of mutually entangled atoms) that comprises 90% of the atomic ensemble containing 3100 atoms. Further technical improvement should allow the generation of more complex Schrödinger cat states, and of states the overcome the standard quantum limit.

Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in the deceased donor: impact on early post-transplant liver allograft function.

PubMed

Mangus, Richard S; Fridell, Jonathan A; Kubal, Chandrashekhar A; Davis, Jason P; Tector, A Joseph

2015-02-01

Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels are frequently elevated with liver injury and such elevations are common in deceased organ donors. The impact of this injury on early liver allograft function has not been well described. This study analyses the immediate function and 1-year graft and patient survival for liver allografts stratified by peak serum ALT levels in the deceased donor. The on-site organ procurement records for 1348 consecutive deceased liver donors were reviewed (2001–2011). Serum ALT was categorized into three study groups: normal/mild elevation, 0–499 μ/L; moderate elevation, 500–999 μ/L (>10× upper limit of normal) and severe elevation, ≥1000 μ/L (>20× upper limit of normal). Outcomes included early graft function and graft loss, and 1-year graft and patient survival. Distribution of subjects included: normal/mild, 1259 (93%); moderate, 34 (3%) and severe, 55 (4%). Risk of 30-day graft loss for the three study groups was: 72 (6%), 3 (9%) and 3 (6%) (P = 0.74). Graft and patient survival at 1 year for the three groups was: normal/mild, 1031 (87%), 1048 (88%); moderate, 31 (91%), 31 (91%) and severe, 43 (88%), 44 (90%) (P = 0.71, 0.79). Cox proportional hazards modelling of survival while controlling for donor age and recipient model for end-stage liver disease score (MELD) demonstrates no statistically significant difference among the three study groups. This study demonstrates clinical equivalence in early graft function and 1-year graft and patient survival for donor livers with varying peak levels of serum ALT. These donor allografts may, therefore, be utilized successfully.

Approaches to defining deltaic sustainability in the 21st century

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Day, John W.; Agboola, Julius; Chen, Zhongyuan; D'Elia, Christopher; Forbes, Donald L.; Giosan, Liviu; Kemp, Paul; Kuenzer, Claudia; Lane, Robert R.; Ramachandran, Ramesh; Syvitski, James; Yañez-Arancibia, Alejandro

2016-12-01

Deltas are among the most productive and economically important of global ecosystems but unfortunately they are also among the most threatened by human activities. Here we discuss deltas and human impact, several approaches to defining deltaic sustainability and present a ranking of sustainability. Delta sustainability must be considered within the context of global biophysical and socioeconomic constraints that include thermodynamic limitations, scale and embeddedness, and constraints at the level of the biosphere/geosphere. The development, functioning, and sustainability of deltas are the result of external and internal inputs of energy and materials, such as sediments and nutrients, that include delta lobe development, channel switching, crevasse formation, river floods, storms and associated waves and storm surges, and tides and other ocean currents. Modern deltas developed over the past several thousand years with relatively stable global mean sea level, predictable material inputs from drainage basins and the sea, and as extremely open systems. Human activity has changed these conditions to make deltas less sustainable, in that they are unable to persist through time structurally or functionally. Deltaic sustainability can be considered from geomorphic, ecological, and economic perspectives, with functional processes at these three levels being highly interactive. Changes in this functioning can lead to either enhanced or diminished sustainability, but most changes have been detrimental. There is a growing understanding that the trajectories of global environmental change and cost of energy will make achieving delta sustainability more challenging and limit options for management. Several delta types are identified in terms of sustainability including those in arid regions, those with high and low energy-intensive management systems, deltas below sea level, tropical deltas, and Arctic deltas. Representative deltas are ranked on a sustainability range. Success in sustainable delta management will depend on utilizing natural delta functioning and an ecological engineering approach.

Winter severity determines functional trait composition of phytoplankton in seasonally ice-covered lakes.

PubMed

Özkundakci, Deniz; Gsell, Alena S; Hintze, Thomas; Täuscher, Helgard; Adrian, Rita

2016-01-01

How climate change will affect the community dynamics and functionality of lake ecosystems during winter is still little understood. This is also true for phytoplankton in seasonally ice-covered temperate lakes which are particularly vulnerable to the presence or absence of ice. We examined changes in pelagic phytoplankton winter community structure in a north temperate lake (Müggelsee, Germany), covering 18 winters between 1995 and 2013. We tested how phytoplankton taxa composition varied along a winter-severity gradient and to what extent winter severity shaped the functional trait composition of overwintering phytoplankton communities using multivariate statistical analyses and a functional trait-based approach. We hypothesized that overwintering phytoplankton communities are dominated by taxa with trait combinations corresponding to the prevailing winter water column conditions, using ice thickness measurements as a winter-severity indicator. Winter severity had little effect on univariate diversity indicators (taxon richness and evenness), but a strong relationship was found between the phytoplankton community structure and winter severity when taxon trait identity was taken into account. Species responses to winter severity were mediated by the key functional traits: motility, nutritional mode, and the ability to form resting stages. Accordingly, one or the other of two functional groups dominated the phytoplankton biomass during mild winters (i.e., thin or no ice cover; phototrophic taxa) or severe winters (i.e., thick ice cover; exclusively motile taxa). Based on predicted milder winters for temperate regions and a reduction in ice-cover durations, phytoplankton communities during winter can be expected to comprise taxa that have a relative advantage when the water column is well mixed (i.e., need not be motile) and light is less limiting (i.e., need not be mixotrophic). A potential implication of this result is that winter severity promotes different communities at the vernal equinox, which may have different nutritional quality for the next trophic level and ecosystem-scale effects. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Driver air bag effectiveness by severity of the crash.

PubMed Central

Segui-Gomez, M

2000-01-01

OBJECTIVES: This analysis provided effectiveness estimates of the driver-side air bag while controlling for severity of the crash and other potential confounders. METHODS: Data were from the National Automotive Sampling System (1993-1996). Injury severity was described on the basis of the Abbreviated Injury Scale, Injury Severity Score, Functional Capacity Index, and survival. Ordinal, linear, and logistic multivariate regression methods were used. RESULTS: Air bag deployment in frontal or near-frontal crashes decreases the probability of having severe and fatal injuries (e.g., Abbreviated Injury Scale score of 4-6), including those causing a long-lasting high degree of functional limitation. However, air bag deployment in low-severity crashes increases the probability that a driver (particularly a woman) will sustain injuries of Abbreviated Injury Scale level 1 to 3. Air bag deployment exerts a net injurious effect in low-severity crashes and a net protective effect in high-severity crashes. The level of crash severity at which air bags are protective is higher for female than for male drivers. CONCLUSIONS: Air bag improvement should minimize the injuries induced by their deployment. One possibility is to raise their deployment level so that they deploy only in more severe crashes. PMID:11029991

Clinical protocol with digital cad/cam chairside workflow for the rehabilitation of severely worn dentition patients

PubMed Central

GERMANO, FED.; GERMANO, FRA.; PIRO, M.; ARCURI, C.; OTTRIA, L.

2017-01-01

SUMMARY Objectives The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effectiveness and to describe a clinical protocol with digital CAD CAM chairside workflow for the rehabilitation of severely compromised and worn dentitions. Methods This article reports 4 consecutive cases, where a clinical digital chairside workflow is used for the rehabilitation of severely compromised and worn dentitions. Advantages and limitations of this method compared with the traditional prosthetic protocol are also described and discussed. Results With all four patients treated with this protocol, we obtained a good aesthetic and functional result, improvement in chewing function, loss of cold sensitivity, better preservation of most of the left hard tissue and a good level of satisfaction. In a two-year follow-up, all patients also maintained the condition obtained with prosthetic chairside rehabilitation, resulting in almost 100% cumulative survival rate. Conclusion Within the limitations of this study, we can assert that the aforementioned restorative treatment with digital CAD/CAM chairside workflow represents a valid alternative to rehabilitate this kind of patients, because it is a safe, predictable and personalized procedure but also it seems easier, faster and cheaper than traditional protocols. PMID:29285327

[Motor function evaluation in merosin-deficient congenital muscular dystrophy children].

PubMed

Rocco, Fernanda M; Luz, Fernanda H Gianini; Rossato, Alexsander Junquera; Fernandes, Antônio Carlos; Oliveira, Acary S B; Betetas, Javier Toledano; Zanoteli, Edmar

2005-06-01

Congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD) is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by early onset of hypotonia and weakness. Almost 50% of the cases are caused by primary deficiency of a protein named merosin (MD), and present a homogenous phenotype with a severe motor and respiratory involvement. Eleven children with clinical and histological diagnosis of CMD-MD, aged of 3 to 15 years, were studied using the manual muscle testing (Medical Research Council), goniometric analysis, motor ability and day life activities (Barthel index) scales, with the objective to characterize the main motor function limitations. The muscular groups most affected were cervical flexors, paravertebral and proximal portions of limbs. The muscular groups of upper limbs were as affected as the lower limbs, and the extensors were more affected than the flexors groups. All children had severe muscular retractions on the hip, knee and elbow. Other frequent deformities were scoliosis and equinus-varum feet. No children presented the motor ability to walk, stand up and crawl; and all of them were classified as dependents or semi-dependents in the day life activities scale. Our findings confirm the severe and diffuse involvement of skeletal muscle in CMD-MD patients, producing serious motor limitations and deformities.

Physiological and functional failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure and cancer: a debilitating intersection of sarcopenia, cachexia and breathlessness.

PubMed

Dudgeon, Deborah; Baracos, Vickie E

2016-09-01

Loss of skeletal muscle mass and cachexia are important manifestations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and have been associated with breathlessness, functional limitation and poor prognosis. A number of other life-limiting illnesses, including cancer and chronic heart failure as well as acute conditions seen in ICU such as sepsis, are characteristically associated with cachexia and sarcopenia. These conditions may have respiratory muscle atrophy of sufficient magnitude to contribute to the development of breathlessness and associated functional limitation. The purpose of this review is to summarize findings related to a direct role for severe respiratory muscle wasting in the etiology of breathlessness in advanced, life limiting illness. Localized wasting of respiratory muscles appears to be part of systemic wasting of skeletal muscles, driven by deconditioning, nutritional insufficiencies and inflammation, and because of disease-specific factors (tumor factors and exacerbations), anabolic insufficiency, autonomic dysfunction, drugs (such as corticosteroids and chemotherapy agents), mechanical ventilation and comorbidities. Marked morphological and biochemical abnormalities have been noted in diaphragm muscle biopsies. Older patients with multiple comorbidities associated with muscle loss and cachexia are likely to be at elevated risk of respiratory muscle atrophy and functional loss, because of the presence of multiple, interacting etiologic factors.

A comparative study of sexual function, behavior, and cognitions of women with lifelong vaginismus.

PubMed

Cherner, Rebecca A; Reissing, Elke D

2013-11-01

Vaginismus is classified as a sexual dysfunction, yet limited research is available on the sexual function and behavior of women with this condition. Comparing women with lifelong vaginismus to women with lifelong dyspareunia and women with no pain during intercourse, this study explored sexual function, anxiety, and behavior along with cognitions related to vaginal penetration. A total of 152 women completed an online survey that included a series of validated questionnaires. Main findings indicated that, relative to both comparison groups, women in the vaginismus group reported a more limited range of sexual behavior across the lifespan and more maladaptive cognitions related to fear of losing control of one's body and the situation during penetration. Compared to the no-pain group, both symptomatic groups reported more difficulties across several indicators of sexual function, more limited sexual behavior in the past year and past month, and more maladaptive cognitions related to vaginal penetration. However, women with vaginismus reported more sexual desire and less difficulty with lubrication compared to women with dyspareunia. Numerous sexual problems extending beyond vaginal penetration difficulties were confirmed, suggesting a need for broader treatment approaches not limited to the experience of vaginal penetration. Results were discussed as they relate to the fear-avoidance model of vaginismus.

Rational Solutions of the Painlevé-II Equation Revisited

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miller, Peter D.; Sheng, Yue

2017-08-01

The rational solutions of the Painlevé-II equation appear in several applications and are known to have many remarkable algebraic and analytic properties. They also have several different representations, useful in different ways for establishing these properties. In particular, Riemann-Hilbert representations have proven to be useful for extracting the asymptotic behavior of the rational solutions in the limit of large degree (equivalently the large-parameter limit). We review the elementary properties of the rational Painlevé-II functions, and then we describe three different Riemann-Hilbert representations of them that have appeared in the literature: a representation by means of the isomonodromy theory of the Flaschka-Newell Lax pair, a second representation by means of the isomonodromy theory of the Jimbo-Miwa Lax pair, and a third representation found by Bertola and Bothner related to pseudo-orthogonal polynomials. We prove that the Flaschka-Newell and Bertola-Bothner Riemann-Hilbert representations of the rational Painlevé-II functions are explicitly connected to each other. Finally, we review recent results describing the asymptotic behavior of the rational Painlevé-II functions obtained from these Riemann-Hilbert representations by means of the steepest descent method.

Quasi-potential landscape in complex multi-stable systems

PubMed Central

Zhou, Joseph Xu; Aliyu, M. D. S.; Aurell, Erik; Huang, Sui

2012-01-01

The developmental dynamics of multicellular organisms is a process that takes place in a multi-stable system in which each attractor state represents a cell type, and attractor transitions correspond to cell differentiation paths. This new understanding has revived the idea of a quasi-potential landscape, first proposed by Waddington as a metaphor. To describe development, one is interested in the ‘relative stabilities’ of N attractors (N > 2). Existing theories of state transition between local minima on some potential landscape deal with the exit part in the transition between two attractors in pair-attractor systems but do not offer the notion of a global potential function that relates more than two attractors to each other. Several ad hoc methods have been used in systems biology to compute a landscape in non-gradient systems, such as gene regulatory networks. Here we present an overview of currently available methods, discuss their limitations and propose a new decomposition of vector fields that permits the computation of a quasi-potential function that is equivalent to the Freidlin–Wentzell potential but is not limited to two attractors. Several examples of decomposition are given, and the significance of such a quasi-potential function is discussed. PMID:22933187

Parents' Executive Functioning and Involvement in Their Child's Education: An Integrated Literature Review.

PubMed

Wilson, Damali M; Gross, Deborah

2018-04-01

Parents' involvement in their children's education is integral to academic success. Several education-based organizations have identified recommendations for how parents can best support their children's learning. However, executive functioning (EF), a high-ordered cognitive skill set, contributes to the extent to which parents can follow through with these recommendations. This integrative review of the literature describes how executive function can affect parents' ability to facilitate and actively participate in their child's education and provides strategies for all school staff to strengthen parent-school partnerships when parents have limitations in EF. EF skills are fluid and influenced by several factors, including parental age, sleep, stress, and mood/affect. Despite possible limitations in parental EF, there are strategies school personnel can employ to strengthen partnership with parents to support their children's academic success. As reforms in education call for increased customization and collaboration with families, parental EF is an important consideration for school personnel. Awareness and understanding of how parents' EF affects children's learning will help schools better support parents in supporting their children's academic success. © 2018 The Authors. Journal of School Health published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American School Health Association.

[Ocular graft-versus-host disease: An often misdiagnosed etiology of dry eye syndrome].

PubMed

Moyal, L; Adam, R; Akesbi, J; Rodallec, F T; Nordmann, J-P

2017-02-01

To report a case of severe ocular graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after cataract surgery. Observational case report. We describe the case of a 59-year-old man with postoperative corneal ulcer on his only functional eye. His past history reported allogenic bone marrow transplant. His visual acuity (VA) was limited to hand motions. Slit lamp examination revealed diffuse conjunctival hyperemia, severe blepharitis, Meibomian dysfunction, total corneal opacification with epithelial and stromal keratitis and neovascular invasion. Because of the severe dry eye symptoms and history of allogenic hematological stem cell transplantation, ocular GVHD was diagnosed. Functional and anatomical improvement occurred rapidly with topical cyclosporine 2%, with improved VA after treatment. With any severe dry eye syndrome in the context of allogenic bone marrow transplant, ocular GVHD must be considered. For planned ocular surgery, we recommend adding cyclosporine 0.1% treatment before and after surgery to prevent severe ocular GVHD. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Long-term symptomatic, functional, and work outcomes of carpal tunnel syndrome among construction workers.

PubMed

Evanoff, Bradley; Gardner, Bethany T; Strickland, Jaime R; Buckner-Petty, Skye; Franzblau, Alfred; Dale, Ann Marie

2016-05-01

The long-term outcomes of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) including symptoms, functional status, work disability, and economic impact are unknown. We conducted a retrospective study of 234 active construction workers with medical claims for CTS and 249 workers without CTS claims; non-cases were matched on age, trade, and insurance eligibility. We conducted telephone interviews with cases and non-cases and collected administrative data on work hours. Compared to non-cases, CTS cases were more likely to report recurrent hand symptoms, decreased work productivity/quality, decreased performance of physical work demands, and greater functional limitations. Surgical cases showed larger improvements on multiple outcomes than non-surgical cases. Minimal differences in paid work hours were seen between cases and non-cases in the years preceding and following CTS claims. Persistent symptoms and functional impairments were present several years after CTS diagnosis. Long-term functional limitations shown by this and other studies indicate the need for improved prevention and treatment. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Adolescents with Major Depression Demonstrate Increased Amygdala Activation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yang, Tony T.; Simmons, Alan N.; Matthews, Scott C.; Tapert, Susan F.; Frank, Guido K.; Max, Jeffrey E.; Bischoff-Grethe, Amanda; Lansing, Amy E.; Brown, Gregory; Strigo, Irina A.; Wu, Jing; Paulus, Martin P.

2010-01-01

Objective: Functional neuroimaging studies have led to a significantly deeper understanding of the underlying neural correlates and the development of several mature models of depression in adults. In contrast, our current understanding of the underlying neural substrates of adolescent depression is very limited. Although numerous studies have…

Impact of chitosan application technique on refrigerated catfish fillet quality

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Chitosan has been reported to have functional properties such as antimicrobial activity, antioxidant activity, and binding action. Several studies reported an extension in the shelf life of various food products when chitosan was applied. However, there is limited study on the effect of chitosan ap...

20 CFR 220.102 - Non-severe impairment(s), defined.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... significantly limit the claimant's physical or mental ability to do basic work activities. (b) Basic work activities. Basic work activities means the ability and aptitudes necessary to do most jobs. Examples of these include— (1) Physical functions such as walking, standing, sitting, lifting, pushing, pulling...

Educational action in the rehabilitation of severe acquired brain injuries: the role of self-awareness.

PubMed

Silvestro, Daniela; Mazzetti, Maria; Melia, Chiara; Stagno, Maria Teresa; Carlesimo, Giovanni Augusto; Bivona, Umberto; Formisano, Rita

2017-01-01

Severe acquired brain injuries (ABI) cause a range of short-or long-term limitations in physical and neuropsychological abilities. The aim of rehabilitation is to promote the harmonious development of the individual through collaboration between medical and educational sciences, involved in the educability of the whole person, in which the aim is not only functional recovery but also social-reintegration. This "functional synergy" permits the development of the person, and establishes an indissoluble link between functions and attitudes, thus allowing the achievement of the greater possible autonomy. In this way classical and pedagogical rehabilitation may be combined in a single concept of educational action. To realize this integrated educational process it is important to evaluate and promote awareness development, based on the possibilities of brain plasticity and on the presence of multiple intelligences skillfully intertwined each other. Therefore, self-awareness plays a prime role in educational actions for the rehabilitation of persons with severe ABI.

Coping with Iron Limitation: A Metabolomic Study of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.

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

Rivas-Ubach, Albert; Poret-Peterson, A. T.; Penuel

2018-02-28

Iron (Fe) is a key element for all living systems, especially for photosynthetic organisms because of its important role in the photosynthetic electron transport chain. Fe limitation in cyanobacteria leads to several physiological and morphological changes. However, the overall metabolic responses to Fe limitation are still poorly understood. In this study, we integrated elemental, stoichiometric, macromolecular, and metabolomic data to shed light on the responses of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, a non-N2-fixing freshwater cyanobacterium, to Fe limitation. Compared to Synechocystis growing at nutrient replete conditions, Fe-limited cultures had lower growth rates and amounts of chlorophyll a, RNA, RNA:DNA, C, N,more » and P and higher ratios of Protein:RNA, C:N, C:P and N:P, in accordance with the growth rate hypothesis which predicts faster growing organisms will have decreased biomass RNA contents and C:P and N:P ratios. Fe-limited Synechocystis had lower amounts Fe, Mn and Mo, and higher amount of Cu. Several changes in amino acids of cultures growing under Fe limitation suggest nitrogen limitation. Additionally, we found substantial increases in stress-related metabolites in Fe-limited cyanobacteria such antioxidants. This study represents an advance in understanding the stoichiometric, macromolecular and metabolic strategies that cyanobacteria use to cope with Fe limitation. This information, moreover, may further understanding of changes in cyanobacterial functions under scenarios of Fe limitation in aquatic ecosystems.« less

Relationships between microstructure and microfissuring in alloy 718

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thompson, R. G.

1985-01-01

Microfissures which occur in the weld heat affected zone of alloy 718 can be a limiting factor in the material's weldability. Several studies have attempted to relate microfissuring susceptibility to processing conditions, microstructure, and/or heat-to-heat chemistry differences. The present investigation studies the relationships between microstructure and microfissuring by isolating a particular microstructural feature and measuring microfissuring as a function of that feature. Results to date include the identification of a microstructure-microfissure sequence, microfissuring susceptibility as a function of grain size, and microfissuring susceptibility as a function of solution annealing time.

Functional heartburn: the stimulus, the pain, and the brain

PubMed Central

Fass, R; Tougas, G

2002-01-01

Functional heartburn is a common disorder and appears to be composed of several distinct subgroups. Identifying the different subgroups based on clinical history only is not achievable at present. The mechanisms responsible for pain, clinical characteristics, and the optimal therapeutic approach remain poorly understood. Response to potent antireflux treatment is relatively limited. Current and future treatment strategies for functional heartburn patients who have failed standard dose proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) include increased PPI dose in some, as well as addition of pain modulators in others. PMID:12427796

A rheological model for elastohydrodynamic contacts based on primary laboratory data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bair, S.; Winer, W. O.

1979-01-01

A shear rheological model based on primary laboratory data is proposed for concentrated contact lubrication. The model is a Maxwell model modified with a limiting shear stress. Three material properties are required: Low shear stress viscosity, limiting elastic shear modulus, and the limiting shear stress the material can withstand. All three are functions of temperature and pressure. In applying the model to EHD contacts the predicted response possesses the characteristics expected from several experiments reported in the literature and, in one specific case where direct comparison could be made, good numerical agreement is shown.

Functional outcomes in children and young people with dyskinetic cerebral palsy.

PubMed

Monbaliu, Elegast; De La Peña, Mary-Grace; Ortibus, Els; Molenaers, Guy; Deklerck, Jan; Feys, Hilde

2017-06-01

This cross-sectional study aimed to map the functional profile of individuals with dyskinetic cerebral palsy (CP), to determine interrelationships between the functional classification systems, and to investigate the relationship of functional abilities with dystonia and choreoathetosis severity. Fifty-five children (<15y) and young people (15-22y) (30 males, 25 females; mean age 14y 6mo, standard deviation 4y 1mo) with dyskinetic CP were assessed using the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), Manual Ability Classification System (MACS), Communication Function Classification System (CFCS), Eating and Drinking Ability Classification System (EDACS), and Viking Speech Scale (VSS), as well as the Dyskinesia Impairment Scale. Over 50 per cent of the participants exhibited the highest limitation levels in GMFCS, MACS, and VSS. Better functional abilities were seen in EDACS and CFCS. Moderate to excellent interrelationship was found among the classification scales. All scales had significant correlation (r s =0.65 - 0.81) with dystonia severity except for CFCS in the young people group. Finally, only MACS (r s =0.40) and EDACS (r s =0.55) in the young people group demonstrated significant correlation with choreoathetosis severity. The need for inclusion of speech, eating, and drinking in the functional assessment of dyskinetic CP is highlighted. The study further supports the strategy of managing dystonia in particular at a younger age followed by choreoathetosis in a later stage. © 2017 Mac Keith Press.

Sexual functioning of men and women with severe obesity before bariatric surgery.

PubMed

Steffen, Kristine J; King, Wendy C; White, Gretchen E; Subak, Leslee L; Mitchell, James E; Courcoulas, Anita P; Flum, David R; Strain, Gladys; Sarwer, David B; Kolotkin, Ronette L; Pories, Walter; Huang, Alison J

2017-02-01

Obesity may impair sexual function through multiple mechanisms, but little is known about sexual dysfunction among adults with severe obesity seeking bariatric procedures. To describe sexual function and associated factors before bariatric surgery. Ten U.S. clinical facilities. Before bariatric surgery, 2225 of 2458 Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery-2 study participants (79% female, median age 45 years and median body mass index 46 kg/m 2 ) completed a survey about sexual function over the past month. Mixed effects ordinal logistic regression models were used to identify factors independently related to 4 domains of sexual function. One third of women (34%) and one quarter of men (25%) were not sexually active, alone or with a partner, in the past month. Twenty-six percent of women and 12% of men reported no sexual desire. Physical health limited sexual activity at least moderately in 38% of women and 44% of men. About one half of the women (49%) and the men (54%) were moderately or very dissatisfied with their sexual life. Among women, older age, being Caucasian, urinary incontinence, depressive symptoms, and antidepressant medication use were associated with poorer sexual function in multiple domains. In men, older age, not being married, depressive symptoms, and antidepressant medication use were associated with poorer sexual function in multiple domains. Before bariatric surgery, approximately one half of women and men with severe obesity are dissatisfied with their sexual life. Older age, severity of depressive symptoms, and antidepressant medication use are associated with poorer sexual function in both sexes. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Design of near-infrared dyes for nonlinear optics: toward optical limiting applications at telecommunication wavelengths

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bellier, Quentin; Bouit, Pierre-Antoine; Kamada, Kenji; Feneyrou, Patrick; Malmström, E.; Maury, Olivier; Andraud, Chantal

2009-09-01

The rapid development of frequency-tunable pulsed lasers up to telecommunication wavelengths (1400-1600 nm) led to the design of new materials for nonlinear absorption in this spectral range. In this context, two families of near infra-red (NIR) chromophores, namely heptamethine cyanine and aza-borondipyrromethene (aza-bodipy) dyes were studied. In both cases, they show significant two-photon absorption (TPA) cross-sections in the 1400-1600 nm spectral range and display good optical power limiting (OPL) properties. OPL curves were interpreted on the basis of TPA followed by excited state absorption (ESA) phenomena. Finally these systems have several relevant properties like nonlinear absorption properties, gram scale synthesis and high solubility. In addition, they could be functionalized on several sites which open the way to numerous practical applications in biology, solid-state optical limiting and signal processing.

How to measure monetary losses in gambling disorder? An evidence-based refinement.

PubMed

Medeiros, Gustavo C; Redden, Sarah A; Chamberlain, Samuel R; Grant, Jon E

2018-05-01

Diverse monetary measures have been utilized across different studies in gambling disorder (GD). However, there are limited evidence-based proposals regarding the best way to assess financial losses. We investigated how different variables of monetary losses correlate with validated assessments of gambling severity and overall functioning in a large sample of subjects with GD (n = 436). We found that relative monetary variables (i.e. when financial losses were evaluated in relation to personal income) showed the most robust correlations with gambling severity and overall psychosocial functioning. Percentage of monthly income lost from gambling was the variable with the best performance. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Definition of Traumatic Brain Injury, Neurosurgery, Trauma Orthopedics, Neuroimaging, Psychology, and Psychiatry in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

PubMed

Pervez, Mubashir; Kitagawa, Ryan S; Chang, Tiffany R

2018-02-01

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) disrupts the normal function of the brain. This condition can adversely affect a person's quality of life with cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and physical symptoms that limit interpersonal, social, and occupational functioning. Although many systems exist, the simplest classification includes mild, moderate, and severe TBI depending on the nature of injury and the impact on the patient's clinical status. Patients with TBI require prompt evaluation and multidisciplinary management. Aside from the type and severity of the TBI, recovery is influenced by individual patient characteristics, social and environmental factors, and access to medical and rehabilitation services. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Concordance of Barthel Index, ECOG-PS, and Palliative Performance Scale in the assessment of functional status in patients with advanced medical diseases.

PubMed

Hernández-Quiles, C; Bernabeu-Wittel, M; Pérez-Belmonte, L M; Macías-Mir, P; Camacho-González, D; Massa, B; Maiz-Jiménez, M; Ollero-Baturone, M

2017-09-01

Analysing most relevant clinical features and concordance between different functional scales in patients with advanced medical diseases (PAMD). Cross-sectional multicentre study that included PAMD (heart, lung, kidney, liver, and neurological diseases) in hospital settings from February 2009 to October 2010. We analysed clinical, biological and functional features in performing activities of daily living (ADL) by medians of Barthel Index (BI); additionally we assessed their performance status by medians of Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-Performance Status (ECOG-PS) and Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) scores. We evaluated the concordance of these instruments in assessing functional impairment by κ and intraclass correlation coefficient tests. 1847 patients were included (average age 79 years, 50.1% men). Most common symptoms were dyspnoea (62.31%), asthenia (23%) and delirium (20.14%). Functional assessment showed a high prevalence of severe or total impairment in performing basic ADL by medians of used instruments (BI median=35 (IQR=70), and 52.1% of patients with severe-total impairment; ECOG-PS median=2 (IQR 30), and 44% of patients with severe-total impairment; and PPS median=50 (IQR 30), and 32% of patients with severe-total impairment). Concordance among these instruments was acceptably good ( κ indexes ranging from 0.653 to 0.745 (p<0.0001)). PAMD represent a population with severe functional impairment, which requires a multidisciplinary approach for proper management. Assessment of functional ability in this population by BI, ECOG-PS, and PPS showed good concordance. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

Somatosensory impairment and its association with balance limitation in people with multiple sclerosis.

PubMed

Jamali, Akram; Sadeghi-Demneh, Ebrahim; Fereshtenajad, Niloufar; Hillier, Susan

2017-09-01

Somatosensory impairments are common in multiple sclerosis. However, little data are available to characterize the nature and frequency of these problems in people with multiple sclerosis. To investigate the frequency of somatosensory impairments and identify any association with balance limitations in people with multiple sclerosis. The design was a prospective cross-sectional study, involving 82 people with multiple sclerosis and 30 healthy controls. Tactile and proprioceptive sensory acuity were measured using the Rivermead Assessment of Somatosensory Performance. Vibration duration was assessed using a tuning fork. Duration for the Timed Up and Go Test and reaching distance of the Functional Reach Test were measured to assess balance limitations. The normative range of sensory modalities was defined using cut-off points in the healthy participants. The multivariate linear regression was used to identify the significant predictors of balance in people with multiple sclerosis. Proprioceptive impairments (66.7%) were more common than tactile (60.8%) and vibration impairments (44.9%). Somatosensory impairments were more frequent in the lower limb (78.2%) than the upper limb (64.1%). All sensory modalities were significantly associated with the Timed Up and Go and Functional Reach tests (p<0.05). The Timed Up and Go test was independently predicted by the severity of the neurological lesion, Body Mass Index, ataxia, and tactile sensation (R2=0.58), whereas the Functional Reach test was predicted by the severity of the neurological lesion, lower limb strength, and vibration sense (R2=0.49). Somatosensory impairments are very common in people with multiple sclerosis. These impairments are independent predictors of balance limitation. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Postural Control in Children: Implications for Pediatric Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Westcott, Sarah L.; Burtner, Patricia

2004-01-01

Based on a systems theory of motor control, reactive postural control (RPA) and anticipatory postural control (APA) in children are reviewed from several perspectives in order to develop an evidence-based intervention strategy for improving postural control in children with limitations in motor function. Research on development of postural…

Outcome Prediction of Eating Disorders: Can Admission Data Forecast Outcome Needs at Discharge.

DTIC Science & Technology

1997-07-18

trend. Although limited by available data, several significant findings were noted. Women diagnosed with Bulimia Nervosa (BN) had significantly higher...admission Global Assessment of Functioning versus women with Anorexia Nervosa (AN); those with AN were positively linked to a family history of mood

78 FR 54363 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Request and Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-03

... substantial gainful activity because of their impairments, and we consider title XVI children eligible for payment if they have marked and severe functional limitations because of their impairments. SSA also uses... accommodation based on their blindness, or other visual impairment. SSA collects this information electronically...

Filtrates and Residues: Spectrophotometry: Mechanics and Measurement.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Diehl-Jones, Susan M.

1984-01-01

Provided are experiments to acquaint students with basic spectrophotometer components and their functions, to use the instrument in an openended-experiment, and to use Beer's Law in several different ways. In addition, the detectability (tolerance) of the spectrophotometer with visual detection limits is provided as an optional activity. (JN)

Designing personal exercise monitoring employing multiple modes of delivery: implications from a qualitative study on heart rate monitoring.

PubMed

Segerståhl, Katarina; Oinas-Kukkonen, Harri

2011-12-01

Various personal monitoring technologies have been introduced for supporting regular physical activity, which is of critical importance in reducing the risks of several chronic diseases. Recent studies suggest that combining multiple modes of delivery, such as text messages and mobile monitoring devices with web applications, holds potential for effectively supporting physical exercise. Of particular interest is how the functionality and content of these systems should be distributed across the different modes for successful outcomes. The aim of this study was to: (a) investigate how users incorporate a system employing two modes of delivery - a wearable heart rate monitor and a web service - into their training and (b) to analyze benefits and limitations in personal exercise monitoring and how they relate to the different modes in use. A qualitative field study employing diaries and semi-structured interviews was carried out with 30 participants who used a heart rate monitoring system comprising a wearable heart rate monitor, Polar FT60 and a web service, Polar Personal Trainer for a period of 21 days. The data were systematically analyzed to identify specific benefits and limitations associated with the system characteristics and modes as perceived by the end-users. The benefits include supporting exploratory learning, controlling target behavior, rectifying behaviors, motivation and logging support. The limitations are associated with information for validating the system, virtual coaching, task-technology fit, data integrity and privacy concerns. Mobile interfaces enable exploratory learning and controlling of target behaviors in situ, while web services can effectively support users' need for cognition within the early stages of adoption and long-term training with intelligent coaching functionality. This study explains several benefits and limitations in personal exercise monitoring. These can be addressed with crossmedial design, i.e., strategic distribution of functionality and content across modes within the system. Our findings suggest that personal exercise monitoring systems may be improved by more systematically combining mobile and web-based functionality. 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

A review of the revised Functional Capacity Index as a predictor of 12 month outcomes following injury.

PubMed

Palmer, Cameron S; Cameron, Peter A; Gabbe, Belinda J

2017-03-01

The measurement of functional outcomes following severe trauma has been widely recognised as a priority for countries with developed trauma systems. In this respect, the Functional Capacity Index (FCI), a multi-attribute index which has been incorporated into the most recent Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) dictionary, is potentially attractive as it offers 12-month functional outcome predictions for patients captured by existing AIS-coded datasets. This review paper outlines the development, construction and validation of the predictive form of the FCI (termed the pFCI), the modifications made which produced the currently available 'revised' pFCI, and the extent to which the revised pFCI has been validated and used. The original pFCI performed poorly in validation studies. The revised pFCI does not address many of the identified limitations of the original version, and despite the ready availability of a truncated version in the AIS dictionary, it has only been used in a handful of studies since its introduction several years ago. Additionally, there is little evidence for its validity. It is suggested that the pFCI should be better validated, whether in the narrow population group of young, healthy individuals for which it was developed, or in the wider population of severely injured patients. Methods for accounting for the presence of multiple injures (of which two have currently been used) should also be evaluated. Many factors other than anatomical injury are known to affect functional outcomes following trauma. However, it is intuitive that any model which attempts to predict the ongoing morbidity burden in a trauma population should consider the effects of the injuries sustained. Although the revised pFCI potentially offers a low-cost assessment of likely functional limitations resulting from anatomical injury, it must be more rigorously evaluated before more comprehensive predictive tools can be developed from it. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Technical aspects and limitations of fractional flow reserve measurement.

PubMed

Jerabek, Stepan; Kovarnik, Tomas

2018-02-27

The only indication for coronary revascularization is elimination of ischaemia. Invasive hemodynamic methods (fractional flow reserve - FFR and instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) are superior to coronary angiography in detection of lesions causing myocardial ischaemia. Current European guidelines for myocardial revascularization recommend using of FFR for detection of functional assessment of lesions severity in category IA and number of these procedures increases. However, routine usage of these methods requires knowledge of technical requirements and limitations. The aim of the study is to summarise good clinical practice for FFR and iFR measurements with explanation of possible technical challenges, that are necessary for increasing of measurement accuracy. Authors describe frequent technical mistakes and malpractice during invasive assessment of lesion severity in coronary arteries.

Dimensional stability. [of glass and glass-ceramic materials in diffraction telescopes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hochen, R.; Justie, B.

1976-01-01

The temporal stability of glass and glass-ceramic materials is important to the success of a large diffraction-limited telescope. The results are presented of an experimental study of the dimensional stability of glasses and glass ceramics being considered for substrates of massive diffraction-limited mirrors designed for several years of service in earth orbit. The purpose of the study was to measure the relative change in length of the candidate substrate materials, to the order of 5 parts in 10 to the 8th power, as a function of several years time. The development of monolithic test etalons, the development and improvement of two types of ultra-high precision interferometers, and certain aspects of tests data presently achieved are discussed.

On Improving Efficiency of Differential Evolution for Aerodynamic Shape Optimization Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Madavan, Nateri K.

2004-01-01

Differential Evolution (DE) is a simple and robust evolutionary strategy that has been proven effective in determining the global optimum for several difficult optimization problems. Although DE offers several advantages over traditional optimization approaches, its use in applications such as aerodynamic shape optimization where the objective function evaluations are computationally expensive is limited by the large number of function evaluations often required. In this paper various approaches for improving the efficiency of DE are reviewed and discussed. These approaches are implemented in a DE-based aerodynamic shape optimization method that uses a Navier-Stokes solver for the objective function evaluations. Parallelization techniques on distributed computers are used to reduce turnaround times. Results are presented for the inverse design of a turbine airfoil. The efficiency improvements achieved by the different approaches are evaluated and compared.

Anxiety symptoms in young people with autism spectrum disorder attending special schools: Associations with gender, adaptive functioning and autism symptomatology.

PubMed

Magiati, Iliana; Ong, Clarissa; Lim, Xin Yi; Tan, Julianne Wen-Li; Ong, Amily Yi Lin; Patrycia, Ferninda; Fung, Daniel Shuen Sheng; Sung, Min; Poon, Kenneth K; Howlin, Patricia

2016-04-01

Anxiety-related problems are among the most frequently reported mental health difficulties in autism spectrum disorder. As most research has focused on clinical samples or high-functioning children with autism spectrum disorder, less is known about the factors associated with anxiety in community samples across the ability range. This cross-sectional study examined the association of gender, age, adaptive functioning and autism symptom severity with different caregiver-reported anxiety symptoms. Participants were caregivers of 241 children (6-18 years old) with autism spectrum disorder attending special schools in Singapore. Measures included the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale and assessments of overall emotional, behavioural and adaptive functioning. Caregivers reported more anxiety symptoms in total, but fewer social anxiety symptoms, than Spence Children's Anxiety Scale Australian/Dutch norms. There were no gender differences. Variance in total anxiety scores was best explained by severity of repetitive speech/stereotyped behaviour symptoms, followed by adaptive functioning. Severity of repetitive speech/behaviour symptoms was a significant predictor of separation anxiety, generalized anxiety, panic/agoraphobia and obsessive-compulsive subscale symptoms, but not of social phobia and physical injury fears. Adaptive functioning and chronological age predicted social phobia and generalized anxiety symptoms only. Severity of social/communication autism symptoms did not explain any anxiety symptoms, when the other variables were controlled for. Findings are discussed in relation to the existing literature. Limitations and possible implications for prevention, assessment and intervention are also discussed. © The Author(s) 2015.

Measures of functional limitation as predictors of disablement in athletes with acute ankle sprains.

PubMed

Wilson, R W; Gansneder, B M

2000-09-01

Prospective multivariate design. To determine the usefulness of activity scores, self-reported athletic ability, and selected measures of physical impairment as predictors of disability duration in athletes with ankle inversion sprains. Although several measures of physical impairment and functional limitation are used to assess the consequences of injury following ankle sprain, researchers have yet to establish which measures provide the most accurate predictions of disability duration. Physical impairment, activity limitation, and disability duration were measured in 21 athletes (13 men and 8 women; mean age = 20.3 +/- 1.7 years) with acute ankle sprains. Sagittal plane ankle range of motion and volumetric displacement were used as impairment indicators. Weight-bearing activity scores (task completion count) and self-reported athletic ability (visual analog scale) were used to represent functional limitation. Elapsed time from injury to return to full athletic participation was used as the criterion measure of disability duration. The impairment measures accounted for approximately one-third of the variance in disability duration (R2 = 0.342). Adding the activity limitation measures to the regression model improved predictions of disability duration (R2 = 0.670; stepwise R2 change = 0.328). The measures of activity limitation alone, however, accounted for approximately 67% (R2 = 0.665) of the total variance in the number of days lost due to injury. Measures of activity limitation were the strongest predictors of elapsed time from injury to return to full athletic participation.

Measure and dimension functions: measurability and densities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mattila, Pertti; Mauldin, R. Daniel

1997-01-01

During the past several years, new types of geometric measure and dimension have been introduced; the packing measure and dimension, see [Su], [Tr] and [TT1]. These notions are playing an increasingly prevalent role in various aspects of dynamics and measure theory. Packing measure is a sort of dual of Hausdorff measure in that it is defined in terms of packings rather than coverings. However, in contrast to Hausdorff measure, the usual definition of packing measure requires two limiting procedures, first the construction of a premeasure and then a second standard limiting process to obtain the measure. This makes packing measure somewhat delicate to deal with. The question arises as to whether there is some simpler method for defining packing measure and dimension. In this paper, we find a basic limitation on this possibility. We do this by determining the descriptive set-theoretic complexity of the packing functions. Whereas the Hausdorff dimension function on the space of compact sets is Borel measurable, the packing dimension function is not. On the other hand, we show that the packing dimension functions are measurable with respect to the [sigma]-algebra generated by the analytic sets. Thus, the usual sorts of measurability properties used in connection with Hausdorff measure, for example measures of sections and projections, remain true for packing measure.

RF-powered BIONs for stimulation and sensing.

PubMed

Loeb, G E; Richmond, F J R; Singh, J; Peck, R A; Tan, W; Zou, Q; Sachs, N

2004-01-01

Virtually all bodily functions are controlled by electrical signals in nerves and muscles. Electrical stimulation can restore missing signals but this has been difficult to achieve practically because of limitations in the bioelectric interfaces. Wireless, injectable microdevices are versatile, robust and relatively inexpensive to implant in a variety of sites and applications. Several variants are now in clinical use or under development to perform stimulation and/or sensing functions and to operate autonomously or with continuous coordination and feedback control.

Meditation and successful aging: can meditative practices counteract age-related cognitive decline?

PubMed

Sperduti, Marco; Makowski, Dominique; Blondé, Philippe; Piolino, Pascale

2017-06-01

Life expectancy is constantly increasing in the developed countries due to medical, hygiene and socio-economic advances. Unfortunately, a longer life not always corresponds to a healthier life. Indeed, aging is associated with growing risk factors for illness associated with societal conditions (isolation, maltreatment), and neurodegenerative diseases. Even normal aging is associated with a cognitive decline that can hinder independence and quality of life of elderly. Thus, one major societal challenge is to build policies that support people of all ages to maintain a maximum health and functional capacity throughout their lives. Meditation could be a promising intervention in contrasting the negative effects of aging. Indeed, it has been shown to enhance cognitive efficiency in several domains, such as attention and executive functions in young adults. Nevertheless, whether these effects extend to old participants is still a matter of debate. Few studies have directly investigated this issue, reporting encouraging results in a large panel of cognitive functions, such as: attention, executive functions and memory. However, a final conclusion about the causal role of meditation and the generalization of these results is made difficult due to several methodological limitations. We propose a roadmap for future studies to pass these limitations with the hope that the present work would contribute to the development of the young research field of meditation in gerontology.

The effect of renal failure on 18F-FDG uptake: a theoretic assessment.

PubMed

Laffon, Eric; Cazeau, Anne-Laure; Monet, Antoine; de Clermont, Henri; Fernandez, Philippe; Marthan, Roger; Ducassou, Dominique

2008-12-01

This work addresses the issue of using (18)F-FDG PET in patients with renal failure. A model analysis has been developed to compare tissue (18)F-FDG uptake in a patient who has normal renal function with uptake in a theoretic limiting case that assumes tracer plasma decay is tracer physical decay and is trapped irreversibly. This comparison has allowed us to propose, in the limiting case, that the usually injected activity be lowered by a factor of 3. We also proposed that the PET static acquisition be obtained at about 160 min after tracer injection. These 2 proposals were aimed at obtaining a similar patient radiation dose and similar tissue (18)F-FDG uptake. In patients with arbitrary renal failure (i.e., between the 2 extremes of normal function and the theoretic limiting case), we propose that the injected activity be lowered (without exceeding a factor of 3) and that the acquisition be started between 45 and 160 min after tracer injection, depending on the severity of renal failure. Furthermore, the model also shows that the more severe the renal failure is, the more overestimated is the standardized uptake value, unless the renal failure indirectly impairs tissue sensitivity to insulin and hence glucose metabolism.

Social Relationships, Gender, and Recovery From Mobility Limitation Among Older Americans

PubMed Central

Clarke, Philippa J.; Pavela, Greg

2015-01-01

Objectives. Evidence suggests social relationships may be important facilitators for recovery from functional impairment, but the extant literature is limited in its measurement of social relationships including an over emphasis on filial social support and a paucity of nationally representative data. Methods. Using data from Waves 4–9 (1998–2008) of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), this research examines the association between social relationships and recovery from severe mobility limitation (i.e., difficulty walking one block or across the room) among older Americans. Using a more nuanced measure of recovery that includes complete and partial recovery, a series of discrete-time event history models with multiple competing recovery outcomes were estimated using multinomial logistic regression. Results. Providing instrumental support to peers increased the odds of complete and partial recovery from severe mobility limitation, net of numerous social, and health factors. Having relatives living nearby decreased the odds of complete recovery, while being engaged in one’s neighborhood increased the odds of partial recovery. The influence of partner status on partial and complete recovery varied by gender, whereby partnered men were more likely to experience recovery relative to partnered women. The effect of neighborhood engagement on partial recovery also varied by gender. Disengaged women were the least likely to experience partial recovery compared with any other group. Discussion. The rehabilitative potential of social relationships has important policy implications. Interventions aimed at encouraging older adults with mobility limitation to be engaged in their neighborhoods and/or provide instrumental support to peers may improve functional health outcomes. PMID:25583597

A performance-based approach to landslide risk analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Romeo, R. W.

2009-04-01

An approach for the risk assessment based on a probabilistic analysis of the performance of structures threatened by landslides is shown and discussed. The risk is a possible loss due to the occurrence of a potentially damaging event. Analytically the risk is the probability convolution of hazard, which defines the frequency of occurrence of the event (i.e., the demand), and fragility that defines the capacity of the system to withstand the event given its characteristics (i.e., severity) and those of the exposed goods (vulnerability), that is: Risk=p(D>=d|S,V) The inequality sets a damage (or loss) threshold beyond which the system's performance is no longer met. Therefore a consistent approach to risk assessment should: 1) adopt a probabilistic model which takes into account all the uncertainties of the involved variables (capacity and demand), 2) follow a performance approach based on given loss or damage thresholds. The proposed method belongs to the category of the semi-empirical ones: the theoretical component is given by the probabilistic capacity-demand model; the empirical component is given by the observed statistical behaviour of structures damaged by landslides. Two landslide properties alone are required: the area-extent and the type (or kinematism). All other properties required to determine the severity of landslides (such as depth, speed and frequency) are derived via probabilistic methods. The severity (or intensity) of landslides, in terms of kinetic energy, is the demand of resistance; the resistance capacity is given by the cumulative distribution functions of the limit state performance (fragility functions) assessed via damage surveys and cards compilation. The investigated limit states are aesthetic (of nominal concern alone), functional (interruption of service) and structural (economic and social losses). The damage probability is the probabilistic convolution of hazard (the probability mass function of the frequency of occurrence of given severities) and vulnerability (the probability of a limit state performance be reached, given a certain severity). Then, for each landslide all the exposed goods (structures and infrastructures) within the landslide area and within a buffer (representative of the maximum extension of a landslide given a reactivation), are counted. The risk is the product of the damage probability and the ratio of the exposed goods of each landslide to the whole assets exposed to the same type of landslides. Since the risk is computed numerically and by the same procedure applied to all landslides, it is free from any subjective assessment such as those implied in the qualitative methods.

Overuse wrist injuries in young athletes: What do sports physicians consider important signals and functional limitations?

PubMed

Kox, Laura S; Kuijer, P Paul F M; Opperman, Jip; Kerkhoffs, Gino M M J; Maas, Mario; Frings-Dresen, Monique H W

2018-01-01

This study's objective was to collect items from experienced sports physicians, relating to the presence and severity of overuse wrist injuries in young athletes, for developing a measurement instrument for signals of overuse wrist injury. Seven Dutch elite sports physicians involved in guidance and treatment of young athletes in wrist-loading sports (gymnastics, tennis, judo, field hockey, volleyball and rowing) participated in a focus group. They discussed signals and limitations related to overuse wrist injuries in young athletes. Data were coded and categorised into signals and limitations with subcategories, using an inductive approach. Of the resulting 61 signals and limitations in nineteen (sub)categories, 20 were considered important, forming a comprehensive item set for identifying overuse wrist injury in young athletes. Signals such as pain, "click", crepitations, swelling and limited range of motion were marked useful for early identification of overuse wrist injury. Limitations in movement and performance were considered indicative of severe overuse injury but less relevant for initial injury identification. The focus group provided 17 important signals and 3 important limitations indicative of overuse wrist injury. These provide the basis for a valid measurement instrument for identifying overuse wrist injury in young athletes, with equal emphasis on pain and on other symptoms.

Multimorbidity: constellations of conditions across subgroups of midlife and older individuals, and related Medicare expenditures.

PubMed

Koroukian, Siran M; Schiltz, Nicholas K; Warner, David F; Sun, Jiayang; Stange, Kurt C; Given, Charles W; Dor, Avi

2017-01-01

The Department of Health and Human Services' 2010 Strategic Framework on Multiple Chronic Conditions called for the identification of common constellations of conditions in older adults. To analyze patterns of conditions constituting multimorbidity (CCMM) and expenditures in a US representative sample of midlife and older adults (50-64 and ≥65 years of age, respectively). A cross-sectional study of the 2010 Health and Retirement Study (HRS; n =17,912). The following measures were used: (1) count and combinations of CCMM, including (i) chronic conditions (hypertension, arthritis, heart disease, lung disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and psychiatric conditions), (ii) functional limitations (upper body limitations, lower body limitations, strength limitations, limitations in activities of daily living, and limitations in instrumental activities of daily living), and (iii) geriatric syndromes (cognitive impairment, depressive symptoms, incontinence, visual impairment, hearing impairment, severe pain, and dizziness); and (2) annualized 2011 Medicare expenditures for HRS participants who were Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries ( n =5,677). Medicaid beneficiaries were also identified based on their self-reported insurance status. No large representations of participants within specific CCMM categories were observed; however, functional limitations and geriatric syndromes were prominently present with higher CCMM counts. Among fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries aged 50-64 years, 26.7% of the participants presented with ≥10 CCMM, but incurred 48% of the expenditure. In those aged ≥65 years, these percentages were 16.9% and 34.4%, respectively. Functional limitations and geriatric syndromes considerably add to the MM burden in midlife and older adults. This burden is much higher than previously reported.

Rising U.S. income inequality and the changing gradient of socioeconomic status on physical functioning and activity limitations, 1984-2007.

PubMed

Zheng, Hui; George, Linda K

2012-12-01

This study examines the interactive contextual effect of income inequality on health. Specifically, we hypothesize that income inequality will moderate the relationships between individual-level risk factors and health. Using National Health Interview Survey data 1984-2007 (n = 607,959) and U.S. Census data, this paper estimates the effect of the dramatic increase in income inequality in the U.S. over the past two decades on the gradient of socioeconomic status on two measures of health (i.e., physical functioning and activity limitations). Results indicate that increasing income inequality strengthens the protective effects of family income, employment, college education, and marriage on these two measures of health. In contrast, high school education's protective effect (relative to less than a high school education) weakens in the context of increasing income inequality. In addition, we find that increasing income inequality exacerbates men's disadvantages in physical functioning and activity limitations. These findings shed light on research about growing health disparities in the U.S. in the last several decades. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Quality of life of hemodialysis patients in a Brazilian Public Hospital in Belém - Pará].

PubMed

Silveira, Cíntia Botelho; Pantoja, Ivaneida Kzarina Olaia Ribeiro; Silva, Allan Roberto Marques; Azevedo, Rômulo Nina de; Sá, Nayara Bandeira de; Turiel, Marck Gregório Pereira; Nunes, Mário Barbosa Guedes

2010-03-01

End-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) requiring dialysis affects the quality of life sometimes more severely than other chronic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, heart failure, coronary artery disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, exerting a negative effect on the energy and vitality levels, limiting social interactions, and hindering psychic health. To evaluate the quality of life of patients with CKD on hemodialysis in a public Brazilian Amazonian hospital. Data were collected through interview based on the Brazilian version of the SF-36 questionnaire. The study was conducted on 50 patients (mean age, 48 ± 16 years; mean hemodialysis time, 3 ± 2.9 years). The most affected domain was role limitations due to physical health, with a mean score of 36 ± 36, and 58% of the patients in the lowest quartile, while mental health and social functioning were relatively preserved, with most patients in the highest quartile. Men obtained poorer scores than women did for role limitations due to physical health and vitality. Age correlated negatively with physical functioning. Patients on hemodialysis for more than one year had better scores in the social functioning domain, with a positive correlation between dialysis time and physical functioning. The domains assessed were globally impaired in the population studied, especially regarding role limitations due to physical health, suggesting that chronic disease with prolonged treatment has a negative influence on those domains.

The measurement of lung volumes using body plethysmography and helium dilution methods in COPD patients: a correlation and diagnosis analysis.

PubMed

Tang, Yongjiang; Zhang, Mingke; Feng, Yulin; Liang, Binmiao

2016-11-23

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic airway disease characterized by persistent airflow limitation. Moreover, lung hyperinflation evaluated by lung volumes is also the key pathophysiologic process during COPD progression. Nevertheless, there is still no preferred method to evaluate lung volumes. For this study, we recruited 170 patients with stable COPD to assess lung volumes stratified by airflow limitation severity. Lung volumes including residual volume (RV) and total lung capacity (TLC) were determined by both body plethysmography and helium dilution methods. The discrepancies between these two methods were recorded as ΔRV%pred, ΔTLC%pred, and ΔRV/TLC. We found that ΔRV%pred, ΔTLC%pred, and ΔRV/TLC increased significantly with the severity of COPD. The differences of lung capacity between these two methods were negatively correlated with FEV 1 %pred, and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (D L CO%pred). Moreover, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) for ΔTLC%pred to distinguish severe COPD from non-severe COPD had an area under curve (AUC) of 0.886. The differences of lung volume parameters measured by body plethysmography and helium dilution methods were associated with airflow limitation and can effectively differentiate COPD severity, which may be a supportive method to assess the lung function of stable COPD patients.

Active glass-type human augmented cognition system considering attention and intention

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Bumhwi; Ojha, Amitash; Lee, Minho

2015-10-01

Human cognition is the result of an interaction of several complex cognitive processes with limited capabilities. Therefore, the primary objective of human cognitive augmentation is to assist and expand these limited human cognitive capabilities independently or together. In this study, we propose a glass-type human augmented cognition system, which attempts to actively assist human memory functions by providing relevant, necessary and intended information by constantly assessing intention of the user. To achieve this, we exploit selective attention and intention processes. Although the system can be used in various real-life scenarios, we test the performance of the system in a person identity scenario. To detect the intended face, the system analyses the gaze points and change in pupil size to determine the intention of the user. An assessment of the gaze points and change in pupil size together indicates that the user intends to know the identity and information about the person in question. Then, the system retrieves several clues through speech recognition system and retrieves relevant information about the face, which is finally displayed through head-mounted display. We present the performance of several components of the system. Our results show that the active and relevant assistance based on users' intention significantly helps the enhancement of memory functions.

Fiber optic configurations for local area networks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nassehi, M. M.; Tobagi, F. A.; Marhic, M. E.

1985-01-01

A number of fiber optic configurations for a new class of demand assignment multiple-access local area networks requiring a physical ordering among stations are proposed. In such networks, the data transmission and linear-ordering functions may be distinguished and be provided by separate data and control subnetworks. The configurations proposed for the data subnetwork are based on the linear, star, and tree topologies. To provide the linear-ordering function, the control subnetwork must always have a linear unidirectional bus structure. Due to the reciprocity and excess loss of optical couplers, the number of stations that can be accommodated on a linear fiber optic bus is severely limited. Two techniques are proposed to overcome this limitation. For each of the data and control subnetwork configurations, the maximum number of stations as a function of the power margin, for both reciprocal and nonreciprocal couplers, is computed.

A limit for large R-charge correlators in N = 2 theories

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bourget, Antoine; Rodriguez-Gomez, Diego; Russo, Jorge G.

2018-05-01

Using supersymmetric localization, we study the sector of chiral primary operators (Tr ϕ 2) n with large R-charge 4 n in N = 2 four-dimensional superconformal theories in the weak coupling regime g → 0, where λ ≡ g 2 n is kept fixed as n → ∞, g representing the gauge theory coupling(s). In this limit, correlation functions G 2 n of these operators behave in a simple way, with an asymptotic behavior of the form {G}_{2n}≈ {F}_{∞}(λ){(λ/2π e)}^{2n} n α , modulo O(1 /n) corrections, with α =1/2 \\dim (g) for a gauge algebra g and a universal function F ∞(λ). As a by-product we find several new formulas both for the partition function as well as for perturbative correlators in N=2 su(N) gauge theory with 2 N fundamental hypermultiplets.

Effect of topical honey on limitation of radiation-induced oral mucositis: an intervention study.

PubMed

Khanal, B; Baliga, M; Uppal, N

2010-12-01

Radiation therapy for oral carcinoma is therapeutically useful in dose of at least 6000 cGy but causes mucositis that severely interferes with oral function. The literature indicates that honey appears to promote wound healing, so the authors investigated whether its anti-inflammatory properties might limit the severity of radiation-induced oral mucositis. A single-blinded, randomized, controlled clinical trial was carried out to compare the mucositis-limiting qualities of honey with lignocaine. A visual assessment scale permitted scoring of degrees of mucositis and statistical evaluation of the results was performed using the χ(2) test. Only 1 of 20 patients in the honey group developed intolerable oral mucositis compared with the lignocaine group, indicating that honey is strongly protective (RR=0.067) against the development of mucositis. The proportion of patients with intolerable oral mucositis was lower in the honey group and this was statistically significant (p=0.000). Honey applied topically to the oral mucosa of patients undergoing radiation therapy appears to provide a distinct benefit by limiting the severity of mucositis. Honey is readily available, affordable and well accepted by patients making it useful for improving the quality of life in irradiated patients. Copyright © 2010 International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Large-Scale functional network overlap is a general property of brain functional organization: Reconciling inconsistent fMRI findings from general-linear-model-based analyses

PubMed Central

Xu, Jiansong; Potenza, Marc N.; Calhoun, Vince D.; Zhang, Rubin; Yip, Sarah W.; Wall, John T.; Pearlson, Godfrey D.; Worhunsky, Patrick D.; Garrison, Kathleen A.; Moran, Joseph M.

2016-01-01

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies regularly use univariate general-linear-model-based analyses (GLM). Their findings are often inconsistent across different studies, perhaps because of several fundamental brain properties including functional heterogeneity, balanced excitation and inhibition (E/I), and sparseness of neuronal activities. These properties stipulate heterogeneous neuronal activities in the same voxels and likely limit the sensitivity and specificity of GLM. This paper selectively reviews findings of histological and electrophysiological studies and fMRI spatial independent component analysis (sICA) and reports new findings by applying sICA to two existing datasets. The extant and new findings consistently demonstrate several novel features of brain functional organization not revealed by GLM. They include overlap of large-scale functional networks (FNs) and their concurrent opposite modulations, and no significant modulations in activity of most FNs across the whole brain during any task conditions. These novel features of brain functional organization are highly consistent with the brain’s properties of functional heterogeneity, balanced E/I, and sparseness of neuronal activity, and may help reconcile inconsistent GLM findings. PMID:27592153

Asymptomatic myotonia congenita unmasked by severe hypothyroidism.

PubMed

Passeri, Elena; Sansone, Valeria A; Verdelli, Chiara; Mendola, Marco; Corbetta, Sabrina

2014-04-01

Myotonia congenita is an inherited muscle disorder sustained by mutations in the skeletal muscle chloride channel gene CLCN1. Symptoms vary from mild to severe and generalized myotonia and worsen with cold, stressful events and hormonal fluctuations. Here we report the case of a young woman who sought medical attention because of subacute onset of diffuse and severe limb myotonia. CLCN1 gene sequencing showed a heterozygous transversion (T550M), two polymorphisms and one silent mutation. Thyroid function screening revealed severe hypothyroidism. She was placed on l-thyroxine replacement therapy which dramatically improved myotonia. We conclude that hypothyroidism unmasked a genetically determined, clinically asymptomatic chloride channelopathy. Diagnostic work-up in patients with clinically isolated myotonia should not be limited to genetic screening of non-dystrophic or dystrophic myotonias. Considering the high prevalence of hypothyroidism in females, systematic thyroid function screening by looking for additional hypothyroid symptoms and serum TSH levels measurement is mandatory in these patients. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Clinical severity and quality of life in children and adolescents with Rett syndrome

PubMed Central

Lane, J.B.; Lee, H.-S.; Smith, L.W.; Cheng, P.; Glaze, D.G.; Neul, J.L.; Motil, K.J.; Barrish, J.O.; Skinner, S.A.; Annese, F.; McNair, L.; Graham, J.; Khwaja, O.; Barnes, K.; Krischer, J.P.

2011-01-01

Objective: The clinical features and genetics of Rett syndrome (RTT) have been well studied, but examination of quality of life (QOL) is limited. This study describes the impact of clinical severity on QOL among female children and adolescents with classic RTT. Methods: Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were conducted on data collected from an NIH-sponsored RTT natural history study. More than 200 participants from 5 to 18 years of age with classic RTT finished their 2-year follow-up at the time of analysis. Regression models after adjustment for their MECP2 mutation type and age at enrollment were used to examine the association between clinical status and QOL. Results: Severe clinical impairment was highly associated with poor physical QOL, but worse motor function and earlier age at onset of RTT stereotypies were associated with better psychosocial QOL; conversely, better motor function was associated with poorer psychosocial QOL. Conclusions: Standard psychosocial QOL assessment for children and adolescents with RTT differs significantly with regard to their motor function severity. As clinical trials in RTT emerge, the Child Health Questionnaire 50 may represent one of the important outcome measures. PMID:22013176

Evaluation of the DSM-5 severity ratings for anorexia nervosa in a clinical sample.

PubMed

Dakanalis, Antonios; Alix Timko, C; Colmegna, Fabrizia; Riva, Giuseppe; Clerici, Massimo

2018-04-01

We examined the validity and utility of the DSM-5 severity ratings for anorexia nervosa (AN) in a clinical (treatment-seeking) sample (N = 273; 95.6% women). Participants classified with mild, moderate, severe, and extreme severity of AN based on their measured body mass index, differed significantly from each other in eating disorder features, putative maintenance factors, and illness-specific functional impairment (medium effect sizes). However, they were statistically indistinguishable in psychiatric-disorder comorbidity and distress, demographics, and age-of-AN onset. The implications of our findings, providing limited support for the DSM-5 severity ratings for AN, and directions for future research are outlined. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Coping with iron limitation: A metabolomic study of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803

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

Rivas-Ubach, Albert; Poret-Peterson, Amisha T.; Peñuelas, Josep

Iron (Fe) is a key element for all living systems, especially for photosynthetic organisms because of its important role in the photosynthetic electron transport chain. Fe limitation in cyanobacteria leads to several physiological and morphological changes. However, the overall metabolic responses to Fe limitation are still poorly understood. In this study, we integrated elemental, stoichiometric, macromolecular, and metabolomic data to shed light on the responses of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, a non-N2-fixing freshwater cyanobacterium, to Fe limitation. Compared to Synechocystis growing at nutrient replete conditions, Fe-limited cultures had lower growth rates and amounts of chlorophyll a, RNA, RNA:DNA, C, N,more » and P and higher ratios of Protein:RNA, C:N, C:P and N:P, in accordance with the growth rate hypothesis which predicts faster growing organisms will have decreased biomass RNA contents and C:P and N:P ratios. Fe-limited Synechocystis had lower amounts Fe, Mn and Mo, and higher amount of Cu. Several changes in amino acids of cultures growing under Fe limitation suggest nitrogen limitation. Additionally, we found substantial increases in stress-related metabolites in Fe-limited cyanobacteria such antioxidants. This study represents an advance in understanding the stoichiometric, macromolecular and metabolic strategies that cyanobacteria use to cope with Fe limitation. This information, moreover, may further understanding of changes in cyanobacterial functions under scenarios of Fe limitation in aquatic ecosystems.« less

Exploring the Impact of Chronic Tic Disorders on Youth: Results from the Tourette Syndrome Impact Survey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Conelea, Christine A.; Woods, Douglas W.; Zinner, Samuel H.; Budman, Cathy; Murphy, Tanya; Scahill, Lawrence D.; Compton, Scott N.; Walkup, John

2011-01-01

Prior research has demonstrated that chronic tic disorders (CTD) are associated with functional impairment across several domains. However, methodological limitations, such as data acquired by parental report, datasets aggregated across child and adult samples, and small treatment-seeking samples, curtail interpretation. The current study explored…

Rehabilitation in severe memory deficit: A case study

PubMed Central

Sousa, Nariana Mattos Figueiredo

2017-01-01

The term amnesia refers to a pathological state of mind in which memory and learning are affected to a greater extent than other cognitive functions in a patient without altered level of consciousness. The aim of the current study was to describe a case of severe amnesia in a patient during neurological rehabilitation and to report the importance of preserved cognitive functions to compensate for the mnemonic deficit. VJA presented a clinical condition suggestive of encephalopathy due to caloric-protein malnutrition following several abdominal surgical procedures for complicated choledocholithiasis. A descriptive analysis of the results was carried out to outline the goals attained and the factors limiting implementation of memory aids. After the intervention program, consisting of individual and group activities, VJA showed improvement in level of recall with repetition of tasks, but still required constant external monitoring. Longitudinal follow-up is necessary to obtain more consistent results. PMID:29213515

Rehabilitation in severe memory deficit: A case study.

PubMed

Sousa, Nariana Mattos Figueiredo

2017-01-01

The term amnesia refers to a pathological state of mind in which memory and learning are affected to a greater extent than other cognitive functions in a patient without altered level of consciousness. The aim of the current study was to describe a case of severe amnesia in a patient during neurological rehabilitation and to report the importance of preserved cognitive functions to compensate for the mnemonic deficit. VJA presented a clinical condition suggestive of encephalopathy due to caloric-protein malnutrition following several abdominal surgical procedures for complicated choledocholithiasis. A descriptive analysis of the results was carried out to outline the goals attained and the factors limiting implementation of memory aids. After the intervention program, consisting of individual and group activities, VJA showed improvement in level of recall with repetition of tasks, but still required constant external monitoring. Longitudinal follow-up is necessary to obtain more consistent results.

Adapting to psychiatric disability and needs for home- and community-based care.

PubMed

Green, Carla A; Vuckovic, Nancy H; Firemark, Alison J

2002-03-01

The objective of the study was to describe adaptation strategies and use of formal and informal support by individuals with psychiatric disabilities, to delineate remaining needs, and to determine how home- and community-based services might address those needs. Using in-depth interviews and structured questionnaires, we examined functional status, adaptation, and needs for home- and community-based care among 33 severely mentally ill members of a large health maintenance organization. Despite success in community living, participants had significant functional deficits (physical and emotional), relied heavily on only one or two key informal caregivers, and often needed significant support from mental health professionals. Limited numbers of caregivers and social isolation placed participants at risk of negative outcomes if informal support resources were to be lost. Home- and community-based care interventions that attempt to increase informal support networks and provide instrumental help (cooking, cleaning, transport) on short notice during flare-ups could augment existing (but limited) informal caregiving, help severely mentally ill individuals remain independent, and reduce the likelihood that loss of an informal caregiver would result in unwanted outcomes.

The potential of induced pluripotent stem cell derived hepatocytes.

PubMed

Hannoun, Zara; Steichen, Clara; Dianat, Noushin; Weber, Anne; Dubart-Kupperschmitt, Anne

2016-07-01

Orthotopic liver transplantation remains the only curative treatment for liver disease. However, the number of patients who die while on the waiting list (15%) has increased in recent years as a result of severe organ shortages; furthermore the incidence of liver disease is increasing worldwide. Clinical trials involving hepatocyte transplantation have provided encouraging results. However, transplanted cell function appears to often decline after several months, necessitating liver transplantation. The precise aetiology of the loss of cell function is not clear, but poor engraftment and immune-mediated loss appear to be important factors. Also, primary human hepatocytes (PHH) are not readily available, de-differentiate, and die rapidly in culture. Hepatocytes are available from other sources, such as tumour-derived human hepatocyte cell lines and immortalised human hepatocyte cell lines or porcine hepatocytes. However, all these cells suffer from various limitations such as reduced or differences in functions or risk of zoonotic infections. Due to their significant potential, one possible inexhaustible source of hepatocytes is through the directed differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). This review will discuss the potential applications and existing limitations of hiPSC-derived hepatocytes in regenerative medicine, drug screening, in vitro disease modelling and bioartificial livers. Copyright © 2016 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Hand management in recessive dystrophic bullous epydermolysis].

PubMed

Pajardi, G; Novelli, C; Parolo, C; Proserpio, G; Tegon, M; Vecchi, S

2011-01-01

Recessive distrofic epidermolysis bullosa creates severe hand deformities with disabling functional limitations. Hand surgeon should perform surgery when deformity inibits function, in order to restore the pinch. We present our experience on 44 patients and 58 operated hands, with the following schema: hand degloving, grafting of the first web and intraoperative dynamic splinting. In 30 patient with an 8 years follow up, 25 had had good or excellent results, and the 5 remaining shows early recurrence. Association of a correct surgical approach and adequate intra and post-operative rehabilitation improve hand function and a slow down inevitable recurrence.

Neurosurgery: Functional regeneration after laser axotomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yanik, Mehmet Fatih; Cinar, Hulusi; Cinar, Hediye Nese; Chisholm, Andrew D.; Jin, Yishi; Ben-Yakar, Adela

2004-12-01

Understanding how nerves regenerate is an important step towards developing treatments for human neurological disease, but investigation has so far been limited to complex organisms (mouse and zebrafish) in the absence of precision techniques for severing axons (axotomy). Here we use femtosecond laser surgery for axotomy in the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans and show that these axons functionally regenerate after the operation. Application of this precise surgical technique should enable nerve regeneration to be studied in vivo in its most evolutionarily simple form.

Work and health, a blind spot in curative healthcare? A pilot study.

PubMed

Lötters, Freek J B; Foets, Marleen; Burdorf, Alex

2011-09-01

Most workers with musculoskeletal disorders on sick leave often consult with regular health care before entering a specific work rehabilitation program. However, it remains unclear to what extent regular healthcare contributes to the timely return to work (RTW). Moreover, several studies have indicated that it might postpone RTW. There is a need to establish the influence of regular healthcare on RTW as outcome; "Does visiting a regular healthcare provider influence the duration of sickness absence and recurrent sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders?". A cohort of workers on sick leave for 2-6 weeks due to a-specific musculoskeletal disorders was followed for 12 months. The main outcomes for the present analysis were: duration of sickness absence till 100% return to work and recurrent sick leave after initial RTW. Cox regression analyses were conducted with visiting a general health practitioner, physical therapist, or medical specialist during the sick leave period as independent variables. Each regression model was adjusted for variables known to influence health care utilization like age, sex, diagnostic group, pain intensity, functional disability, general health perception, severity of complaints, job control, and physical load at work. Patients visiting a medical specialist reported higher pain intensity and more functional limitations and also had a worse health perception at start of the sick leave period compared with those not visiting a specialist. Visiting a medical specialist delayed return to work significantly (HR = 2.10; 95%CI 1.43-3.07). After approximately 8 weeks on sick leave workers visiting a physical therapist returned to work faster than other workers. A recurrent episode of sick leave during the follow up quick was initiated by higher pain intensity and more functional limitations at the moment of fully return to work. Visiting a primary healthcare provider during the sickness absence period did not influence the occurrence of a new sick leave period. Despite the adjustment for severity of the musculoskeletal disorder, visiting a medical specialist was associated with a delayed full return to work. More attention to the factor 'labor' in the regular healthcare is warranted, especially for those patients experiencing substantial functional limitations due to musculoskeletal disorders.

Severe viral respiratory infections in children with IFIH1 loss-of-function mutations

PubMed Central

Schlapbach, Luregn J.; Anchisi, Stéphanie; Hammer, Christian; Bartha, Istvan; Junier, Thomas; Mottet-Osman, Geneviève; Posfay-Barbe, Klara M.; Longchamp, David; Stocker, Martin; Cordey, Samuel; Kaiser, Laurent; Riedel, Thomas; Kenna, Tony; Long, Deborah; Schibler, Andreas; Tapparel, Caroline; Garcin, Dominique

2017-01-01

Viral respiratory infections are usually mild and self-limiting; still they exceptionally result in life-threatening infections in previously healthy children. To investigate a potential genetic cause, we recruited 120 previously healthy children requiring support in intensive care because of a severe illness caused by a respiratory virus. Using exome and transcriptome sequencing, we identified and characterized three rare loss-of-function variants in IFIH1, which encodes an RIG-I-like receptor involved in the sensing of viral RNA. Functional testing of the variants IFIH1 alleles demonstrated that the resulting proteins are unable to induce IFN-β, are intrinsically less stable than wild-type IFIH1, and lack ATPase activity. In vitro assays showed that IFIH1 effectively restricts replication of human respiratory syncytial virus and rhinoviruses. We conclude that IFIH1 deficiency causes a primary immunodeficiency manifested in extreme susceptibility to common respiratory RNA viruses. PMID:28716935

The effects of malnutrition on cardiac function in African children.

PubMed

Silverman, Jonathan A; Chimalizeni, Yamikani; Hawes, Stephen E; Wolf, Elizabeth R; Batra, Maneesh; Khofi, Harriet; Molyneux, Elizabeth M

2016-02-01

Cardiac dysfunction may contribute to high mortality in severely malnourished children. Our objective was to assess the effect of malnutrition on cardiac function in hospitalised African children. Prospective cross-sectional study. Public referral hospital in Blantyre, Malawi. We enrolled 272 stable, hospitalised children ages 6-59 months, with and without WHO-defined severe acute malnutrition. Cardiac index, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, stroke volume index and systemic vascular resistance index were measured by the ultrasound cardiac output monitor (USCOM, New South Wales, Australia). We used linear regression with generalised estimating equations controlling for age, sex and anaemia. Our primary outcome, cardiac index, was similar between those with and without severe malnutrition: difference=0.22 L/min/m(2) (95% CI -0.08 to 0.51). No difference was found in heart rate or stroke volume index. However, mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance index were lower in children with severe malnutrition: difference=-8.6 mm Hg (95% CI -12.7 to -4.6) and difference=-200 dyne s/cm(5)/m(2) (95% CI -320 to -80), respectively. In this largest study to date, we found no significant difference in cardiac function between hospitalised children with and without severe acute malnutrition. Further study is needed to determine if cardiac function is diminished in unstable malnourished children. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/

Current perspectives in NSAID-induced gastropathy.

PubMed

Sinha, Mau; Gautam, Lovely; Shukla, Prakash Kumar; Kaur, Punit; Sharma, Sujata; Singh, Tej P

2013-01-01

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most highly prescribed drugs in the world. Their analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic actions may be beneficial; however, they are associated with severe side effects including gastrointestinal injury and peptic ulceration. Though several approaches for limiting these side effects have been adopted, like the use of COX-2 specific drugs, comedication of acid suppressants like proton pump inhibitors and prostaglandin analogs, these alternatives have limitations in terms of efficacy and side effects. In this paper, the mechanism of action of NSAIDs and their critical gastrointestinal complications have been reviewed. This paper also provides the information on different preventive measures prescribed to minimize such adverse effects and analyses the new suggested strategies for development of novel drugs to maintain the anti-inflammatory functions of NSAIDs along with effective gastrointestinal protection.

Computational principles of working memory in sentence comprehension.

PubMed

Lewis, Richard L; Vasishth, Shravan; Van Dyke, Julie A

2006-10-01

Understanding a sentence requires a working memory of the partial products of comprehension, so that linguistic relations between temporally distal parts of the sentence can be rapidly computed. We describe an emerging theoretical framework for this working memory system that incorporates several independently motivated principles of memory: a sharply limited attentional focus, rapid retrieval of item (but not order) information subject to interference from similar items, and activation decay (forgetting over time). A computational model embodying these principles provides an explanation of the functional capacities and severe limitations of human processing, as well as accounts of reading times. The broad implication is that the detailed nature of cross-linguistic sentence processing emerges from the interaction of general principles of human memory with the specialized task of language comprehension.

Marine ecosystem resilience during extreme deoxygenation: the Early Jurassic oceanic anoxic event.

PubMed

Caswell, Bryony A; Frid, Christopher L J

2017-01-01

Global warming during the Early Jurassic, and associated widespread ocean deoxygenation, was comparable in scale with the changes projected for the next century. This study quantifies the impact of severe global environmental change on the biological traits of marine communities that define the ecological roles and functions they deliver. We document centennial-millennial variability in the biological trait composition of Early Jurassic (Toarcian) seafloor communities and examine how this changed during the event using biological traits analysis. Environmental changes preceding the global oceanic anoxic event (OAE) produced an ecological shift leading to stressed benthic palaeocommunities with reduced resilience to the subsequent OAE. Changes in traits and ecological succession coincided with major environmental changes; and were of similar nature and magnitude to those in severely deoxygenated benthic communities today despite the very different timescales. Changes in community composition were linked to local redox conditions whereas changes in populations of opportunists were driven by primary productivity. Throughout most of the OAE substitutions by tolerant taxa conserved the trait composition and hence functioning, but periods of severe deoxygenation caused benthic defaunation that would have resulted in functional collapse. Following the OAE recovery was slow probably because the global nature of the event restricted opportunities for recruitment from outside the basin. Our findings suggest that future systems undergoing deoxygenation may initially show functional resilience, but severe global deoxygenation will impact traits and ecosystem functioning and, by limiting the species pool, will slow recovery rates.

Methode de calcul a N-corps basee sur la G0W0: Etude du couplage electron-phonon dans le C60 et developpement d'une approche acceleree pour materiaux organiques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laflamme Janssen, Jonathan

This thesis studies the limitations of density functional theory. These limits are explored in the context of a traditional implementation using a plane waves basis set. First, we investigate the limit of the size of the systems that can be treated. Cutting edge methods that assess these limitations are then used to simulate nanoscale systems. More specifically, the grafting of bromophenyl molecules on the sidewall of carbon nanotubes is studied with these methods, as a better understanding of this procedure could have substantial impact on the electronic industry. Second, the limitations of the precision of density functional theory are explored. We begin with a quantitative study of the uncertainty of this method for the case of electron-phonon coupling calculations and find it to be substantially higher than what is widely presumed in the literature. The uncertainty on electronphonon coupling calculations is then explored within the G0W0 method, which is found to be a substantially more precise alternative. However, this method has the drawback of being severely limitated in the size of systems that can be computed. In the following, theoretical solutions to overcome these limitations are developed and presented. The increased performance and precision of the resulting implementation opens new possibilities for the study and design of materials, such as superconductors, polymers for organic photovoltaics and semiconductors. Keywords: Condensed matter physics, ab initio calculations, density functional theory, nanotechnology, carbon nanotubes, many-body perturbation theory, G0W0 method..

Functional neuroimaging: technical, logical, and social perspectives.

PubMed

Aguirre, Geoffrey K

2014-01-01

Neuroscientists have long sought to study the dynamic activity of the human brain-what's happening in the brain, that is, while people are thinking, feeling, and acting. Ideally, an inside look at brain function would simultaneously and continuously measure the biochemical state of every cell in the central nervous system. While such a miraculous method is science fiction, a century of progress in neuroimaging technologies has made such simultaneous and continuous measurement a plausible fiction. Despite this progress, practitioners of modern neuroimaging struggle with two kinds of limitations: those that attend the particular neuroimaging methods we have today and those that would limit any method of imaging neural activity, no matter how powerful. In this essay, I consider the liabilities and potential of techniques that measure human brain activity. I am concerned here only with methods that measure relevant physiologic states of the central nervous system and relate those measures to particular mental states. I will consider in particular the preeminent method of functional neuroimaging: BOLD fMRI. While there are several practical limits on the biological information that current technologies can measure, these limits-as important as they are-are minor in comparison to the fundamental logical restraints on the conclusions that can be drawn from brain imaging studies. © 2014 by The Hastings Center.

Sequence space and the ongoing expansion of the protein universe.

PubMed

Povolotskaya, Inna S; Kondrashov, Fyodor A

2010-06-17

The need to maintain the structural and functional integrity of an evolving protein severely restricts the repertoire of acceptable amino-acid substitutions. However, it is not known whether these restrictions impose a global limit on how far homologous protein sequences can diverge from each other. Here we explore the limits of protein evolution using sequence divergence data. We formulate a computational approach to study the rate of divergence of distant protein sequences and measure this rate for ancient proteins, those that were present in the last universal common ancestor. We show that ancient proteins are still diverging from each other, indicating an ongoing expansion of the protein sequence universe. The slow rate of this divergence is imposed by the sparseness of functional protein sequences in sequence space and the ruggedness of the protein fitness landscape: approximately 98 per cent of sites cannot accept an amino-acid substitution at any given moment but a vast majority of all sites may eventually be permitted to evolve when other, compensatory, changes occur. Thus, approximately 3.5 x 10(9) yr has not been enough to reach the limit of divergent evolution of proteins, and for most proteins the limit of sequence similarity imposed by common function may not exceed that of random sequences.

Abbreviated neuropsychological assessment in schizophrenia

PubMed Central

Harvey, Philip D.; Keefe, Richard S. E.; Patterson, Thomas L.; Heaton, Robert K.; Bowie, Christopher R.

2008-01-01

The aim of this study was to identify the best subset of neuropsychological tests for prediction of several different aspects of functioning in a large (n = 236) sample of older people with schizophrenia. While the validity of abbreviated assessment methods has been examined before, there has never been a comparative study of the prediction of different elements of cognitive impairment, real-world outcomes, and performance-based measures of functional capacity. Scores on 10 different tests from a neuropsychological assessment battery were used to predict global neuropsychological (NP) performance (indexed with averaged scores or calculated general deficit scores), performance-based indices of everyday-living skills and social competence, and case-manager ratings of real-world functioning. Forward entry stepwise regression analyses were used to identify the best predictors for each of the outcomes measures. Then, the analyses were adjusted for estimated premorbid IQ, which reduced the magnitude, but not the structure, of the correlations. Substantial amounts (over 70%) of the variance in overall NP performance were accounted for by a limited number of NP tests. Considerable variance in measures of functional capacity was also accounted for by a limited number of tests. Different tests constituted the best predictor set for each outcome measure. A substantial proportion of the variance in several different NP and functional outcomes can be accounted for by a small number of NP tests that can be completed in a few minutes, although there is considerable unexplained variance. However, the abbreviated assessments that best predict different outcomes vary across outcomes. Future studies should determine whether responses to pharmacological and remediation treatments can be captured with brief assessments as well. PMID:18720182

Assessment of Community Functioning in People With Schizophrenia and Other Severe Mental Illnesses: A White Paper Based on an NIMH-Sponsored Workshop

PubMed Central

Bellack, Alan S.; Green, Michael F.; Cook, Judith A.; Fenton, Wayne; Harvey, Philip D.; Heaton, Robert K.; Laughren, Thomas; Leon, Andrew C.; Mayo, Donna J.; Patrick, Donald L.; Patterson, Thomas L.; Rose, Andrew; Stover, Ellen; Wykes, Til

2007-01-01

People with schizophrenia frequently have significant problems in community functioning. Progress in developing effective interventions to ameliorate these problems has been slowed by the absence of reliable and valid measures that are suitable for use in clinical trials. The National Institute of Mental Health convened a workgroup in September 2005 to examine this issue and make recommendations to the field that would foster research in this area. This article reports on issues raised at the meeting. Many instruments have been developed to assess community functioning, but overall insufficient attention has been paid to psychometric issues and many instruments are not suitable for use in clinical trials. Consumer self-report, informant report, ratings by clinicians and trained raters, and behavioral assessment all can provide useful and valid information in some circumstances and may be practical for use in clinical trials. However, insufficient attention has been paid to when and how different forms of assessment and sources of information are useful or how to understand inconsistencies. A major limiting factor in development of reliable and valid instruments is failure to develop a suitable model of functioning and its primary mediators and moderators. Several examples that can guide thinking are presented. Finally, the field is limited by the absence of an objective gold standard of community functioning. Hence, outcomes must be evaluated in part by “clinical significance.” This criterion is problematic because different observers and constituencies often have different opinions about what types of change are clinically important and how much change is significant. PMID:16931542

The results of preoperative halo-gravity traction in children with severe spinal deformity.

PubMed

Garabekyan, Tigran; Hosseinzadeh, Pooya; Iwinski, Henry J; Muchow, Ryan D; Talwalkar, Vishwas R; Walker, Janet; Milbrandt, Todd A

2014-01-01

Halo-gravity traction has been used preoperatively for patients with severe spinal deformity but there are limited data in the literature on the results and complications. We studied the outcomes of perioperative halo-gravity traction in children with severe spinal deformity. A retrospective study was carried out on patients who were treated at our center. Twenty-one patients were included in the study. Radiographic and pulmonary function parameters showed significant improvement during the course of traction and at the final follow-up. The overall complication rate was 19%, including two patients with pin loosening and two patients with superficial pin-site infections treated with oral antibiotics.

Impact of age-related macular degeneration in patients with glaucoma: understanding the patients' perspective.

PubMed

Skalicky, Simon E; Fenwick, Eva; Martin, Keith R; Crowston, Jonathan; Goldberg, Ivan; McCluskey, Peter

2016-07-01

The aim of the study is to measure the impact of age-related macular degeneration on vision-related activity limitation and preference-based status for glaucoma patients. This was a cross-sectional study. Two-hundred glaucoma patients of whom 73 had age-related macular degeneration were included in the research. Sociodemographic information, visual field parameters and visual acuity were collected. Age-related macular degeneration was scored using the Age-Related Eye Disease Study system. The Rasch-analysed Glaucoma Activity Limitation-9 and the Visual Function Questionnaire Utility Index measured vision-related activity limitation and preference-based status, respectively. Regression models determined factors predictive of vision-related activity limitation and preference-based status. Differential item functioning compared Glaucoma Activity Limitation-9 item difficulty for those with and without age-related macular degeneration. Mean age was 73.7 (±10.1) years. Lower better eye mean deviation (β: 1.42, 95% confidence interval: 1.24-1.63, P < 0.001) and age-related macular degeneration (β: 1.26 95% confidence interval: 1.10-1.44, P = 0.001) were independently associated with worse vision-related activity limitation. Worse eye visual acuity (β: 0.978, 95% confidence interval: 0.961-0.996, P = 0.018), high risk age-related macular degeneration (β: 0.981, 95% confidence interval: 0.965-0.998, P = 0.028) and severe glaucoma (β: 0.982, 95% confidence interval: 0.966-0.998, P = 0.032) were independently associated with worse preference-based status. Glaucoma patients with age-related macular degeneration found using stairs, walking on uneven ground and judging distances of foot to step/curb significantly more difficult than those without age-related macular degeneration. Vision-related activity limitation and preference-based status are negatively impacted by severe glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. Patients with both conditions perceive increased difficulty walking safely compared with patients with glaucoma alone. © 2015 Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists.

Clinical and Cognitive Insight in a Compensatory Cognitive Training Intervention

PubMed Central

Burton, Cynthia Z.; Vella, Lea; Twamley, Elizabeth W.

2013-01-01

The impact of limited insight is a crucial consideration in the treatment of individuals with psychiatric illness. In the context of psychosis, both clinical and cognitive insight have been described. This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between clinical and cognitive insight and neuropsychological functioning, psychiatric symptom severity, and everyday functioning in patients with a primary psychotic disorder participating in a compensatory cognitive training (CT) intervention. Sixty-nine individuals diagnosed with a primary psychotic disorder were randomized to a 3-month CT intervention or to standard pharmacotherapy, and they completed a comprehensive neuropsychological, clinical, and functional battery at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. The CT intervention focused on habit formation and compensatory strategy learning in four domains: prospective memory, attention and vigilance, learning and memory, and problem-solving/cognitive flexibility. At baseline, better clinical insight was significantly related to better executive functioning and less severe negative symptoms. There was no significant association between cognitive insight and cognitive functioning, symptom severity, or everyday functioning ability. The CT intervention did not have an effect on clinical or cognitive insight, but better cognitive insight prior to participation in CT significantly predicted decreased positive and depressive symptom severity posttreatment, and better clinical insight predicted improved self-reported quality of life. Although clinical insight is related to executive functioning, the correlates of cognitive insight remain elusive. Intact insight appears to be beneficial in ameliorating clinical symptomatology like positive symptoms and depression, rather than augmenting cognition. It may be valuable to develop brief interventions aimed at improving clinical and cognitive insight prior to other psychosocial rehabilitation in order to maximize the benefit of treatment. PMID:23990763

Assessing visual function in children with complex disabilities: the Bradford visual function box.

PubMed

Pilling, Rachel F; Outhwaite, Louise; Bruce, Alison

2016-08-01

Assessment of children with complex and severe learning disabilities is challenging and the children may not respond to the monochrome stimuli of traditional tests. The International Association of Scientific Studies on Intellectual Disability recommends that visual function assessment in poorly or non-cooperative children should be undertaken in an objective manner. We have developed a functional visual assessment tool to assess vision in children with complex and multiple disabilities. The Bradford visual function box (BVFB) comprises a selection of items (small toys) of different size and colour, which are presented to the child and the response observed. The aim of this study is to establish its intertester validity in children with severe learning disability. The visual function of 22 children with severe learning disability was assessed using the BVFB. The children were assessed by experienced practitioners on two separate occasions. The assessors were unaware of each other's findings. In 15/22 of the children, no difference was found in the results of the two assessors. The test was shown to have a good intertester agreement, weighted κ=0.768. The results of this clinical study show that the BVFB is a reliable tool for assessing the visual function in children with severe learning disability in whom other tests fail to elicit a response. The need for a tool which is quick to administer and portable has previously been highlighted. The BVFB offers an option for children for whom other formal tests are unsuccessful in eliciting a response. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/

Summer dormancy, drought survival and functional resource acquisition strategies in California perennial grasses

PubMed Central

Balachowski, Jennifer A.; Bristiel, Pauline M.; Volaire, Florence A.

2016-01-01

Background and Aims Evidence suggests drought severity is increasing due to climate change, but strategies promoting severe drought survival in perennial grasses have been seldom explored. This is particularly true of summer dormancy, an adaptation common in summer-dry Mediterranean-type climates. In addition, though theory predicts superior drought survival results in lower potential productivity, studies rarely measure both drought survival and growth under optimal conditions. Methods Physiological and functional ecological approaches were integrated to quantify interspecific variation in foliar and root traits in a suite of eight California perennial grass species. In a glasshouse experiment, summer dormancy, foliar functional trait variation, and seasonal growth and phenology under non-limiting water conditions and dehydration tolerance under progressive drought were quantified. In a second glasshouse study, root functional traits were quantified under non-limiting water conditions in rhizotrons. Key Results Summer dormancy was associated with higher dehydration tolerance, and negatively associated with traits conferring dehydration avoidance. Species with greater summer dormancy were characterized by greater springtime productivity, earlier reproduction, and a shallow and fine root system, which are indicative of dehydration escape. Summer dormancy was associated with an acquisitive, competitive functional strategy in spring, and a conservative strategy in summer. Conclusions Both the escape and acquisitive springtime strategies observed in summer dormant perennial taxa are typically associated with annual grasses. California grasslands were once dominated by perennial species, but have been overtaken by non-native Mediterranean annual grasses, which are expected to be further favoured by climate change. Owing to functional similarity with these exotic annuals, it is suggested that native summer dormant taxa may play an important ecological role in the future of both natural and restored California grasslands. PMID:27325898

Cooling Models for Old White Dwarfs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hansen, Brad M. S.

1999-08-01

We present new white dwarf cooling models that incorporate an accurate outer boundary condition based on new opacity and detailed radiative transfer calculations. We find that helium-atmosphere dwarfs cool considerably faster than has previously been claimed, while old hydrogen-atmosphere dwarfs will deviate significantly from blackbody appearance. We use our new models to derive age limits for the Galactic disk. We find that the Liebert, Dahn, & Monet luminosity function yields an age of only 6 Gyr if it is complete to stated limits. However, age estimates of individual dwarfs and the luminosity function of Oswalt et al. are both consistent with disk ages as large as ~11 Gyr. We have also used our models to place constraints on white dwarf dark matter in the Galactic halo. We find that previous attempts using inadequate cooling models were too severe and that direct detection limits allow a halo that is 11 Gyr old. If the halo is composed solely of helium-atmosphere dwarfs, the lower age limit is only 7.5 Gyr. We also demonstrate the importance of studying the cooling sequences of white dwarfs in globular clusters.

Are economic recessions at the time of leaving school associated with worse physical functioning in later life?

PubMed Central

Hessel, Philipp; Avendano, Mauricio

2015-01-01

Purpose This paper examines whether economic conditions at the time of leaving school or college are associated with physical functioning at old age among cohorts in 11 European countries. Methods Data came from 10,338 participants in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) aged 50-74 who left school or college between 1956 and 1986. Data on functional limitations, as well as employment, marriage and fertility retrospective histories were linked to national unemployment rates during the year individuals left school. Models included country-fixed effects and controls for early-life circumstances. Results Higher unemployment rates during the school-leaving year were associated with fewer functional limitations at ages 50-74 among men (RR[Rate ratio]=0.63, 95%CI=0.47-0.83), but more physical functioning limitations among women (RR=1.30, 95%CI=1.13-1.50), particularly with (post-)secondary education. Economic conditions at the age of leaving school were associated with several labor market, marriage, fertility and health behavior outcomes, but controlling for these factors did not attenuate associations. Results were similar in models that controlled for selection into higher education due to measured covariates. Conclusions Worse economic conditions during the school-leaving year predicted better health at old age among men but worse health among women. Both selection and causation mechanisms may explain this association. PMID:24051367

Development and technical basis of simplified guidelines for emergency triage assessment and treatment in developing countries. WHO Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) Referral Care Project.

PubMed

Gove, S; Tamburlini, G; Molyneux, E; Whitesell, P; Campbell, H

1999-12-01

Simplified guidelines for the emergency care of children have been developed to improve the triage and rapid initiation of appropriate emergency treatments for children presenting to hospitals in developing countries. The guidelines are part of the effort to improve referral level paediatric care within the World Health Organisation/Unicef strategy integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI), based on evidence of significant deficiencies in triage and emergency care. Existing emergency guidelines have been modified according to resource limitations and significant differences in the epidemiology of severe paediatric illness and preventable death in developing countries with raised infant and child mortality rates. In these settings, it is important to address the emergency management of diarrhoea with severe dehydration, severe malaria, severe malnutrition, and severe bacterial pneumonia, and to focus attention on sick infants younger than 2 months of age. The triage assessment relies on a few clinical signs, which can be readily taught so that it can be used by health workers with limited clinical background. The assessment has been designed so that it can be carried out quickly if negative, making it functional for triaging children in queues.

Daytime sky polarization calibration limitations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harrington, David M.; Kuhn, Jeffrey R.; Ariste, Arturo López

2017-01-01

The daytime sky has recently been demonstrated as a useful calibration tool for deriving polarization cross-talk properties of large astronomical telescopes. The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope and other large telescopes under construction can benefit from precise polarimetric calibration of large mirrors. Several atmospheric phenomena and instrumental errors potentially limit the technique's accuracy. At the 3.67-m AEOS telescope on Haleakala, we performed a large observing campaign with the HiVIS spectropolarimeter to identify limitations and develop algorithms for extracting consistent calibrations. Effective sampling of the telescope optical configurations and filtering of data for several derived parameters provide robustness to the derived Mueller matrix calibrations. Second-order scattering models of the sky show that this method is relatively insensitive to multiple-scattering in the sky, provided calibration observations are done in regions of high polarization degree. The technique is also insensitive to assumptions about telescope-induced polarization, provided the mirror coatings are highly reflective. Zemax-derived polarization models show agreement between the functional dependence of polarization predictions and the corresponding on-sky calibrations.

Multimorbidity: constellations of conditions across subgroups of midlife and older individuals, and related Medicare expenditures

PubMed Central

Schiltz, Nicholas K.; Warner, David F.; Sun, Jiayang; Stange, Kurt C.; Given, Charles W.; Dor, Avi

2017-01-01

Introduction: The Department of Health and Human Services’ 2010 Strategic Framework on Multiple Chronic Conditions called for the identification of common constellations of conditions in older adults. Objectives: To analyze patterns of conditions constituting multimorbidity (CCMM) and expenditures in a US representative sample of midlife and older adults (50–64 and ≥65 years of age, respectively). Design: A cross-sectional study of the 2010 Health and Retirement Study (HRS; n=17,912). The following measures were used: (1) count and combinations of CCMM, including (i) chronic conditions (hypertension, arthritis, heart disease, lung disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and psychiatric conditions), (ii) functional limitations (upper body limitations, lower body limitations, strength limitations, limitations in activities of daily living, and limitations in instrumental activities of daily living), and (iii) geriatric syndromes (cognitive impairment, depressive symptoms, incontinence, visual impairment, hearing impairment, severe pain, and dizziness); and (2) annualized 2011 Medicare expenditures for HRS participants who were Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries (n=5,677). Medicaid beneficiaries were also identified based on their self-reported insurance status. Results: No large representations of participants within specific CCMM categories were observed; however, functional limitations and geriatric syndromes were prominently present with higher CCMM counts. Among fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries aged 50–64 years, 26.7% of the participants presented with ≥10 CCMM, but incurred 48% of the expenditure. In those aged ≥65 years, these percentages were 16.9% and 34.4%, respectively. Conclusion: Functional limitations and geriatric syndromes considerably add to the MM burden in midlife and older adults. This burden is much higher than previously reported. PMID:29090187

Objective Assessment of Activity Limitation in Glaucoma with Smartphone Virtual Reality Goggles: A Pilot Study.

PubMed

Goh, Rachel L Z; Kong, Yu Xiang George; McAlinden, Colm; Liu, John; Crowston, Jonathan G; Skalicky, Simon E

2018-01-01

To evaluate the use of smartphone-based virtual reality to objectively assess activity limitation in glaucoma. Cross-sectional study of 93 patients (54 mild, 22 moderate, 17 severe glaucoma). Sociodemographics, visual parameters, Glaucoma Activity Limitation-9 and Visual Function Questionnaire - Utility Index (VFQ-UI) were collected. Mean age was 67.4 ± 13.2 years; 52.7% were male; 65.6% were driving. A smartphone placed inside virtual reality goggles was used to administer the Virtual Reality Glaucoma Visual Function Test (VR-GVFT) to participants, consisting of three parts: stationary, moving ball, driving. Rasch analysis and classical validity tests were conducted to assess performance of VR-GVFT. Twenty-four of 28 stationary test items showed acceptable fit to the Rasch model (person separation 3.02, targeting 0). Eleven of 12 moving ball test items showed acceptable fit (person separation 3.05, targeting 0). No driving test items showed acceptable fit. Stationary test person scores showed good criterion validity, differentiating between glaucoma severity groups ( P = 0.014); modest convergence validity, with mild to moderate correlation with VFQ-UI, better eye (BE) mean deviation, BE pattern deviation, BE central scotoma, worse eye (WE) visual acuity, and contrast sensitivity (CS) in both eyes ( R = 0.243-0.381); and suboptimal divergent validity. Multivariate analysis showed that lower WE CS ( P = 0.044) and greater age ( P = 0.009) were associated with worse stationary test person scores. Smartphone-based virtual reality may be a portable objective simulation test of activity limitation related to glaucomatous visual loss. The use of simulated virtual environments could help better understand the activity limitations that affect patients with glaucoma.

Objective Assessment of Activity Limitation in Glaucoma with Smartphone Virtual Reality Goggles: A Pilot Study

PubMed Central

Goh, Rachel L. Z.; McAlinden, Colm; Liu, John; Crowston, Jonathan G.; Skalicky, Simon E.

2018-01-01

Purpose To evaluate the use of smartphone-based virtual reality to objectively assess activity limitation in glaucoma. Methods Cross-sectional study of 93 patients (54 mild, 22 moderate, 17 severe glaucoma). Sociodemographics, visual parameters, Glaucoma Activity Limitation-9 and Visual Function Questionnaire – Utility Index (VFQ-UI) were collected. Mean age was 67.4 ± 13.2 years; 52.7% were male; 65.6% were driving. A smartphone placed inside virtual reality goggles was used to administer the Virtual Reality Glaucoma Visual Function Test (VR-GVFT) to participants, consisting of three parts: stationary, moving ball, driving. Rasch analysis and classical validity tests were conducted to assess performance of VR-GVFT. Results Twenty-four of 28 stationary test items showed acceptable fit to the Rasch model (person separation 3.02, targeting 0). Eleven of 12 moving ball test items showed acceptable fit (person separation 3.05, targeting 0). No driving test items showed acceptable fit. Stationary test person scores showed good criterion validity, differentiating between glaucoma severity groups (P = 0.014); modest convergence validity, with mild to moderate correlation with VFQ-UI, better eye (BE) mean deviation, BE pattern deviation, BE central scotoma, worse eye (WE) visual acuity, and contrast sensitivity (CS) in both eyes (R = 0.243–0.381); and suboptimal divergent validity. Multivariate analysis showed that lower WE CS (P = 0.044) and greater age (P = 0.009) were associated with worse stationary test person scores. Conclusions Smartphone-based virtual reality may be a portable objective simulation test of activity limitation related to glaucomatous visual loss. Translational Relevance The use of simulated virtual environments could help better understand the activity limitations that affect patients with glaucoma. PMID:29372112

Social Relationships, Gender, and Recovery From Mobility Limitation Among Older Americans.

PubMed

Latham, Kenzie; Clarke, Philippa J; Pavela, Greg

2015-09-01

Evidence suggests social relationships may be important facilitators for recovery from functional impairment, but the extant literature is limited in its measurement of social relationships including an over emphasis on filial social support and a paucity of nationally representative data. Using data from Waves 4-9 (1998-2008) of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), this research examines the association between social relationships and recovery from severe mobility limitation (i.e., difficulty walking one block or across the room) among older Americans. Using a more nuanced measure of recovery that includes complete and partial recovery, a series of discrete-time event history models with multiple competing recovery outcomes were estimated using multinomial logistic regression. Providing instrumental support to peers increased the odds of complete and partial recovery from severe mobility limitation, net of numerous social, and health factors. Having relatives living nearby decreased the odds of complete recovery, while being engaged in one's neighborhood increased the odds of partial recovery. The influence of partner status on partial and complete recovery varied by gender, whereby partnered men were more likely to experience recovery relative to partnered women. The effect of neighborhood engagement on partial recovery also varied by gender. Disengaged women were the least likely to experience partial recovery compared with any other group. The rehabilitative potential of social relationships has important policy implications. Interventions aimed at encouraging older adults with mobility limitation to be engaged in their neighborhoods and/or provide instrumental support to peers may improve functional health outcomes. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Neuraminidase inhibiting antibody responses in pigs differ between influenza A virus N2 lineages and by vaccine type

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The neuraminidase (NA) protein of influenza A viruses (IAV) has important functional roles in the viral replication cycle. Antibodies specific to NA can reduce viral replication and limit disease severity, but are not routinely measured. We analyzed NA inhibiting (NI) antibody titers in serum and re...

Manpower and Employment in American Astronomy.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berendzen, Richard

The study indicates that jobs in astronomy have become severely limited in the last few years, with a near balance between supply and demand of astronomers. The following issues are assessed in this study: the current supply of astronomers in the United States, and its change as a function of time; the background and make-up of astronomers in the…

Parents' Perceptions of the Supports Received for Their Children's Problem Behaviors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schofield, Dean Alexander

2012-01-01

Individuals with significant intellectual disabilities (ID) are more likely to engage in problem behaviors than are people with milder disabilities or with no disability. It is widely considered that behavior problems serve a communicative function for individuals with severe ID and limited communication skills. Among people with significant ID,…

The Diagnosis of Depression in People with Severe Limitations in Intellectual Functioning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Scott, Haleigh; Havercamp, Susan M.

2015-01-01

People with intellectual disability (ID) were once considered immune to developing psychopathology, including affective disorders such as depression. Now research has shown that people with ID do suffer from depression, and the focus is on understanding how to best diagnose and provide treatment. Research has come a long way in adapting the…

Energy consumption: Past, present, future

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1973-01-01

The energy consumption history of the United States and the changes which could occur in consumption characteristics in the next 50 years are presented. The various sources of energy are analyzed to show the limitations involved in development and utilization as a function of time available. Several scenarios were prepared to show the consumption and supply of energy under varying conditions.

Nutrient availability constrains the hydraulic architecture and water relations of savannah trees.

Treesearch

S.J. Bucci; F.G. Scholz; G. Goldstein; F.C. Meinzer; A.C. Franco; P.I. Campanello; R. Villalobos-Vega; M. Bustamante; F. Miralles-Wilhelm

2006-01-01

Several plant functional traits were studied in five dominant woody savanna species in a Brazilian savanna to determine whether removal of nutrient limitations has an effect on carbon allocation, water relations, and hydraulic architecture. Four treatments consisting of a control, and nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and N plus P additions were maintained for 5 years....

Is the level of institutionalisation found in psychiatric housing services associated with the severity of illness and the functional impairment of the patients? A patient record analysis.

PubMed

Valdes-Stauber, Juan; Kilian, Reinhold

2015-09-14

In this cross-sectional study, we investigated whether clinical, social, financial, and care variables were associated with different accommodation settings for individuals suffering from severe and persistent mental disorders. Electronic record data of 250 patients who fulfilled the criteria for persistent and severe mental illness were used. Multiple linear regression models were applied to analyse associations between the types and the costs of housing services and the patients' severity of illness, their functional impairment, and their socio-demographic characteristics. We identified 50 patients living at home without need for additional housing support who were receiving outpatient treatment, 41 patients living in the community with outpatient housing support, 23 patients living with foster families for adults, 45 patients living in group homes with 12-h staff cover, 10 patients living in group homes with 24-h staff, and 81 patients living in psychiatric nursing homes. While this housing differed largely in the level of institutionalisation and also in the costs of accommodation, these differences were not related to a patient's severity of disease or in their functional impairment. In particular, patients living in nursing homes had a slightly higher level of functioning compared to those living in the community without welfare housing services. Only where patients were subject to guardianship was there a significant association with an increased level of institutionalisation. Our study suggests that the level of institutionalisation and the associated costs of welfare housing services do not accurately reflect the severity of illness or the level of functional impairment of the patients there are designed to support. The limitations of the study design and the data do not allow for conclusions about causal relationships or generalisation of the findings to other regions. Therefore, further prospective studies are needed to assess the adequacy of the setting assignment of patients with persistent severe mental illness into different types of housing settings with appropriate (also welfare) services.

Cognitive impairment as measured by the THINC-integrated tool (THINC-it): Association with psychosocial function in major depressive disorder.

PubMed

Cha, Danielle S; Carmona, Nicole E; Subramaniapillai, Mehala; Mansur, Rodrigo B; Lee, Yena; Hon Lee, Jae; Lee, JungGoo; Rosenblat, Joshua D; Shekotikhina, Margarita; Park, Caroline; Rong, Carola; Greer, Tracy L; Lam, Raymond; Baune, Bernhard T; Harrison, John; McIntyre, Roger S

2017-11-01

Psychosocial impairment represents an important treatment target in major depressive disorder (MDD). The majority of patients with MDD do not regain premorbid levels of psychosocial functioning despite the resolution of core depressive symptoms. This study aimed to investigate the respective effects of cognitive function and depression severity on impaired psychosocial function in MDD. Adults aged 18-65 with moderate-to-severe MDD (n = 100) and age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy controls participated in a cross-sectional study validating the THINC-integrated tool (THINC-it), a cognitive screening tool comprised of objective and subjective measures of cognitive function. Depression severity was assessed using the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale and psychosocial function was assessed using the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS). Subjects with MDD reported greater impairment in psychosocial function than healthy controls, with significant differences in SDS total and domain scores (ps < .01) after controlling for age, sex, and education. Generalized linear models indicated that subjective cognitive function was most strongly associated with SDS total score (RR = .14, p = .01) and SDS domains of work/school (RR = .15, p = .03), family and home responsibilities (RR = .15, p = .02), and economic days lost (RR = .18, p =.03). Depression severity was most strongly associated with SDS social life (RR = .08, p < .01) and economic days underproductive (RR = .07, p < .01). Objective cognitive function was not significantly associated with any SDS outcomes. The cross-sectional, observational study design limits temporal inferences. The self-report nature of measures included may have influenced associations observed. Potential medication effects are not noted. Cognitive deficits, as measured by the THINC-it, are associated with significant psychosocial impairment in MDD. These results provide empirical support for the assessment of both subjective and objective measures of cognition, as they are not associated with each other and have differential effects on functional trajectory. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Monitoring biological diversity: strategies, tools, limitations, and challenges

USGS Publications Warehouse

Beever, E.A.

2006-01-01

Monitoring is an assessment of the spatial and temporal variability in one or more ecosystem properties, and is an essential component of adaptive management. Monitoring can help determine whether mandated environmental standards are being met and can provide an early-warning system of ecological change. Development of a strategy for monitoring biological diversity will likely be most successful when based upon clearly articulated goals and objectives and may be enhanced by including several key steps in the process. Ideally, monitoring of biological diversity will measure not only composition, but also structure and function at the spatial and temporal scales of interest. Although biodiversity monitoring has several key limitations as well as numerous theoretical and practical challenges, many tools and strategies are available to address or overcome such challenges; I summarize several of these. Due to the diversity of spatio-temporal scales and comprehensiveness encompassed by existing definitions of biological diversity, an effective monitoring design will reflect the desired sampling domain of interest and its key stressors, available funding, legal requirements, and organizational goals.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing early after stroke using feedback-controlled robotics-assisted treadmill exercise: test-retest reliability and repeatability.

PubMed

Stoller, Oliver; de Bruin, Eling D; Schindelholz, Matthias; Schuster-Amft, Corina; de Bie, Rob A; Hunt, Kenneth J

2014-10-11

Exercise capacity is seriously reduced after stroke. While cardiopulmonary assessment and intervention strategies have been validated for the mildly and moderately impaired populations post-stroke, there is a lack of effective concepts for stroke survivors suffering from severe motor limitations. This study investigated the test-retest reliability and repeatability of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) using feedback-controlled robotics-assisted treadmill exercise (FC-RATE) in severely motor impaired individuals early after stroke. 20 subjects (age 44-84 years, <6 month post-stroke) with severe motor limitations (Functional Ambulatory Classification 0-2) were selected for consecutive constant load testing (CLT) and incremental exercise testing (IET) within a powered exoskeleton, synchronised with a treadmill and a body weight support system. A manual human-in-the-loop feedback system was used to guide individual work rate levels. Outcome variables focussed on standard cardiopulmonary performance parameters. Relative and absolute test-retest reliability were assessed by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), standard error of the measurement (SEM), and minimal detectable change (MDC). Mean difference, limits of agreement, and coefficient of variation (CoV) were estimated to assess repeatability. Peak performance parameters during IET yielded good to excellent relative reliability: absolute peak oxygen uptake (ICC =0.82), relative peak oxygen uptake (ICC =0.72), peak work rate (ICC =0.91), peak heart rate (ICC =0.80), absolute gas exchange threshold (ICC =0.91), relative gas exchange threshold (ICC =0.88), oxygen cost of work (ICC =0.87), oxygen pulse at peak oxygen uptake (ICC =0.92), ventilation rate versus carbon dioxide output slope (ICC =0.78). For these variables, SEM was 4-13%, MDC 12-36%, and CoV 0.10-0.36. CLT revealed high mean differences and insufficient test-retest reliability for all variables studied. This study presents first evidence on reliability and repeatability for CPET in severely motor impaired individuals early after stroke using a feedback-controlled robotics-assisted treadmill. The results demonstrate good to excellent test-retest reliability and appropriate repeatability for the most important peak cardiopulmonary performance parameters. These findings have important implications for the design and implementation of cardiovascular exercise interventions in severely impaired populations. Future research needs to develop advanced control strategies to enable the true limit of functional exercise capacity to be reached and to further assess test-retest reliability and repeatability in larger samples.

Limited data tomographic image reconstruction via dual formulation of total variation minimization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jang, Kwang Eun; Sung, Younghun; Lee, Kangeui; Lee, Jongha; Cho, Seungryong

2011-03-01

The X-ray mammography is the primary imaging modality for breast cancer screening. For the dense breast, however, the mammogram is usually difficult to read due to tissue overlap problem caused by the superposition of normal tissues. The digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) that measures several low dose projections over a limited angle range may be an alternative modality for breast imaging, since it allows the visualization of the cross-sectional information of breast. The DBT, however, may suffer from the aliasing artifact and the severe noise corruption. To overcome these problems, a total variation (TV) regularized statistical reconstruction algorithm is presented. Inspired by the dual formulation of TV minimization in denoising and deblurring problems, we derived a gradient-type algorithm based on statistical model of X-ray tomography. The objective function is comprised of a data fidelity term derived from the statistical model and a TV regularization term. The gradient of the objective function can be easily calculated using simple operations in terms of auxiliary variables. After a descending step, the data fidelity term is renewed in each iteration. Since the proposed algorithm can be implemented without sophisticated operations such as matrix inverse, it provides an efficient way to include the TV regularization in the statistical reconstruction method, which results in a fast and robust estimation for low dose projections over the limited angle range. Initial tests with an experimental DBT system confirmed our finding.

Statistical limitations in functional neuroimaging. I. Non-inferential methods and statistical models.

PubMed Central

Petersson, K M; Nichols, T E; Poline, J B; Holmes, A P

1999-01-01

Functional neuroimaging (FNI) provides experimental access to the intact living brain making it possible to study higher cognitive functions in humans. In this review and in a companion paper in this issue, we discuss some common methods used to analyse FNI data. The emphasis in both papers is on assumptions and limitations of the methods reviewed. There are several methods available to analyse FNI data indicating that none is optimal for all purposes. In order to make optimal use of the methods available it is important to know the limits of applicability. For the interpretation of FNI results it is also important to take into account the assumptions, approximations and inherent limitations of the methods used. This paper gives a brief overview over some non-inferential descriptive methods and common statistical models used in FNI. Issues relating to the complex problem of model selection are discussed. In general, proper model selection is a necessary prerequisite for the validity of the subsequent statistical inference. The non-inferential section describes methods that, combined with inspection of parameter estimates and other simple measures, can aid in the process of model selection and verification of assumptions. The section on statistical models covers approaches to global normalization and some aspects of univariate, multivariate, and Bayesian models. Finally, approaches to functional connectivity and effective connectivity are discussed. In the companion paper we review issues related to signal detection and statistical inference. PMID:10466149

Persisting Social Participation Restrictions among Former Buruli Ulcer Patients in Ghana and Benin

PubMed Central

de Zeeuw, Janine; Omansen, Till F.; Douwstra, Marlies; Barogui, Yves T.; Agossadou, Chantal; Sopoh, Ghislain E.; Phillips, Richard O.; Johnson, Christian; Abass, K. Mohammed; Saunderson, Paul; Dijkstra, Pieter U.; van der Werf, Tjip S.; Stientstra, Ymkje

2014-01-01

Background Buruli ulcer may induce severe disabilities impacting on a person's well-being and quality of life. Information about long-term disabilities and participation restrictions is scanty. The objective of this study was to gain insight into participation restrictions among former Buruli ulcer patients in Ghana and Benin. Methods In this cross-sectional study, former Buruli ulcer patients were interviewed using the Participation Scale, the Buruli Ulcer Functional Limitation Score to measure functional limitations, and the Explanatory Model Interview Catalogue to measure perceived stigma. Healthy community controls were also interviewed using the Participation Scale. Trained native interviewers conducted the interviews. Former Buruli ulcer patients were eligible for inclusion if they had been treated between 2005 and 2011, had ended treatment at least 3 months before the interview, and were at least 15 years of age. Results In total, 143 former Buruli ulcer patients and 106 community controls from Ghana and Benin were included in the study. Participation restrictions were experienced by 67 former patients (median score, 30, IQR; 23;43) while 76 participated in social life without problems (median score 5, IQR; 2;9). Most restrictions encountered related to employment. Linear regression showed being female, perceived stigma, functional limitations, and larger lesions (category II) as predictors of more participation restrictions. Conclusion Persisting participation restrictions were experienced by former BU patients in Ghana and Benin. Most important predictors of participation restrictions were being female, perceived stigma, functional limitations and larger lesions. PMID:25392915

Exercise and well-being: a review of mental and physical health benefits associated with physical activity.

PubMed

Penedo, Frank J; Dahn, Jason R

2005-03-01

This review highlights recent work evaluating the relationship between exercise, physical activity and physical and mental health. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, as well as randomized clinical trials, are included. Special attention is given to physical conditions, including obesity, cancer, cardiovascular disease and sexual dysfunction. Furthermore, studies relating physical activity to depression and other mood states are reviewed. The studies include diverse ethnic populations, including men and women, as well as several age groups (e.g. adolescents, middle-aged and older adults). Results of the studies continue to support a growing literature suggesting that exercise, physical activity and physical-activity interventions have beneficial effects across several physical and mental-health outcomes. Generally, participants engaging in regular physical activity display more desirable health outcomes across a variety of physical conditions. Similarly, participants in randomized clinical trials of physical-activity interventions show better health outcomes, including better general and health-related quality of life, better functional capacity and better mood states. The studies have several implications for clinical practice and research. Most work suggests that exercise and physical activity are associated with better quality of life and health outcomes. Therefore, assessment and promotion of exercise and physical activity may be beneficial in achieving desired benefits across several populations. Several limitations were noted, particularly in research involving randomized clinical trials. These trials tend to involve limited sample sizes with short follow-up periods, thus limiting the clinical implications of the benefits associated with physical activity.

Targeting activator protein 1 signaling pathway by bioactive natural agents: Possible therapeutic strategy for cancer prevention and intervention.

PubMed

Tewari, Devesh; Nabavi, Seyed Fazel; Nabavi, Seyed Mohammad; Sureda, Antoni; Farooqi, Ammad Ahmad; Atanasov, Atanas G; Vacca, Rosa Anna; Sethi, Gautam; Bishayee, Anupam

2018-02-01

Activator protein 1 (AP-1) is a key transcription factor in the control of several cellular processes responsible for cell survival proliferation and differentiation. Dysfunctional AP-1 expression and activity are involved in several severe diseases, especially inflammatory disorders and cancer. Therefore, targeting AP-1 has recently emerged as an attractive therapeutic strategy for cancer prevention and therapy. This review summarizes our current understanding of AP-1 biology and function as well as explores and discusses several natural bioactive compounds modulating AP-1-associated signaling pathways for cancer prevention and intervention. Current limitations, challenges, and future directions of research are also critically discussed. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A peripheral blood transcriptome biomarker test to diagnose functional recovery potential in advanced heart failure.

PubMed

Deng, Mario C

2018-05-08

Heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome that causes systemic hypoperfusion and failure to meet the body's metabolic demands. In an attempt to compensate, chronic upregulation of the sympathetic nervous system and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone leads to further myocardial injury, HF progression and reduced O 2 delivery. This triggers progressive organ dysfunction, immune system activation and profound metabolic derangements, creating a milieu similar to other chronic systemic diseases and presenting as advanced HF with severely limited prognosis. We hypothesize that 1-year survival in advanced HF is linked to functional recovery potential (FRP), a novel clinical composite parameter that includes HF severity, secondary organ dysfunction, co-morbidities, frailty, disabilities as well as chronological age and that can be diagnosed by a molecular biomarker.

On the accuracy of density-functional theory exchange-correlation functionals for H bonds in small water clusters: Benchmarks approaching the complete basis set limit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Santra, Biswajit; Michaelides, Angelos; Scheffler, Matthias

2007-11-01

The ability of several density-functional theory (DFT) exchange-correlation functionals to describe hydrogen bonds in small water clusters (dimer to pentamer) in their global minimum energy structures is evaluated with reference to second order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2). Errors from basis set incompleteness have been minimized in both the MP2 reference data and the DFT calculations, thus enabling a consistent systematic evaluation of the true performance of the tested functionals. Among all the functionals considered, the hybrid X3LYP and PBE0 functionals offer the best performance and among the nonhybrid generalized gradient approximation functionals, mPWLYP and PBE1W perform best. The popular BLYP and B3LYP functionals consistently underbind and PBE and PW91 display rather variable performance with cluster size.

On the accuracy of density-functional theory exchange-correlation functionals for H bonds in small water clusters: benchmarks approaching the complete basis set limit.

PubMed

Santra, Biswajit; Michaelides, Angelos; Scheffler, Matthias

2007-11-14

The ability of several density-functional theory (DFT) exchange-correlation functionals to describe hydrogen bonds in small water clusters (dimer to pentamer) in their global minimum energy structures is evaluated with reference to second order Moller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2). Errors from basis set incompleteness have been minimized in both the MP2 reference data and the DFT calculations, thus enabling a consistent systematic evaluation of the true performance of the tested functionals. Among all the functionals considered, the hybrid X3LYP and PBE0 functionals offer the best performance and among the nonhybrid generalized gradient approximation functionals, mPWLYP and PBE1W perform best. The popular BLYP and B3LYP functionals consistently underbind and PBE and PW91 display rather variable performance with cluster size.

Delineating potential epileptogenic areas utilizing resting functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in epilepsy patients.

PubMed

Pizarro, Ricardo; Nair, Veena; Meier, Timothy; Holdsworth, Ryan; Tunnell, Evelyn; Rutecki, Paul; Sillay, Karl; Meyerand, Mary E; Prabhakaran, Vivek

2016-08-01

Seizure localization includes neuroimaging like electroencephalogram, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with limited ability to characterize the epileptogenic network. Temporal clustering analysis (TCA) characterizes epileptogenic network congruent with interictal epileptiform discharges by clustering together voxels with transient signals. We generated epileptogenic areas for 12 of 13 epilepsy patients with TCA, congruent with different areas of seizure onset. Resting functional MRI (fMRI) scans are noninvasive, and can be acquired quickly, in patients with different levels of severity and function. Analyzing resting fMRI data using TCA is quick and can complement clinical methods to characterize the epileptogenic network.

Imaging learning and memory: classical conditioning.

PubMed

Schreurs, B G; Alkon, D L

2001-12-15

The search for the biological basis of learning and memory has, until recently, been constrained by the limits of technology to classic anatomic and electrophysiologic studies. With the advent of functional imaging, we have begun to delve into what, for many, was a "black box." We review several different types of imaging experiments, including steady state animal experiments that image the functional labeling of fixed tissues, and dynamic human studies based on functional imaging of the intact brain during learning. The data suggest that learning and memory involve a surprising conservation of mechanisms and the integrated networking of a number of structures and processes. Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Seizure Control and Memory Impairment Are Related to Disrupted Brain Functional Integration in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.

PubMed

Park, Chang-Hyun; Choi, Yun Seo; Jung, A-Reum; Chung, Hwa-Kyoung; Kim, Hyeon Jin; Yoo, Jeong Hyun; Lee, Hyang Woon

2017-01-01

Brain functional integration can be disrupted in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), but the clinical relevance of this disruption is not completely understood. The authors hypothesized that disrupted functional integration over brain regions remote from, as well as adjacent to, the seizure focus could be related to clinical severity in terms of seizure control and memory impairment. Using resting-state functional MRI data acquired from 48 TLE patients and 45 healthy controls, the authors mapped functional brain networks and assessed changes in a network parameter of brain functional integration, efficiency, to examine the distribution of disrupted functional integration within and between brain regions. The authors assessed whether the extent of altered efficiency was influenced by seizure control status and whether the degree of altered efficiency was associated with the severity of memory impairment. Alterations in the efficiency were observed primarily near the subcortical region ipsilateral to the seizure focus in TLE patients. The extent of regional involvement was greater in patients with poor seizure control: it reached the frontal, temporal, occipital, and insular cortices in TLE patients with poor seizure control, whereas it was limited to the limbic and parietal cortices in TLE patients with good seizure control. Furthermore, TLE patients with poor seizure control experienced more severe memory impairment, and this was associated with lower efficiency in the brain regions with altered efficiency. These findings indicate that the distribution of disrupted brain functional integration is clinically relevant, as it is associated with seizure control status and comorbid memory impairment.

Effects of dance-based movement therapy on balance, gait, and psychological functions in severe cerebellar ataxia: A case study.

PubMed

Song, Yong-Gwan; Ryu, Young-Uk; Im, Seung-Jin; Lee, Ye-Seung; Park, Jin-Hoon

2018-03-30

Individuals in the later stages of cerebellar ataxia usually experience serious balance and immobility problems. Currently, there is a lack of adequate rehabilitative programs for individuals with severe cerebellar ataxia that can help improve ataxia-related motor impairment. The purpose of the present study was to explore the potential physiotherapeutic benefits of partnered dance on balance, motor functions, and psychological well-being in an individual demonstrating severe cerebellar ataxia symptoms. The individual was a 39-year-old male diagnosed with cerebellar atrophy. He had the disease for more than 15 years prior to the study. The individual attended 24 intervention sessions over an 8-week period of dance-based movement training that aimed to improve his balance and postural stability by facilitating the perception and control of static and dynamic balance movements and body alignment. The individual demonstrated improvements in independent standing balance, gait characteristics, and functional mobility. In addition, improvements in self-reported depression and quality of life scores were observed after completion of the intervention. Although interpreting the findings of this study is limited to a single participant, partnered dance could be a suitable alternative physiotherapeutic intervention method for people with severely impaired mobility due to cerebellar dysfunction.

Association Between Genetic Variation in FOXO3 and Reductions in Inflammation and Disease Activity in Inflammatory Polyarthritis

PubMed Central

Viatte, Sebastien; Lee, James C.; Fu, Bo; Espéli, Marion; Lunt, Mark; De Wolf, Jack N. E.; Wheeler, Lily; Reynolds, John A.; Castelino, Madhura; Symmons, Deborah P. M.; Lyons, Paul A.

2016-01-01

Objective Genetic variation in FOXO3 (tagged by rs12212067) has been associated with a milder course of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and shown to limit monocyte‐driven inflammation through a transforming growth factor β1–dependent pathway. This genetic association, however, has not been consistently observed in other RA cohorts. We sought to clarify the contribution of FOXO3 to prognosis in RA by combining detailed analysis of nonradiographic disease severity measures with an in vivo model of arthritis. Methods Collagen‐induced arthritis, the most commonly used mouse model of RA, was used to assess how Foxo3 contributes to arthritis severity. Using clinical, serologic, and biochemical methods, the arthritis that developed in mice carrying a loss‐of‐function mutation in Foxo3 was compared with that which occurred in littermate controls. The association of rs12212067 with nonradiographic measures of RA severity, including the C‐reactive protein level, the swollen joint count, the tender joint count, the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints, and the Health Assessment Questionnaire score, were modeled longitudinally in a large prospective cohort of patients with early RA. Results Loss of Foxo3 function resulted in more severe arthritis in vivo (both clinically and histologically) and was associated with higher titers of anticollagen antibodies and interleukin‐6 in the blood. Similarly, rs12212067 (a single‐nucleotide polymorphism that increases FOXO3 transcription) was associated with reduced inflammation, both biochemically and clinically, and with lower RA activity scores. Conclusion Consistent with its known role in restraining inflammatory responses, FOXO3 limits the severity of in vivo arthritis and, through genetic variation that increases its transcription, is associated with reduced inflammation and disease activity in RA patients, effects that result in less radiographic damage. PMID:27214848

Current Perspectives in NSAID-Induced Gastropathy

PubMed Central

Sinha, Mau; Gautam, Lovely; Shukla, Prakash Kumar; Kaur, Punit; Sharma, Sujata; Singh, Tej P.

2013-01-01

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most highly prescribed drugs in the world. Their analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic actions may be beneficial; however, they are associated with severe side effects including gastrointestinal injury and peptic ulceration. Though several approaches for limiting these side effects have been adopted, like the use of COX-2 specific drugs, comedication of acid suppressants like proton pump inhibitors and prostaglandin analogs, these alternatives have limitations in terms of efficacy and side effects. In this paper, the mechanism of action of NSAIDs and their critical gastrointestinal complications have been reviewed. This paper also provides the information on different preventive measures prescribed to minimize such adverse effects and analyses the new suggested strategies for development of novel drugs to maintain the anti-inflammatory functions of NSAIDs along with effective gastrointestinal protection. PMID:23576851

The cell biology of aging.

PubMed

Hayflick, L

1979-07-01

Cultured normal human and animal cells are predestinued to undergo irreversible functional decrements that mimick age changes in the whole organism. When normal human embryonic fibroblasts are cultured in vitro, 50 +/- 10 population doublings occur. This maximum potential is diminished in cells derived from older donors and appears to be inversely proportional to their age. The 50 population doubling limit can account for all cells produced during a lifetime. The limitation on doubling potential of cultured normal cells is also expressed in vivo when serial transplants are made. There may be a direct correlation between the mean maximum life spans of several species and the population doubling potential of their cultured cells. A plethora of functional decrements occur in cultured normal cells as they approach their maximum division capability. Many of these decrements are similar to those occurring in intact animals as they age. We have concluded that these functional decrements expressed in vitro, rather than cessation of cell division, are the essential contributors to age changes in intact animals. Thus, the study of events leading to functional losses in cultured normal cells may provide useful insights into the biology of aging.

Factors associated with disability among middle-aged and older African American women with osteoarthritis.

PubMed

Walker, Janiece L; Harrison, Tracie C; Brown, Adama; Thorpe, Roland J; Szanton, Sarah L

2016-07-01

Middle-aged and older African American women experience disproportionate rates of functional limitations and disability from osteoarthritis (OA) compared to other racial ethnic groups; however, little is known about what factors contribute to this disparity within African American women. To examine factors associated with physical function and disability among African American women ages 50-80 with OA using the disablement process model. This descriptive study included 120 African American women with OA from the Southwestern region of the United States. Regression techniques were used to model the correlates of physical function and disability and to test a mediation model. BMI and pain severity were significantly related to functional limitations. Depressive symptoms mediated the relationship between racial discrimination and disability. Biological, intra-individual, and extra-individual factors are related to disablement outcomes in this sample of African American women, which is consistent with theory suggesting the need for treatment coupled with environmental modifications. This study can inform the development of future bio-behavioral interventions. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Visual development in primates: Neural mechanisms and critical periods

PubMed Central

Kiorpes, Lynne

2015-01-01

Despite many decades of research into the development of visual cortex, it remains unclear what neural processes set limitations on the development of visual function and define its vulnerability to abnormal visual experience. This selected review examines the development of visual function and its neural correlates, and highlights the fact that in most cases receptive field properties of infant neurons are substantially more mature than infant visual function. One exception is temporal resolution, which can be accounted for by resolution of neurons at the level of the LGN. In terms of spatial vision, properties of single neurons alone are not sufficient to account for visual development. Different visual functions develop over different time courses. Their onset may be limited by the existence of neural response properties that support a given perceptual ability, but the subsequent time course of maturation to adult levels remains unexplained. Several examples are offered suggesting that taking account of weak signaling by infant neurons, correlated firing, and pooled responses of populations of neurons brings us closer to an understanding of the relationship between neural and behavioral development. PMID:25649764

From Human to Artificial Mouth, From Basics to Results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mielle, Patrick; Tarrega, Amparo; Gorria, Patrick; Liodenot, Jean Jacques; Liaboeuf, Joël; Andrejewski, Jean-Luc; Salles, Christian

2009-05-01

Sensory perception of the flavor release during the eating of a food piece is highly dependent upon mouth parameters. Major limitations have been reported during in-vivo flavor release studies, such as marked intra- and inter-individual variability. To overcome these limitations, a chewing simulator has been developed to mimic the human mastication of food samples. The device faithfully reproduces most of the functions of the human mouth. The active cell comprises several mobile parts that can accurately reproduce shear and compression strengths and tongue functions in real-time, according to data previously collected in-vivo. The mechanical functionalities of the system were validated using peanuts, with a fair agreement with the human data. Flavor release can be monitored on-line using either API-MS or chemical sensors, or off-line using HPLC for non-volatile compounds. Couplings with API-MS detectors have shown differences in the kinetics of flavour release, as a function of the cheeses composition. Data were also collected for the analysis of taste compounds released during the human chewing but are not available yet for the Artificial Mouth.

Common presentation of rare diseases: Left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction.

PubMed

Linhart, Ales; Cecchi, Franco

2018-04-15

Left ventricular hypertrophy may be a consequence of a hemodynamic overload or a manifestation of several diseases affecting different structural and functional proteins of cardiomyocytes. Among these, sarcomeric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) represents the most frequent cause. In addition, several metabolic diseases lead to myocardial thickening, either due to intracellular storage (glycogen storage and lysosomal diseases), extracellular deposition (TTR and AL amyloidosis) or due to abnormal energy metabolism (mitochondrial diseases). The recognition of these rare causes of myocardial hypertrophy is important for family screening strategies, risk assessment, and treatment. Moreover, as there are specific therapies for some forms of HCM including enzyme substitution and chaperone therapies and specific treatments for TTR amyloidosis, a differential diagnosis should be sought in all patients with unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy. Diastolic dysfunction is a key feature of HCM and its phenocopies. Its assessment is complex and requires evaluation of several functional parameters and structural changes. Severe diastolic dysfunction carries a negative prognostic implication and its value in differential diagnosis is limited. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Predictors of Long-Term Victimization After Early Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury.

PubMed

Hung, Anna H; Cassedy, Amy; Schultz, Hanna M; Yeates, Keith Owen; Taylor, Hudson Gerry; Stancin, Terry; Walz, Nicolay Chertkoff; Wade, Shari L

2017-01-01

Pediatric traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) adversely affect long-term functional and social outcomes. Limited research suggests children with TBI are more likely to be victimized by peers than noninjured children. Deficits in social information processing (SIP), cognitive ability, and executive functioning (EF) may contribute to increased victimization risk. This study examined rates of peer victimization/bullying in children with early TBI compared with children with orthopedic injuries (OIs) and the role of processing speed, executive function (EF), and SIP as mediators of the association of TBI and peer victimization. Children ages 10 to 14 years who sustained a complicated mild/moderate or severe TBI (N = 58) or OI (N = 72) during early childhood (ages 3-7 yr) and their parents participated in a longitudinal prospective follow-up 6.8 years postinjury. SIP, EF and processing speed, and peer victimization were assessed. Parents of children with severe TBI reported greater rates of peer victimization than parents of children with OIs. Children with severe TBI demonstrated greater EF deficits than children with complicated mild/moderate TBI or OI and poorer processing speed than children with OI. No significant indirect relationships were found between groups and any outcome variables to indicate mediation. Based on parent report, children with severe TBI have higher risk of peer victimization than those with less severe injuries. In addition, children with severe TBI have more impaired EF and cognitive ability than counterparts with less severe TBI. Further research is needed to explore predictors of long-term victimization after early TBI to create interventions aimed at providing social, emotional, and behavioral skill building for victimized youth.

Relationship between morbidity and extreme values of body mass index in adolescents.

PubMed

Lusky, A; Barell, V; Lubin, F; Kaplan, G; Layani, V; Shohat, Z; Lev, B; Wiener, M

1996-08-01

Although the association between overweight and cardiovascular risk factors is well documented in cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, reports of adolescent morbidity associated with underweight in industrialized countries are rare. This population-based study includes approximately 110,000 17 year old Israeli Jewish males who underwent routine physical examination at army induction centres. Computerized data tapes include overall health profiles, specification of physical and mental conditions, and height and weight measurements. Medically significant conditions are those with sufficient severity to preclude service in a combat unit. Functional limitation is more prevalent at both extremes of the body mass index (BMI) distribution: 149.5/1000 among severely underweight individuals and 164.3/1000 among severely overweight subjects. Overweight was associated with hypertension (14.9/1000 among the severely overweight), as well as joint conditions of the lower extremities, mainly hip, ankle and knee disorders. Functional disorders associated with underweight are bronchial and lung conditions, including asthma (14.2 and 18.9/1000 in the mildly and severely underweight), scoliosis, intestinal conditions and emotional disorders (mainly neurosis). Both under- and overweight are associated with morbidity at age 17. Intervention programmes should begin at an early age.

Experimental assessment and analysis of super-resolution in fluorescence microscopy based on multiple-point spread function fitting of spectrally demultiplexed images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nishimura, Takahiro; Kimura, Hitoshi; Ogura, Yusuke; Tanida, Jun

2018-06-01

This paper presents an experimental assessment and analysis of super-resolution microscopy based on multiple-point spread function fitting of spectrally demultiplexed images using a designed DNA structure as a test target. For the purpose, a DNA structure was designed to have binding sites at a certain interval that is smaller than the diffraction limit. The structure was labeled with several types of quantum dots (QDs) to acquire their spatial information as spectrally encoded images. The obtained images are analyzed with a point spread function multifitting algorithm to determine the QD locations that indicate the binding site positions. The experimental results show that the labeled locations can be observed beyond the diffraction-limited resolution using three-colored fluorescence images that were obtained with a confocal fluorescence microscope. Numerical simulations show that labeling with eight types of QDs enables the positions aligned at 27.2-nm pitches on the DNA structure to be resolved with high accuracy.

Loss of NAD Homeostasis Leads to Progressive and Reversible Degeneration of Skeletal Muscle.

PubMed

Frederick, David W; Loro, Emanuele; Liu, Ling; Davila, Antonio; Chellappa, Karthikeyani; Silverman, Ian M; Quinn, William J; Gosai, Sager J; Tichy, Elisia D; Davis, James G; Mourkioti, Foteini; Gregory, Brian D; Dellinger, Ryan W; Redpath, Philip; Migaud, Marie E; Nakamaru-Ogiso, Eiko; Rabinowitz, Joshua D; Khurana, Tejvir S; Baur, Joseph A

2016-08-09

NAD is an obligate co-factor for the catabolism of metabolic fuels in all cell types. However, the availability of NAD in several tissues can become limited during genotoxic stress and the course of natural aging. The point at which NAD restriction imposes functional limitations on tissue physiology remains unknown. We examined this question in murine skeletal muscle by specifically depleting Nampt, an essential enzyme in the NAD salvage pathway. Knockout mice exhibited a dramatic 85% decline in intramuscular NAD content, accompanied by fiber degeneration and progressive loss of both muscle strength and treadmill endurance. Administration of the NAD precursor nicotinamide riboside rapidly ameliorated functional deficits and restored muscle mass despite having only a modest effect on the intramuscular NAD pool. Additionally, lifelong overexpression of Nampt preserved muscle NAD levels and exercise capacity in aged mice, supporting a critical role for tissue-autonomous NAD homeostasis in maintaining muscle mass and function. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Shape dependence of two-cylinder Rényi entropies for free bosons on a lattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chojnacki, Leilee; Cook, Caleb Q.; Dalidovich, Denis; Hayward Sierens, Lauren E.; Lantagne-Hurtubise, Étienne; Melko, Roger G.; Vlaar, Tiffany J.

2016-10-01

Universal scaling terms occurring in Rényi entanglement entropies have the potential to bring new understanding to quantum critical points in free and interacting systems. Quantitative comparisons between analytical continuum theories and numerical calculations on lattice models play a crucial role in advancing such studies. In this paper, we exactly calculate the universal two-cylinder shape dependence of entanglement entropies for free bosons on finite-size square lattices, and compare to approximate functions derived in the continuum using several different Ansätze. Although none of these Ansätze are exact in the thermodynamic limit, we find that numerical fits are in good agreement with continuum functions derived using the anti-de Sitter/conformal field theory correspondence, an extensive mutual information model, and a quantum Lifshitz model. We use fits of our lattice data to these functions to calculate universal scalars defined in the thin-cylinder limit, and compare to values previously obtained for the free boson field theory in the continuum.

Transient Stability Output Margin Estimation Based on Energy Function Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miwa, Natsuki; Tanaka, Kazuyuki

In this paper, a new method of estimating critical generation margin (CGM) in power systems is proposed from the viewpoint of transient stability diagnostic. The proposed method has the capability to directly compute the stability limit output for a given contingency based on transient energy function method (TEF). Since CGM can be directly obtained by the limit output using estimated P-θ curves and is easy to understand, it is more useful rather than conventional critical clearing time (CCT) of energy function method. The proposed method can also estimate CGM as its negative value that means unstable in present load profile, then negative CGM can be directly utilized as generator output restriction. The proposed method is verified its accuracy and fast solution ability by applying to simple 3-machine model and IEEJ EAST10-machine standard model. Furthermore the useful application to severity ranking of transient stability for a lot of contingency cases is discussed by using CGM.

Limited Ventricular Preload is the Main Reason for Reduced Stress Reserve After Atrial Baffle Repair.

PubMed

Eicken, Andreas; Michel, Julia; Hager, Alfred; Tanase, Daniel; Kaemmerer, Harald; Cleuziou, Julie; Hess, John; Ewert, Peter

2017-02-01

The atrial baffle repair (ABR) significantly improved the fate of patients with transposition of the great arteries (TGA). However, these patients show impaired exercise tolerance and some present severe decline of systemic ventricular function. Intrinsic myocardial weakness, low heart rate response to exercise and diastolic filling impairment are discussed to be causative. Forty-nine long-term survivors with TGA (median age 23.7 year) after ABR were catheterized with measured oxygen consumption in four conditions (baseline, volume, atrial pacing, dobutamine) and the results were compared to 10 normal controls. Median cardiac output was significantly lower in the ABR group (2.2 vs. 2.6 l/min/m 2 ; p = 0.015), and systemic resistance was significantly elevated (28.9 vs. 22.2 U m 2 ; p = 0.04) in comparison with normals. While stroke volume rose by 27% in the control group, it dropped by 7% in patients after ABR at atrial pacing (80/min). Stroke volume increase after dobutamine was significantly lower after ABR in comparison with normal controls (34 vs. 106%; p = 0.001). Higher NYHA class (p = 0.043), degree of tricuspid regurgitation (p = 0.009) and ventricular function (p = 0.028) were associated with lower stroke volume increase. Limited exercise capability of patients after ABR for TGA is primarily due to limited diastolic filling of the ventricles due to stiff non-compliant atrial pathways. Elevated systemic resistance may lead to severe myocardial hypertrophy with possible ischemia and contribute to the multifactorial decline of ventricular function in some patients.

Effect of arch length on the functional well-being of dentate adults.

PubMed

Montero, J; Bravo, M; Hernández, L A; Dib, A

2009-05-01

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of arch length and the number of occlusal units on the oral functions and general satisfaction perceived by dentate adults without dentures who had all their aesthetic units intact. We performed an epidemiological study at randomly chosen health centres on populations of adults without dentures. The subjects (n = 624) were classified as complete dental arch (CDA), interrupted dental arch (IDA) or shortened dental arches (SDA), depending on the length and continuity of the dental arches. We gathered clinical data and data on functional ability and oral satisfaction, plotting them on a scale of 0-10. The individuals with a shortened dental arch were found to have longer-lasting, more frequent and more severe functional limitations upon chewing, smiling and speaking than those with a complete or interrupted arch. The prevalance rate ratio (95% CI) of functional limitations in the SDA group was higher than in the aggregated CDA-IDA group, the values ranging between 1.56 (1.22-12.01) as regards chewing and 2.35 (1.45-3.85) in the case of smiling. However, in general all groups were satisfied with their oral status.

Equipment and strategies to enhance the post-wildfire establishment and persistence of Great Basin native plants

Treesearch

Nancy Shaw; Beth Newingham; Amy C. Ganguli; Ann L. Hild; Robert D. Cox; Jim Truax; Mike Pellant; David Pyke; Dan Ogle

2011-01-01

Annual grass invasion in the Great Basin has increased fire size, frequency and severity. Post-fire restoration to provide functional native plant communities is critical to improve resistance to weed invasion. Our ability to successfully re-establish mixtures of native grasses, forbs and shrubs, however, is limited. We examined the effects of the standard rangeland...

20 CFR 416.925 - Listing of Impairments in appendix 1 of subpart P of part 404 of this chapter.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... doing any gainful activity, regardless of his or her age, education, or work experience. For children, it describes impairments that cause marked and severe functional limitations. (b) How is appendix 1... similar effect on adults and children. (2)(i) Part B contains criteria that apply only to individuals who...

Metabolic and physiochemical responses to a whole-lake experimental increase in dissolved organic carbon in a north-temperate lake

Treesearch

Jacob A. Zwart; Nicola Craig; Patrick T. Kelly; Stephen D. Sebestyen; Christopher T. Solomon; Brian C. Weidel; Stuart E. Jones

2016-01-01

Over the last several decades, many lakes globally have increased in dissolved organic carbon (DOC), calling into question how lake functions may respond to increasing DOC. Unfortunately, our basis for making predictions is limited to spatial surveys, modeling, and laboratory experiments, which may not accurately capture important whole-ecosystem processes. In this...

Interactive Effects of Working Memory Self-Regulatory Ability and Relevance Instructions on Text Processing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hamilton, Nancy Jo

2012-01-01

Reading is a process that requires the enactment of many cognitive processes. Each of these processes uses a certain amount of working memory resources, which are severely constrained by biology. More efficiency in the function of working memory may mediate the biological limits of same. Reading relevancy instructions may be one such method to…

Whole kidney engineering for clinical translation.

PubMed

Kim, Ick-Hee; Ko, In Kap; Atala, Anthony; Yoo, James J

2015-04-01

Renal transplantation is currently the only definitive treatment for end-stage renal disease; however, this treatment is severely limited by the shortage of implantable kidneys. To address this shortcoming, development of an engineered, transplantable kidney has been proposed. Although current advances in engineering kidneys based on decellularization and recellularization techniques have offered great promises for the generation of functional kidney constructs, most studies have been conducted using rodent kidney constructs and short-term in-vivo evaluation. Toward clinical translations of this technique, several limitations need to be addressed. Human-sized renal scaffolds are desirable for clinical application, and the fabrication is currently feasible using native porcine and discarded human kidneys. Current progress in stem cell biology and cell culture methods have demonstrated feasibility of the use of embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, and primary renal cells as clinically relevant cell sources for the recellularization of renal scaffolds. Finally, approaches to long-term implantation of engineered kidneys are under investigation using antithrombogenic strategies such as functional reendothelialization of acellular kidney matrices. In the field of bioengineering, whole kidneys have taken a number of important initial steps toward clinical translations, but many challenges must be addressed to achieve a successful treatment for the patient with end-stage renal disease.

Esophageal Motor Abnormalities in Patients With Scleroderma: Heterogeneity, Risk Factors, and Effects on Quality of Life.

PubMed

Crowell, Michael D; Umar, Sarah B; Griffing, W Leroy; DiBaise, John K; Lacy, Brian E; Vela, Marcelo F

2017-02-01

Systemic scleroderma (SSc) is associated with esophageal aperistalsis and hypotensive esophagogastric junction pressure, although there could be a gradation in esophageal motor dysfunction. We characterized esophageal motor function by high-resolution esophageal manometry (HRM) and assessed associations between SSc severity, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and HRM findings in patients. We performed a prospective study of 200 patients with SSc and 102 patients without SSc (controls) who underwent HRM at Mayo Clinic Arizona from May 2006 through January 2015. We used data on integrated relaxation pressure, distal contractile integral, and distal latency to classify esophageal motility disorders according to the Chicago Classification v 3.0. A subset of subjects (n = 122) completed SSc-specific gastrointestinal symptom and HRQOL questionnaires. HRM findings, symptoms, and HRQOL data were compared among diffuse SSc, limited SSc, and control subjects. Categorical variables were compared by using the χ 2 or Fisher exact test; continuous variables were compared by using Mann-Whitney or Kruskal-Wallis test. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between severity of esophageal dysmotility and baseline clinical factors. Among patients with SSc, 83 had diffuse SSc (42%), and 117 had limited SSc (58%). Absent contractility was more frequent in patients with SSc than in controls (56% vs 13%; P < .001). HRM findings varied among the patients; absent contractility (56%) was the most frequent diagnosis, followed by normal motility (26%) and ineffective esophageal motility (10%). Classic scleroderma esophagus (esophagogastric junction pressure with absent contractility) was only observed in 33% of patients (34% with diffuse SSc vs 32% limited SSc) (P = .880). Severe esophageal dysmotility was associated with disease duration, interstitial lung disease, and higher gastrointestinal symptom scores (P < .001). HRQOL was decreased in patients with SSc and severe esophageal dysmotility. Although severe dysmotility is more common in patients with SSc than in controls, we observed the so-called scleroderma esophagus in only one-third of patients with SSc. Esophageal motor function appears to be heterogeneous in SSc. Esophageal dysmotility reduces HRQOL in patients with SSc. Copyright © 2017 AGA Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A Functional Central Limit Theorem for the Becker-Döring Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Wen

2018-04-01

We investigate the fluctuations of the stochastic Becker-Döring model of polymerization when the initial size of the system converges to infinity. A functional central limit problem is proved for the vector of the number of polymers of a given size. It is shown that the stochastic process associated to fluctuations is converging to the strong solution of an infinite dimensional stochastic differential equation (SDE) in a Hilbert space. We also prove that, at equilibrium, the solution of this SDE is a Gaussian process. The proofs are based on a specific representation of the evolution equations, the introduction of a convenient Hilbert space and several technical estimates to control the fluctuations, especially of the first coordinate which interacts with all components of the infinite dimensional vector representing the state of the process.

Using the international classification of functioning to examine the impact of trigger finger.

PubMed

Langer, Danit; Maeir, Adina; Michailevich, Michael; Applebaum, Yael; Luria, Shai

2016-12-01

To evaluate the impact of trigger finger (TF) on hand motor function, activity and participation (A&P) and quality of life (QOL), and to evaluate the association between personal factors (age and gender, disease severity) and body functions (dexterity and strength) with A&P and QOL in patients with TF. Sixty-six patients with TF (study group) and 66 healthy volunteers (control group) participated in the study. TF symptoms were graded using the Quinnell classification. A&P was evaluated using the Disabilities of Arm Shoulder and Hand questionnaire and the QOL using the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire. Dexterity was evaluated using the Functional Dexterity Test and the Purdue Pegboard Test; hand strength was evaluated using the Jamar Dynamometer and Pinch Gauge. The comparisons between the study and control groups revealed significant differences in all measures. The study group reported lower perceived QOL, A&P and reduced hand strength and dexterity. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that (a) the severity of TF contributed significantly to the explained variance of QOL, while demographics and hand functioning did not; (b) demographics, TF severity and hand function all contributed significantly to the explained variance of A&P. The findings of the study point to the importance of addressing the functional implications and QOL of individuals with TF. Implications for Rehabilitation Although trigger finger is considered to be a mild hand pathology, it has a wide-ranging impact on hand functioning, daily activities and quality of life. Clinicians should include assessments of these outcomes in the treatment of individuals with trigger finger. Treatment efficacy should be evaluated with International Classification of Functioning outcomes, and not limited to symptomatology.

Executive Dysfunction and Depressive Symptoms Associated With Reduced Participation of People With Severe Congestive Heart Failure

PubMed Central

Foster, Erin R.; Cunnane, Kathleen B.; Edwards, Dorothy F.; Morrison, M. Tracy; Ewald, Gregory A.; Geltman, Edward M.; Zazulia, Allyson R.

2011-01-01

OBJECTIVE We investigated participation levels and relationships among cognition, depression, and participation for people with severe congestive heart failure (CHF). METHOD People with severe CHF (New York Heart Association Class III or IV) awaiting heart transplantation (N = 27) completed standardized tests of cognition and self-report measures of executive dysfunction, depressive symptoms, and participation. RESULTS Possible depression (64%) and cognitive impairment (15%–59%) were prevalent. Participants reported significant reductions in participation across all activity domains since CHF diagnosis (ps < .001). Worse executive dysfunction and depressive symptoms were associated with reduced participation and together accounted for 35%–46% of the variance in participation (ps < .01). CONCLUSION Participation restrictions associated with CHF are not limited to physically demanding activities and are significantly associated with executive dysfunction and depression. Cardiac rehabilitation should address cognitive and psychological functioning in the context of all life situations instead of focusing solely on physical function and disability. PMID:21675336

The influence of knee pain location on symptoms, functional status and knee-related quality of life in older adults with chronic knee pain: data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative

PubMed Central

Farrokhi, Shawn; Chen, Yi-Fan; Piva, Sara R.; Fitzgerald, G. Kelley; Jeong, Jong-Hyeon; Kwoh, C. Kent

2015-01-01

Objective To evaluate whether knee pain location can influence symptoms, functional status and knee-related quality of life in older adults with chronic knee pain. Methods A total of 2959 painful knees from the Osteoarthritis Initiative database were analyzed. Trained interviewers recorded patient-reported location of knee pain. Painful knees were divided into three groups of patellofemoral only pain, tibiofemoral only pain, and combined pain. Self-reported knee-specific symptoms, functional status and knee-related quality of life were assessed using the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Results The most common knee pain pattern was tibiofemoral only pain (62%), followed by patellofemoral only pain (23%) and combined pain (15%). The combined pain pattern was associated with greater odds of reporting pain, symptoms, sports or recreational activity limitations and lower knee-related quality of life compared to either isolated knee pain patterns, after adjusting for demographics and radiographic disease severity. Individual item analysis further revealed that patients with combined pain had greater odds of reporting difficulty with daily weightbearing activities that required knee bending compared to tibiofemoral or patellofemoral only pain patterns. Furthermore, symptoms, functional status, and knee-related quality of life were comparable between patients with patellofemoral and tibiofemoral only pain patterns, after adjusting for demographics and radiographic disease severity. Discussion Combined patellofemoral and tibiofemoral pain is associated with poorer clinical presentation compared to isolated knee pain from either location. Additionally, patellofemoral pain in isolation may be as important as tibiofemoral pain in causing symptoms and functional limitation in older adults with chronic knee pain. PMID:26308705

The IMPACT Study (Influence of Sensor-Equipped Microcatheters on Coronary Hemodynamics and the Accuracy of Physiological Indices of Functional Stenosis Severity).

PubMed

Wijntjens, Gilbert W M; van de Hoef, Tim P; Kraak, Robin P; Beijk, Marcel A; Sjauw, Krischan D; Vis, M Marije; Madera Cambero, Maribel I; Brinckman, Stijn L; Plomp, Jacobus; Baan, Jan; Koch, Karel T; Wykrzykowska, Joanna J; Henriques, José P; de Winter, Robbert J; Piek, Jan J

2016-12-01

The Navvus pressure sensor-equipped microcatheter allows to measure functional stenosis severity over a work-horse guidewire and is used as a more feasible alternative to regular sensor-equipped wires. However, Navvus is larger in diameter than contemporary sensor-equipped guidewires and may, thereby, influence functional measurements. The present study evaluates the hemodynamic influence of the Navvus microcatheter. In patients with intermediate coronary stenosis, coronary pressure and flow velocity were measured using a dual sensor-equipped guidewire before and after introduction of Navvus. Patients were randomized to microcatheter-first or guidewire-first measurement. The primary end point was the difference in hyperemic stenosis resistance index between measurements before and after introduction of Navvus. Measurements were completed in 28 patients (28 stenoses). Mean hyperemic stenosis resistance was 0.37±0.19 Hg/cm/s for wire-only assessment and 0.48±0.26 Hg/cm/s after Navvus introduction (P<0.001). Bland-Altman analysis documented a mean bias of +0.11 Hg/cm/s (limits of agreement: -0.13 to 0.36), proportional to mean hyperemic stenosis resistance (Spearman ρ =0.61; P=0.001). Passing-Bablok analysis revealed absence of a constant difference but significant proportional difference between the methods. Mean fractional flow reserve was 0.86±0.06 for wire-only assessment and 0.82±0.07 after Navvus introduction (P<0.001). Bland-Altman analysis documented a mean bias of -0.033 (limits of agreement: -0.09 to 0.03), proportional to mean fractional flow reserve (Spearman ρ =0.40; P=0.036). Passing-Bablok analysis revealed significant constant and proportional differences between methods. Similar results were documented for resting indices of stenosis severity. Introduction of the Navvus microcatheter leads to clinically relevant stenosis severity overestimation in intermediate stenosis. © 2016 American Heart Association, Inc.

Revisit of Functional Tricuspid Regurgitation; Current Trends in the Diagnosis and Management

PubMed Central

Muraru, Denisa; Surkova, Elena

2016-01-01

Current knowledge of functional tricuspid regurgitation (FTR) as a progressive entity, worsening the prognosis of patients irrespective of its aetiology, has led to renewed interest in the pathophysiology and assessment of FTR. For the proper management of FTR, not only its severity, but also the mechanisms, the mode of leaflet coaptation, the degree of tricuspid annulus enlargement and leaflet tenting, and the haemodynamic consequences for right atrial and right ventricular morphology and function have to be taken into account. A better assessment of the anatomy and function of tricuspid apparatus and tricuspid regurgitation severity should help with the appropriate selection of patients who will benefit from either surgical tricuspid valve repair/replacement or a percutaneous procedure, especially among patients who are to undergo or have undergone primary left-sided valvular surgery. In this article, we review the anatomy, pathophysiology and the use of imaging techniques to assess patients with FTR, as well as the various treatment options for FTR, including emerging transcatheter procedures. The limitations affecting the current approach to FTR patients and the unmet clinical needs for their management have also been discussed. PMID:27482252

Neurobehavioral testing in subarachnoid hemorrhage: A review of methods and current findings in rodents.

PubMed

Turan, Nefize; Miller, Brandon A; Heider, Robert A; Nadeem, Maheen; Sayeed, Iqbal; Stein, Donald G; Pradilla, Gustavo

2017-11-01

The most important aspect of a preclinical study seeking to develop a novel therapy for neurological diseases is whether the therapy produces any clinically relevant functional recovery. For this purpose, neurobehavioral tests are commonly used to evaluate the neuroprotective efficacy of treatments in a wide array of cerebrovascular diseases and neurotrauma. Their use, however, has been limited in experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage studies. After several randomized, double-blinded, controlled clinical trials repeatedly failed to produce a benefit in functional outcome despite some improvement in angiographic vasospasm, more rigorous methods of neurobehavioral testing became critical to provide a more comprehensive evaluation of the functional efficacy of proposed treatments. While several subarachnoid hemorrhage studies have incorporated an array of neurobehavioral assays, a standardized methodology has not been agreed upon. Here, we review neurobehavioral tests for rodents and their potential application to subarachnoid hemorrhage studies. Developing a standardized neurobehavioral testing regimen in rodent studies of subarachnoid hemorrhage would allow for better comparison of results between laboratories and a better prediction of what interventions would produce functional benefits in humans.

Nanotopography-guided tissue engineering and regenerative medicine☆

PubMed Central

Kim, Hong Nam; Jiao, Alex; Hwang, Nathaniel S.; Kim, Min Sung; Kang, Do Hyun; Kim, Deok-Ho; Suh, Kahp-Yang

2017-01-01

Human tissues are intricate ensembles of multiple cell types embedded in complex and well-defined structures of the extracellular matrix (ECM). The organization of ECM is frequently hierarchical from nano to macro, with many proteins forming large scale structures with feature sizes up to several hundred microns. Inspired from these natural designs of ECM, nanotopography-guided approaches have been increasingly investigated for the last several decades. Results demonstrate that the nanotopography itself can activate tissue-specific function in vitro as well as promote tissue regeneration in vivo upon transplantation. In this review, we provide an extensive analysis of recent efforts to mimic functional nanostructures in vitro for improved tissue engineering and regeneration of injured and damaged tissues. We first characterize the role of various nanostructures in human tissues with respect to each tissue-specific function. Then, we describe various fabrication methods in terms of patterning principles and material characteristics. Finally, we summarize the applications of nanotopography to various tissues, which are classified into four types depending on their functions: protective, mechano-sensitive, electro-active, and shear stress-sensitive tissues. Some limitations and future challenges are briefly discussed at the end. PMID:22921841

Long-term health and work outcomes of renal transplantation and patterns of work status during the end-stage renal disease trajectory.

PubMed

van der Mei, Sijrike F; Kuiper, Daphne; Groothoff, Johan W; van den Heuvel, Wim J A; van Son, Willem J; Brouwer, Sandra

2011-09-01

The aim of this study was to examine the health- and work outcomes of renal transplant recipients long-term after transplantation as well as the pattern of work status, work ability and disability benefits during the end-stage renal disease (ESRD) trajectory that precedes transplantation. 34 transplant recipients completed interviews 3, 13 months and >6 years posttransplantation. Health status (SF-36), work ability (WAI), and fatigue (CIS) were assessed by questionnaires, clinical data were derived from medical charts, and data on functional limitations were extracted from the social security system database. The work status trajectory preceding transplantation was examined retrospectively. Of the 34 third wave transplant recipients, 29% were severely fatigued. Compared with the general working population, recipients experienced worse general health and less vitality. Non-working recipients had worse renal function and general health, and more limitations in physical functioning compared to working recipients. The WAI score indicated moderate work ability for 60% of the employed recipients. Although 67% were employed (45% parttime), 30% of those working still received some disability benefits. Social insurance physicians found variable levels of functional limitations. The mean work status trajectory showed more sickness absence and less work ability during dialysis, but after transplantation, both work status and work ability generally improved. Transplant recipients have a compromised health status which leads to functional limitations and disability. Although work status improved after transplantation, a substantial number of the transplant recipients received disability benefits. The negative health consequences of anti-rejection medications may play an important role in long-term work ability. These results indicate that a 'new' kidney has advantages over dialysis with respect to work, but does not necessarily leads to 'normal' work outcomes.

Nutritional status and physical inactivity in moderated asthmatics: A pilot study.

PubMed

Bruno, Andreina; Uasuf, Carina Gabriela; Insalaco, Giuseppe; Barazzoni, Rocco; Ballacchino, Antonella; Gjomarkaj, Mark; Pace, Elisabetta

2016-08-01

Preservation of nutritional status and of fat-free mass (FFM) and/or preventing of fat mass (FM) accumulation have a positive impact on well-being and prognosis in asthma patients. Physical inactivity is identified by World Health Organization as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality. Physical activity (PA) may contribute to limit FM accumulation, but little information is available on the interactions between habitual PA and body composition and their association with disease severity in asthma severity.Associations between habitual PA, FM, FFM, and pulmonary function were investigated in 42 subjects (24 patients with mild-moderate asthma and 18 matched control subjects). Sensewear Armband was used to measure PA and metabolic equivalent of tasks (METs) continuously over 4 days, while body composition was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Respiratory functions were also assessed in all study participants.FM and FFM were comparable in mild-moderate asthmatics and controls, but PA was lower in asthmatics and it was negatively correlated with FM and positively with the FFM marker body cell mass in all study subjects (P < 0.05). Among asthmatics, treated moderate asthmatics (ICS, n = 12) had higher FM and lower PA, METs, steps number/die, and forced expiratory volume in the 1st second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) than in untreated intermittent asthmatics (UA, n = 12).This pilot study assesses that in mild-moderate asthma patients, lower PA is associated with higher FM and higher disease severity. The current results support enhancement of habitual PA as a potential tool to limit FM accumulation and potentially contribute to preserve pulmonary function in moderate asthma, considering the physical inactivity a strong risk factor for asthma worsening.

Managing microbial communities for sequentially reconstruct genomes from complex metagenomes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Delmont, Tom O.; Vogel, Timothy M.; Simonet, Pascal

2013-04-01

Global understanding on environmental microbial communities is currently limited by the bottleneck of genome reconstruction. Soil is a typical example where individual cells are currently mostly uncultured and metagenomic datasets unassembled. In this study, the microbial community composition of a natural grassland soil was managed under several controlled selective pressures to experiment a "multi-evenness" stratagem for sequentially attempt to reconstruct genomes from a complex metagenome. While lowly represented in the natural community, several newly dominant genomes (an enrichment attaining 105 in some cases) were successfully reconstructed under various "harsh" tested conditions. These genomes belong to several genera including (but not restricted to) Leifsonia, Rhodanobacter, Bacillus, Ktedonobacter, Xanthomonas, Streptomyces and Burkholderia. So far, from 10 to 78% of generated metagenomic datasets were reconstructed, so providing access to more than 88 000 genes of known or unknown functions and to their genetic environment. Adaptative genes directly related to selective pressures were found, mostly in large plasmids. Functions of potential industrial interest (e.g., novel polyketide synthase modules in Streptomyces) were also discovered. Furthermore, an important phage infection snapshot (>1500X of coverage for the most represented phage) was observed among the Streptomyces population (three distinct genomes reconstructed) of a particular enrichment (mercury, 0.02g/kg) during the fourth month of incubation. This "divide and conquer" strategy could be applied to other environments and using auxiliary sequencing approaches like single cell to detect, connect and mine taxa and functions of interest while creating an extensive set of reference genomes from across the planet. Next limit could turn out to become our imagination defining novel selective pressures to sequentially make dominant the 1030 cells of the biosphere.

Operations concepts for Mars missions with multiple mobile spacecraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dias, William C.

1993-01-01

Missions are being proposed which involve landing a varying number (anywhere from one to 24) of small mobile spacecraft on Mars. Mission proposals include sample returns, in situ geochemistry and geology, and instrument deployment functions. This paper discusses changes needed in traditional space operations methods for support of rover operations. Relevant differences include more frequent commanding, higher risk acceptance, streamlined procedures, and reliance on additional spacecraft autonomy, advanced fault protection, and prenegotiated decisions. New methods are especially important for missions with several Mars rovers operating concurrently against time limits. This paper also discusses likely mission design limits imposed by operations constraints .

Mapping the genome of meta-generalized gradient approximation density functionals: The search for B97M-V

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mardirossian, Narbe; Head-Gordon, Martin

2015-02-01

A meta-generalized gradient approximation density functional paired with the VV10 nonlocal correlation functional is presented. The functional form is selected from more than 1010 choices carved out of a functional space of almost 1040 possibilities. Raw data come from training a vast number of candidate functional forms on a comprehensive training set of 1095 data points and testing the resulting fits on a comprehensive primary test set of 1153 data points. Functional forms are ranked based on their ability to reproduce the data in both the training and primary test sets with minimum empiricism, and filtered based on a set of physical constraints and an often-overlooked condition of satisfactory numerical precision with medium-sized integration grids. The resulting optimal functional form has 4 linear exchange parameters, 4 linear same-spin correlation parameters, and 4 linear opposite-spin correlation parameters, for a total of 12 fitted parameters. The final density functional, B97M-V, is further assessed on a secondary test set of 212 data points, applied to several large systems including the coronene dimer and water clusters, tested for the accurate prediction of intramolecular and intermolecular geometries, verified to have a readily attainable basis set limit, and checked for grid sensitivity. Compared to existing density functionals, B97M-V is remarkably accurate for non-bonded interactions and very satisfactory for thermochemical quantities such as atomization energies, but inherits the demonstrable limitations of existing local density functionals for barrier heights.

Induction of Indoleamine 2,3 Dioxygenase-1 by Immunostimulatory-DNA Limits Severity of Experimental Colitis

PubMed Central

Ciorba, Matthew A; Bettonville, Ellen E; McDonald, Keely G; Metz, Richard; Prendergast, George C; Newberry, Rodney D; Stenson, William F

2010-01-01

The chronic inflammatory bowel diseases are characterized by aberrant innate and adaptive immune responses to commensal luminal bacteria. In both human IBD and in experimental models of colitis there is an increased expression of the enzyme indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO). IDO expression has the capacity to exert antimicrobial effects and dampen adaptive immune responses. In the murine TNBS model of colitis, inhibition of this enzyme leads to worsened disease severity suggesting that IDO acts as a natural break in limiting colitis. In this investigation we show that induction of IDO-1 by a TLR-9 agonist, immunostimulatory-DNA (ISS-DNA), critically contributes to its colitis limiting capacities. ISS-DNA induces intestinal expression of IDO-1, but not the recently described paralog enzyme IDO-2. This induction occurred in both epithelial cells and in subsets of CD11c+ and CD11b+ cells of the lamina propria which also increase after ISS-ODN. Signaling required for intestinal IDO-1 induction involves interferon dependent pathways, as IDO-1 was not induced in STAT-1 knockout mice. Using both the TNBS and DSS models of colitis we show the importance of IDO-1s induction in limiting colitis severity. The clinical parameters and histologic correlates of colitis in these models were improved by administration of the TLR-9 agonist; however, when the function of IDO is inhibited, the colitis limiting effects of ISS-ODN were abrogated. These findings support the possibility that targeted induction of IDO-1 is an approach deserving further investigation as a therapeutic strategy for diseases of intestinal inflammation. PMID:20181893

Corticolimbic structural alterations linked to health status and trait anxiety in functional neurological disorder.

PubMed

Perez, David L; Williams, Benjamin; Matin, Nassim; LaFrance, W Curt; Costumero-Ramos, Victor; Fricchione, Gregory L; Sepulcre, Jorge; Keshavan, Matcheri S; Dickerson, Bradford C

2017-12-01

Affective symptoms influence health status (health-related quality of life) in functional neurological disorder (FND), and the salience network is implicated in the pathophysiology of FND and mood/anxiety disorders. We hypothesised that self-reported health status and affective symptoms would map onto salience network regions and that patients with FND would show decreased insular volumes compared with controls. This voxel-based morphometry study investigated volumetric differences in 26 patients with FND (21 women, 5 men; mean age=40.3±11.5) compared with 27 healthy controls (22 women, 5 men; mean age=40.5±10.8). Post hoc analyses stratified patients with FND by mental and physical health scores (Short Form Health Survey-36). Within-group analyses investigated associations with mental health, physical health, trait anxiety and depression in patients with FND. There were no volumetric differences between the complete FND cohort and controls. In stratified analyses, however, patients with FND reporting the most severe physical health impairments showed reduced left anterior insular volume compared with controls. In within-group analyses, impaired mental health and elevated trait anxiety were associated with increased right amygdalar volumes in patients with FND. The relationship between amygdalar volume and mental health, driven by emotional well-being deficits and role limitations due to emotional problems, was independent of sensorimotor functional neurological symptom severity and motor FND subtype. In secondary within-group analyses, increased periaqueductal grey volume was associated with role limitations due to emotional problems. Impaired physical functioning correlated with decreased left anterior insular volumes. These findings support roles for several regions of the salience network in the pathophysiology of FND. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Mutations disrupting the Kennedy phosphatidylcholine pathway in humans with congenital lipodystrophy and fatty liver disease.

PubMed

Payne, Felicity; Lim, Koini; Girousse, Amandine; Brown, Rebecca J; Kory, Nora; Robbins, Ann; Xue, Yali; Sleigh, Alison; Cochran, Elaine; Adams, Claire; Dev Borman, Arundhati; Russel-Jones, David; Gorden, Phillip; Semple, Robert K; Saudek, Vladimir; O'Rahilly, Stephen; Walther, Tobias C; Barroso, Inês; Savage, David B

2014-06-17

Phosphatidylcholine (PC) is the major glycerophospholipid in eukaryotic cells and is an essential component in all cellular membranes. The biochemistry of de novo PC synthesis by the Kennedy pathway is well established, but less is known about the physiological functions of PC. We identified two unrelated patients with defects in the Kennedy pathway due to biallellic loss-of-function mutations in phosphate cytidylyltransferase 1 alpha (PCYT1A), the rate-limiting enzyme in this pathway. The mutations lead to a marked reduction in PCYT1A expression and PC synthesis. The phenotypic consequences include some features, such as severe fatty liver and low HDL cholesterol levels, that are predicted by the results of previously reported liver-specific deletion of murine Pcyt1a. Both patients also had lipodystrophy, severe insulin resistance, and diabetes, providing evidence for an additional and essential role for PCYT1A-generated PC in the normal function of white adipose tissue and insulin action.

Mutations disrupting the Kennedy phosphatidylcholine pathway in humans with congenital lipodystrophy and fatty liver disease

PubMed Central

Payne, Felicity; Lim, Koini; Girousse, Amandine; Brown, Rebecca J.; Kory, Nora; Robbins, Ann; Xue, Yali; Sleigh, Alison; Cochran, Elaine; Adams, Claire; Dev Borman, Arundhati; Russel-Jones, David; Gorden, Phillip; Semple, Robert K.; Saudek, Vladimir; O’Rahilly, Stephen; Walther, Tobias C.; Barroso, Inês; Savage, David B.

2014-01-01

Phosphatidylcholine (PC) is the major glycerophospholipid in eukaryotic cells and is an essential component in all cellular membranes. The biochemistry of de novo PC synthesis by the Kennedy pathway is well established, but less is known about the physiological functions of PC. We identified two unrelated patients with defects in the Kennedy pathway due to biallellic loss-of-function mutations in phosphate cytidylyltransferase 1 alpha (PCYT1A), the rate-limiting enzyme in this pathway. The mutations lead to a marked reduction in PCYT1A expression and PC synthesis. The phenotypic consequences include some features, such as severe fatty liver and low HDL cholesterol levels, that are predicted by the results of previously reported liver-specific deletion of murine Pcyt1a. Both patients also had lipodystrophy, severe insulin resistance, and diabetes, providing evidence for an additional and essential role for PCYT1A-generated PC in the normal function of white adipose tissue and insulin action. PMID:24889630

Current Status of Islet Cell Transplantation

PubMed Central

Ichii, Hirohito; Ricordi, Camillo

2013-01-01

Despite substantial advances in islet isolation methods and immunosuppressive protocol, pancreatic islet cell transplantation remains an experimental procedure currently limited to the most severe cases of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). The objectives of this treatment are to prevent severe hypoglycemic episodes in patients with hypoglycemia unawareness, and to achieve a more physiological metabolic control. Insulin independence and long term-graft function with improvement of quality of life have been obtained in several international islet transplant centers. However, experimental trials of islet transplantation clearly highlighted several obstacles that remain to be overcome before the procedure could be proposed to a much larger patient population. This review provides a brief historical perspective of islet transplantation, islet isolation techniques, the transplant procedure, immunosuppressive therapy, and outlines current challenges and future directions in clinical islet transplantation. PMID:19110649

Sexual Functioning Among a Cohort of Treatment-Seeking Canadian Military Personnel and Veterans With Psychiatric Conditions.

PubMed

McIntyre-Smith, Alexandra; St Cyr, Kate; King, Lisa

2015-07-01

The aim of this study was to assess potential predictors of sexual dysfunction and dissatisfaction in a sample of 99 current and former Canadian Forces members attending the Parkwood Hospital Operational Stress Injury Clinic for mental health treatment. Respondents completed a number of questionnaires assessing sexual functioning, post-traumatic stress disorder symptom severity, health-related quality of life, and self-perceived masculinity traits. Regression analyses revealed that role limitations because of physical problems predicted erectile functioning (β = 0.107, p = 0.075), whereas vitality predicted orgasmic functioning (β = 0.044, p = 0.032). Hypermasculinity was the strongest predictor of sexual desire (β = 0.466, p = 0.036), and sexual satisfaction was significantly predicted by bodily pain (β = 0.036, p = 0.019). Preliminary analyses revealed a significant mediating effect of bodily pain on the relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder symptom severity. Results suggest a nuanced interplay between physical health and mental health factors regarding sexual functioning in treatment-seeking military personnel and veterans; however, further research is needed to better delineate the relationship between the 2. Reprint & Copyright © 2015 Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S.

Diet models with linear goal programming: impact of achievement functions.

PubMed

Gerdessen, J C; de Vries, J H M

2015-11-01

Diet models based on goal programming (GP) are valuable tools in designing diets that comply with nutritional, palatability and cost constraints. Results derived from GP models are usually very sensitive to the type of achievement function that is chosen.This paper aims to provide a methodological insight into several achievement functions. It describes the extended GP (EGP) achievement function, which enables the decision maker to use either a MinSum achievement function (which minimizes the sum of the unwanted deviations) or a MinMax achievement function (which minimizes the largest unwanted deviation), or a compromise between both. An additional advantage of EGP models is that from one set of data and weights multiple solutions can be obtained. We use small numerical examples to illustrate the 'mechanics' of achievement functions. Then, the EGP achievement function is demonstrated on a diet problem with 144 foods, 19 nutrients and several types of palatability constraints, in which the nutritional constraints are modeled with fuzzy sets. Choice of achievement function affects the results of diet models. MinSum achievement functions can give rise to solutions that are sensitive to weight changes, and that pile all unwanted deviations on a limited number of nutritional constraints. MinMax achievement functions spread the unwanted deviations as evenly as possible, but may create many (small) deviations. EGP comprises both types of achievement functions, as well as compromises between them. It can thus, from one data set, find a range of solutions with various properties.

Ultrasound based computer-aided-diagnosis of kidneys for pediatric hydronephrosis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cerrolaza, Juan J.; Peters, Craig A.; Martin, Aaron D.; Myers, Emmarie; Safdar, Nabile; Linguraru, Marius G.

2014-03-01

Ultrasound is the mainstay of imaging for pediatric hydronephrosis, though its potential as diagnostic tool is limited by its subjective assessment, and lack of correlation with renal function. Therefore, all cases showing signs of hydronephrosis undergo further invasive studies, like diuretic renogram, in order to assess the actual renal function. Under the hypothesis that renal morphology is correlated with renal function, a new ultrasound based computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) tool for pediatric hydronephrosis is presented. From 2D ultrasound, a novel set of morphological features of the renal collecting systems and the parenchyma, is automatically extracted using image analysis techniques. From the original set of features, including size, geometric and curvature descriptors, a subset of ten features are selected as predictive variables, combining a feature selection technique and area under the curve filtering. Using the washout half time (T1/2) as indicative of renal obstruction, two groups are defined. Those cases whose T1/2 is above 30 minutes are considered to be severe, while the rest would be in the safety zone, where diuretic renography could be avoided. Two different classification techniques are evaluated (logistic regression, and support vector machines). Adjusting the probability decision thresholds to operate at the point of maximum sensitivity, i.e., preventing any severe case be misclassified, specificities of 53%, and 75% are achieved, for the logistic regression and the support vector machine classifier, respectively. The proposed CAD system allows to establish a link between non-invasive non-ionizing imaging techniques and renal function, limiting the need for invasive and ionizing diuretic renography.

Nocturnal Oxygen Desaturation Index is Inversely Correlated with Airflow Limitation in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

PubMed

Tamai, Koji; Matsuoka, Hirofumi; Suzuki, Yujiro; Yoshimatsu, Harukazu; Masuya, Daiki; Nakashima, Nariyasu; Okada, Nobuhiko; Oda, Nao; Inoue, Sayaka; Koma, Yasuko; Otsuka, Akiko

2016-01-01

The concurrent diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome (SAHS) (overlap syndrome), can contribute to worsening respiratory symptoms, but whether the severity of COPD is associated with co-morbid SAHS is unknown. We investigated whether the severity of COPD is associated with the complication of SAHS by examination of nocturnal oximetry as an alternative to polysomnography. Patients with COPD concurrently completed nocturnal oximetry, pulmonary function tests, a COPD assessment test, an Epworth sleepiness scale and a hospital anxiety and depression scale to evaluate the severity of COPD and possible concurrent presence of SAHS. We retrospectively analysed the data to assess correlation between the oxygen desaturation index (ODI) and each clinical variables and evaluated the predictors of ODI ≥ 15. This study included 103 patients (91 males, 88%) with a mean age of 72 ± 8 years and body mass index of 22 ± 3 kg/m(2). ODI was positively correlated with FEV1, FEV1/FVC and FEV1% predicted, which meant that ODI was inversely correlated with airflow limitation. Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that FEV1% predicted and FEV1/FVC were predictors of ODI ≥ 15. ODI is inversely correlated with airflow limitation and milder COPD patients may have co-morbid SAHS.

The Puzzle of Visual Development: Behavior and Neural Limits.

PubMed

Kiorpes, Lynne

2016-11-09

The development of visual function takes place over many months or years in primate infants. Visual sensitivity is very poor near birth and improves over different times courses for different visual functions. The neural mechanisms that underlie these processes are not well understood despite many decades of research. The puzzle arises because research into the factors that limit visual function in infants has found surprisingly mature neural organization and adult-like receptive field properties in very young infants. The high degree of visual plasticity that has been documented during the sensitive period in young children and animals leaves the brain vulnerable to abnormal visual experience. Abnormal visual experience during the sensitive period can lead to amblyopia, a developmental disorder of vision affecting ∼3% of children. This review provides a historical perspective on research into visual development and the disorder amblyopia. The mismatch between the status of the primary visual cortex and visual behavior, both during visual development and in amblyopia, is discussed, and several potential resolutions are considered. It seems likely that extrastriate visual areas further along the visual pathways may set important limits on visual function and show greater vulnerability to abnormal visual experience. Analyses based on multiunit, population activity may provide useful representations of the information being fed forward from primary visual cortex to extrastriate processing areas and to the motor output. Copyright © 2016 the authors 0270-6474/16/3611384-10$15.00/0.

Pain as a risk factor for disability or death.

PubMed

Andrews, James S; Cenzer, Irena Stijacic; Yelin, Edward; Covinsky, Kenneth E

2013-04-01

To determine whether pain predicts future activity of daily living (ADL) disability or death in individuals aged 60 and older. Prospective cohort study. The 1998 to 2008 Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative study of older community-living individuals. Twelve thousand six hundred thirty-one participants in the 1998 HRS aged 60 and older who did not need help in any ADL. Participants reporting that they had moderate or severe pain most of the time were defined as having significant pain. The primary outcome was time to development of ADL disability or death over 10 yrs, assessed at five successive 2-year intervals. ADL disability was defined as needing help performing any ADL: bathing, dressing, transferring, toileting, eating, or walking across a room. A discrete hazards survival model was used to examine the relationship between pain and incident disability over each 2-year interval using only participants who started the interval with no ADL disability. Several potential confounders were adjusted for at the start of each interval: demographic factors, seven chronic health conditions, and functional limitations (ADL difficulty and difficulty with five measures of mobility). At baseline, 2,283 (18%) participants had significant pain. Participants with pain were more likely (all P < .001) to be female (65% vs 54%), have ADL difficulty (e.g., transferring 12% vs 2%, toileting 11% vs 2%), have difficulty walking several blocks (60% vs 21%), and have difficulty climbing one flight of stairs (40% vs 12%). Over 10 years, participants with pain were more likely to develop ADL disability or death (58% vs 43%, unadjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 1.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.57-1.79), although after adjustment for confounders, participants with pain were not at greater risk for ADL disability or death (HR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.91-1.07). Adjustment for functional status almost entirely explained the difference between the unadjusted and adjusted results. Although there are strong cross-sectional relationships between pain and functional limitations, individuals with pain are not at higher risk of subsequent disability or death after accounting for functional limitations. Like many geriatric syndromes, pain and disability may represent interrelated phenomena that occur simultaneously and require unified treatment paradigms. © 2013, Copyright the Authors Journal compilation © 2013, The American Geriatrics Society.

Pain as a Risk Factor for Disability or Death

PubMed Central

Andrews, James S.; Cenzer, Irena Stijacic; Yelin, Edward; Covinsky, Kenneth E.

2013-01-01

OBJECTIVES To determine whether pain predicts future activity of daily living (ADL) disability or death in individuals aged 60 years and above. DESIGN Prospective cohort study SETTING The 1998 to 2008 Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally-representative study of older community-living individuals. PARTICIPANTS Twelve thousand six hundred and thirty-one participants in the 1998 HRS aged 60 years and older who did not need help in any activity of daily living (ADL). MEASUREMENTS Participants reporting that they were troubled by moderate or severe pain most of the time were defined as having significant pain. Our primary outcome was time to development of ADL disability or death over 10 years, assessed in 5 successive 2 year intervals. ADL disability was defined as needing help performing any ADL: bathing, dressing, transferring, toileting, eating, or walking across a room. We used a discrete hazards survival model to examine the relationship between pain and incident disability over each two year interval using only participants who started the interval with no ADL disability. We adjusted for several potential confounders at the start of each interval: demographic factors, 7 chronic health conditions, and functional limitations (ADL difficulty, and difficulty with 5 measures of mobility). RESULTS At baseline, 2,283 (18%) subjects had significant pain. Subjects with pain were more likely (all p<0.001) to be female (65% vs. 54%), have ADL difficulty (eg. transferring 12% vs. 2%, toileting 11% vs. 2%), have difficulty walking several blocks (60% vs. 21%), and have difficulty climbing one flight of stairs (40% vs. 12%). Over 10 years, subjects with pain were more likely to develop ADL disability or death (58% vs43%, unadjusted HR 1.67, 95% confidence interval (1.57 to 1.79)). However, after adjustment for confounders, participants with pain were not at increased risk for ADL disability or death (HR 0.98 (0.91 to 1.07)). The difference between the unadjusted and adjusted results was almost entirely explained by adjustment for functional status. CONCLUSION While there are strong cross-sectional relationships between pain and functional limitations, individuals with pain are not at higher risk for subsequent disability or death, after accounting for functional limitations. Like many geriatric syndromes, pain and disability may represent interrelated phenomena that occur simultaneously and require unified treatment paradigms. PMID:23521614

Synthesis and biological assessment of 3,7-dihydroxytropolones.

PubMed

Hirsch, D R; Schiavone, D V; Berkowitz, A J; Morrison, L A; Masaoka, T; Wilson, J A; Lomonosova, E; Zhao, H; Patel, B S; Datla, S H; Hoft, S G; Majidi, S J; Pal, R K; Gallicchio, E; Tang, L; Tavis, J E; Le Grice, S F J; Beutler, J A; Murelli, R P

2017-12-19

3,7-Dihydroxytropolones (3,7-dHTs) are highly oxygenated troponoids that have been identified as lead compounds for several human diseases. To date, structure-function studies on these molecules have been limited due to a scarcity of synthetic methods for their preparation. New synthetic strategies towards structurally novel 3,7-dHTs would be valuable in further studying their therapeutic potential. Here we describe the successful adaptation of a [5 + 2] oxidopyrilium cycloaddition/ring-opening for 3,7-dHT synthesis, which we apply in the synthesis of a plausible biosynthetic intermediate to the natural products puberulic and puberulonic acid. We have also tested these new compounds in several biological assays related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV) in order to gain insight into structure-functional analysis related to antiviral troponoid development.

[Functional capacity of elderly patients attended in SUS primary healthcare units].

PubMed

Pilger, Calíope; Menon, Mario Umberto; Mathias, Thais Aidar de Freitas

2013-12-01

This study aimed to analyze the functional capacity of elderly registered in Basic Health Units of Guarapuava-PR, Brazil. The subjects were 359 elderly, interviewed from January to April 2010, using Section I and IV of the questionnaire Brazil Old Age Schedule. The results showed that 89.9% had some degree of dependency, of which 70.8% light and 19.2% moderate or severe dependence. Women have a higher degree of mild (70.5%) and moderate and severe dependence (62.3%). Factors associated with the degree of dependence among the elderly living in Guarapuava were age, schooling, living arrangements, employment, place of residence, marital status and family income. It is concluded that most of the elderly in the community is affected by limitations and live with some kind of dependence to perform basic activities of daily living.

Identification of Fitness Determinants during Energy-Limited Growth Arrest in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

PubMed

Basta, David W; Bergkessel, Megan; Newman, Dianne K

2017-11-28

Microbial growth arrest can be triggered by diverse factors, one of which is energy limitation due to scarcity of electron donors or acceptors. Genes that govern fitness during energy-limited growth arrest and the extent to which they overlap between different types of energy limitation are poorly defined. In this study, we exploited the fact that Pseudomonas aeruginosa can remain viable over several weeks when limited for organic carbon (pyruvate) as an electron donor or oxygen as an electron acceptor. ATP values were reduced under both types of limitation, yet more severely in the absence of oxygen. Using transposon-insertion sequencing (Tn-seq), we identified fitness determinants in these two energy-limited states. Multiple genes encoding general functions like transcriptional regulation and energy generation were required for fitness during carbon or oxygen limitation, yet many specific genes, and thus specific activities, differed in their relevance between these states. For instance, the global regulator RpoS was required during both types of energy limitation, while other global regulators such as DksA and LasR were required only during carbon or oxygen limitation, respectively. Similarly, certain ribosomal and tRNA modifications were specifically required during oxygen limitation. We validated fitness defects during energy limitation using independently generated mutants of genes detected in our screen. Mutants in distinct functional categories exhibited different fitness dynamics: regulatory genes generally manifested a phenotype early, whereas genes involved in cell wall metabolism were required later. Together, these results provide a new window into how P. aeruginosa survives growth arrest. IMPORTANCE Growth-arrested bacteria are ubiquitous in nature and disease yet understudied at the molecular level. For example, growth-arrested cells constitute a major subpopulation of mature biofilms, serving as an antibiotic-tolerant reservoir in chronic infections. Identification of the genes required for survival of growth arrest (encompassing entry, maintenance, and exit) is an important first step toward understanding the physiology of bacteria in this state. Using Tn-seq, we identified and validated genes required for fitness of Pseudomonas aeruginosa when energy limited for organic carbon or oxygen, which represent two common causes of growth arrest for P. aeruginosa in diverse habitats. This unbiased, genome-wide survey is the first to reveal essential activities for a pathogen experiencing different types of energy limitation, finding both shared and divergent activities that are relevant at different survival stages. Future efforts can now be directed toward understanding how the biomolecules responsible for these activities contribute to fitness under these conditions. Copyright © 2017 Basta et al.

Limits of detection and decision. Part 4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Voigtman, E.

2008-02-01

Probability density functions (PDFs) have been derived for a number of commonly used limit of detection definitions, including several variants of the Relative Standard Deviation of the Background-Background Equivalent Concentration (RSDB-BEC) method, for a simple linear chemical measurement system (CMS) having homoscedastic, Gaussian measurement noise and using ordinary least squares (OLS) processing. All of these detection limit definitions serve as both decision and detection limits, thereby implicitly resulting in 50% rates of Type 2 errors. It has been demonstrated that these are closely related to Currie decision limits, if the coverage factor, k, is properly defined, and that all of the PDFs are scaled reciprocals of noncentral t variates. All of the detection limits have well-defined upper and lower limits, thereby resulting in finite moments and confidence limits, and the problem of estimating the noncentrality parameter has been addressed. As in Parts 1-3, extensive Monte Carlo simulations were performed and all the simulation results were found to be in excellent agreement with the derived theoretical expressions. Specific recommendations for harmonization of detection limit methodology have also been made.

Optimal lens design and use in laser-scanning microscopy

PubMed Central

Negrean, Adrian; Mansvelder, Huibert D.

2014-01-01

In laser-scanning microscopy often an off-the-shelf achromatic doublet is used as a scan lens which can reduce the available diffraction-limited field-of-view (FOV) by a factor of 3 and introduce chromatic aberrations that are scan angle dependent. Here we present several simple lens designs of superior quality that fully make use of high-NA low-magnification objectives, offering diffraction-limited imaging over a large FOV and wavelength range. We constructed a two-photon laser-scanning microscope with optimized custom lenses which had a near diffraction limit point-spread-function (PSF) with less than 3.6% variation over a 400 µm FOV and less than 0.5 µm lateral color between 750 and 1050 nm. PMID:24877017

A candidate architecture for monitoring and control in chemical transfer propulsion systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Binder, Michael P.; Millis, Marc G.

1990-01-01

To support the exploration of space, a reusable space-based rocket engine must be developed. This engine must sustain superior operability and man-rated levels of reliability over several missions with limited maintenance or inspection between flights. To meet these requirements, an expander cycle engine incorporating a highly capable control and health monitoring system is planned. Alternatives for the functional organization and the implementation architecture of the engine's monitoring and control system are discussed. On the basis of this discussion, a decentralized architecture is favored. The trade-offs between several implementation options are outlined and future work is proposed.

Complex Relationships Between Food, Diet, and the Microbiome.

PubMed

Pace, Laura A; Crowe, Sheila E

2016-06-01

Diet is a risk factor in several medically important disease states, including obesity, celiac disease, and functional gastrointestinal disorders. Modification of diet can prevent, treat, or alleviate some of the symptoms associated with these diseases and improve general health. It is important to provide patients with simple dietary recommendations to increase the probability of successful implementation. These recommendations include increasing vegetable, fruit, and fiber intake, consuming lean protein sources to enhance satiety, avoiding or severely limiting highly processed foods, and reducing portion sizes for overweight and obese patients. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Flat connections in open string mirror symmetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alim, Murad; Hecht, Michael; Jockers, Hans; Mayr, Peter; Mertens, Adrian; Soroush, Masoud

2012-06-01

We study a flat connection defined on the open-closed deformation space of open string mirror symmetry for type II compactifications on Calabi-Yau threefolds with D-branes. We use flatness and integrability conditions to define distinguished flat coordinates and the superpotential function at an arbitrary point in the open-closed deformation space. Integrability conditions are given for concrete deformation spaces with several closed and open string deformations. We study explicit examples for expansions around different limit points, including orbifold Gromov-Witten invariants, and brane configurations with several brane moduli. In particular, the latter case covers stacks of parallel branes with non-Abelian symmetry.

Validity of using semipermeable membrane devices for determining aqueous concentrations of freely dissolved PAHs

USGS Publications Warehouse

Prest, Harry; Petty, J.D.; Huckins, J.N.

1998-01-01

An in-depth review of the recent contribution to this journal by Gustafson and Dickhut [1] prompts us to share our concerns regarding some of their conclusions. The paper presents data comparing three techniques for determining aqueous concentrations of freely dissolved polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) gas sparging, lipid-containing semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) design, and filtration followed by sorption using XAD-2 resin. Space limitations force us to limit our comments to problems resulting from an apparent lack of understanding of how SPMDs function. Several recent publications [2–13] have described the theoretical and practical considerations of SPMD usage. Gustafson and Dickhut fail to cite any papers describing SPMDs published after 1992, even though some 18 papers have been published in American and European journals since then and several SPMD studies have been presented at many major meetings.

Functional Data Analysis Applied to Modeling of Severe Acute Mucositis and Dysphagia Resulting From Head and Neck Radiation Therapy

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

Dean, Jamie A., E-mail: jamie.dean@icr.ac.uk; Wong, Kee H.; Gay, Hiram

Purpose: Current normal tissue complication probability modeling using logistic regression suffers from bias and high uncertainty in the presence of highly correlated radiation therapy (RT) dose data. This hinders robust estimates of dose-response associations and, hence, optimal normal tissue–sparing strategies from being elucidated. Using functional data analysis (FDA) to reduce the dimensionality of the dose data could overcome this limitation. Methods and Materials: FDA was applied to modeling of severe acute mucositis and dysphagia resulting from head and neck RT. Functional partial least squares regression (FPLS) and functional principal component analysis were used for dimensionality reduction of the dose-volume histogrammore » data. The reduced dose data were input into functional logistic regression models (functional partial least squares–logistic regression [FPLS-LR] and functional principal component–logistic regression [FPC-LR]) along with clinical data. This approach was compared with penalized logistic regression (PLR) in terms of predictive performance and the significance of treatment covariate–response associations, assessed using bootstrapping. Results: The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the PLR, FPC-LR, and FPLS-LR models was 0.65, 0.69, and 0.67, respectively, for mucositis (internal validation) and 0.81, 0.83, and 0.83, respectively, for dysphagia (external validation). The calibration slopes/intercepts for the PLR, FPC-LR, and FPLS-LR models were 1.6/−0.67, 0.45/0.47, and 0.40/0.49, respectively, for mucositis (internal validation) and 2.5/−0.96, 0.79/−0.04, and 0.79/0.00, respectively, for dysphagia (external validation). The bootstrapped odds ratios indicated significant associations between RT dose and severe toxicity in the mucositis and dysphagia FDA models. Cisplatin was significantly associated with severe dysphagia in the FDA models. None of the covariates was significantly associated with severe toxicity in the PLR models. Dose levels greater than approximately 1.0 Gy/fraction were most strongly associated with severe acute mucositis and dysphagia in the FDA models. Conclusions: FPLS and functional principal component analysis marginally improved predictive performance compared with PLR and provided robust dose-response associations. FDA is recommended for use in normal tissue complication probability modeling.« less

Functional Data Analysis Applied to Modeling of Severe Acute Mucositis and Dysphagia Resulting From Head and Neck Radiation Therapy.

PubMed

Dean, Jamie A; Wong, Kee H; Gay, Hiram; Welsh, Liam C; Jones, Ann-Britt; Schick, Ulrike; Oh, Jung Hun; Apte, Aditya; Newbold, Kate L; Bhide, Shreerang A; Harrington, Kevin J; Deasy, Joseph O; Nutting, Christopher M; Gulliford, Sarah L

2016-11-15

Current normal tissue complication probability modeling using logistic regression suffers from bias and high uncertainty in the presence of highly correlated radiation therapy (RT) dose data. This hinders robust estimates of dose-response associations and, hence, optimal normal tissue-sparing strategies from being elucidated. Using functional data analysis (FDA) to reduce the dimensionality of the dose data could overcome this limitation. FDA was applied to modeling of severe acute mucositis and dysphagia resulting from head and neck RT. Functional partial least squares regression (FPLS) and functional principal component analysis were used for dimensionality reduction of the dose-volume histogram data. The reduced dose data were input into functional logistic regression models (functional partial least squares-logistic regression [FPLS-LR] and functional principal component-logistic regression [FPC-LR]) along with clinical data. This approach was compared with penalized logistic regression (PLR) in terms of predictive performance and the significance of treatment covariate-response associations, assessed using bootstrapping. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the PLR, FPC-LR, and FPLS-LR models was 0.65, 0.69, and 0.67, respectively, for mucositis (internal validation) and 0.81, 0.83, and 0.83, respectively, for dysphagia (external validation). The calibration slopes/intercepts for the PLR, FPC-LR, and FPLS-LR models were 1.6/-0.67, 0.45/0.47, and 0.40/0.49, respectively, for mucositis (internal validation) and 2.5/-0.96, 0.79/-0.04, and 0.79/0.00, respectively, for dysphagia (external validation). The bootstrapped odds ratios indicated significant associations between RT dose and severe toxicity in the mucositis and dysphagia FDA models. Cisplatin was significantly associated with severe dysphagia in the FDA models. None of the covariates was significantly associated with severe toxicity in the PLR models. Dose levels greater than approximately 1.0 Gy/fraction were most strongly associated with severe acute mucositis and dysphagia in the FDA models. FPLS and functional principal component analysis marginally improved predictive performance compared with PLR and provided robust dose-response associations. FDA is recommended for use in normal tissue complication probability modeling. Copyright © 2016 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Theory of the dynamical thermal conductivity of metals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhalla, Pankaj; Kumar, Pradeep; Das, Nabyendu; Singh, Navinder

2016-09-01

The Mori's projection method, known as the memory function method, is an important theoretical formalism to study various transport coefficients. In the present work, we calculate the dynamical thermal conductivity in the case of metals using the memory function formalism. We introduce thermal memory functions for the first time and discuss the behavior of thermal conductivity in both the zero frequency limit and in the case of nonzero frequencies. We compare our results for the zero frequency case with the results obtained by the Bloch-Boltzmann kinetic approach and find that both approaches agree with each other. Motivated by some recent experimental advancements, we obtain several new results for the ac or the dynamical thermal conductivity.

Advanced information processing system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lala, J. H.

1984-01-01

Design and performance details of the advanced information processing system (AIPS) for fault and damage tolerant data processing on aircraft and spacecraft are presented. AIPS comprises several computers distributed throughout the vehicle and linked by a damage tolerant data bus. Most I/O functions are available to all the computers, which run in a TDMA mode. Each computer performs separate specific tasks in normal operation and assumes other tasks in degraded modes. Redundant software assures that all fault monitoring, logging and reporting are automated, together with control functions. Redundant duplex links and damage-spread limitation provide the fault tolerance. Details of an advanced design of a laboratory-scale proof-of-concept system are described, including functional operations.

Incorporating Target Priorities in the Sensor Tasking Reward Function

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gehly, S.; Bennett, J.

2016-09-01

Orbital debris tracking poses many challenges, most fundamentally the need to track a large number of objects from a limited number of sensors. The use of information theoretic sensor allocation provides a means to efficiently collect data on the multitarget system. An additional need of the community is the ability to specify target priorities, driven both by user needs and environmental factors such as collision warnings. This research develops a method to incorporate target priorities in the sensor tasking reward function, allowing for several applications in different tasking modes such as catalog maintenance, calibration, and collision monitoring. A set of numerical studies is included to demonstrate the functionality of the method.

Oral health-related quality-of-life in Swedish children before and after dental treatment under general anesthesia.

PubMed

Ridell, Karin; Borgström, Margareta; Lager, Elisabeth; Magnusson, Gunilla; Brogårdh-Roth, Susanne; Matsson, Lars

2015-01-01

This study evaluated oral health-related quality-of-life (OHRQoL) in children and families before and after dental treatment under general anesthesia because of severe caries or molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH). A consecutive sample of the parents/caregivers of children (3-14 years) in need of treatment under general anesthesia participated in the study. The children were divided into two groups: 3-6 years and 7-14 years. The 49-item questionnaire that was administered before and after general anesthesia comprised the Child Oral Health Quality of Life-components of the Parental-Caregivers Perception Questionnaire (P-CPQ), the Family Impact Scale (FIS) and two global questions concerning oral health and general well-being. The P-CPQ domains were Oral symptoms, Functional limitations, Emotional well-being and Social well-being. The FIS items assessed impact on family life. In both age groups, a significant decrease (p < 0.001) occurred in overall P-CPQ and the Oral symptoms, Functional limitations and Emotional limitations domains of the P-CPQ. Mean values for the Social well-being domain decreased significantly in the older (p < 0.05) but not the younger age group. Mean values for FIS decreased significantly in the younger (p < 0.001) and the older (p < 0.05) age groups. Dental treatment of severe caries or MIH, performed under general anesthesia, had an immediate effect on the oral health-related quality-of-life in the children in this study and a positive impact on the family situation.

The association of quality of social relations, symptom severity and intelligence with anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorders.

PubMed

Eussen, Mart L J M; Van Gool, Arthur R; Verheij, Fop; De Nijs, Pieter F A; Verhulst, Frank C; Greaves-Lord, Kirstin

2013-11-01

Limited quality of social relations, milder symptom severity and higher intelligence were shown to account for higher anxiety levels in autism spectrum disorders. The current study replicated and extended earlier findings by combining these three determinants of anxiety in autism spectrum disorders in one study. The sample consisted of 134 school-aged children with autism spectrum disorders, of whom 58 (43%) had a co-morbid anxiety disorder according to the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-Parent version. In this sample, we tested associations between these determinants and anxiety univariately and multivariately to clarify the unique contribution of all determinants. Since we hypothesized that the association between limited quality of social relations and anxiety would be amplified by low symptom severity and/or high intelligence, we additionally tested for moderating effects. We found that higher anxiety levels were associated with a lower quality of social relations and lower symptom severity. In this mainly high-functioning sample, intelligence was not related to anxiety levels. No moderation effects were found. Since lower quality of social relations and lower symptom severity are associated with higher anxiety levels in children with autism spectrum disorders, therapeutic interventions aimed at reducing anxiety in autism spectrum disorders should pay attention to improving social relations, and presumably children with a lower symptom severity could benefit most from such interventions.

Common neural substrates for visual working memory and attention.

PubMed

Mayer, Jutta S; Bittner, Robert A; Nikolić, Danko; Bledowski, Christoph; Goebel, Rainer; Linden, David E J

2007-06-01

Humans are severely limited in their ability to memorize visual information over short periods of time. Selective attention has been implicated as a limiting factor. Here we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to test the hypothesis that this limitation is due to common neural resources shared by visual working memory (WM) and selective attention. We combined visual search and delayed discrimination of complex objects and independently modulated the demands on selective attention and WM encoding. Participants were presented with a search array and performed easy or difficult visual search in order to encode one or three complex objects into visual WM. Overlapping activation for attention-demanding visual search and WM encoding was observed in distributed posterior and frontal regions. In the right prefrontal cortex and bilateral insula blood oxygen-level-dependent activation additively increased with increased WM load and attentional demand. Conversely, several visual, parietal and premotor areas showed overlapping activation for the two task components and were severely reduced in their WM load response under the condition with high attentional demand. Regions in the left prefrontal cortex were selectively responsive to WM load. Areas selectively responsive to high attentional demand were found within the right prefrontal and bilateral occipital cortex. These results indicate that encoding into visual WM and visual selective attention require to a high degree access to common neural resources. We propose that competition for resources shared by visual attention and WM encoding can limit processing capabilities in distributed posterior brain regions.

A Review of Research on Direct-Care Staff Data Collection Regarding the Severity and Function of Challenging Behavior in Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Madsen, Emily K.; Peck, Janelle A.; Valdovinos, Maria G.

2016-01-01

In working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs), it is direct care staff who are often required to collect data on individuals' behavior which is used as the basis for implementation of empirically based approaches for intervention and treatment. Due to limited resources, indirect and descriptive measures of…

20 CFR 1002.198 - What efforts must the employer make to help the employee become qualified for the reemployment...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... position does not make him or her unqualified. (2) Whether a task is essential depends on several factors, and these factors include but are not limited to: (i) The employer's judgment as to which functions... experience of past incumbents in the job; and/or (vii) The current work experience of incumbents in similar...

Attenuation of Cardiovascular Response with Lidocaine 1.5 mg/kg and Labetalol 10 mg

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-07-01

pressure may jeopardize tissue viability in subjects with valvular heart disease , coronary artery disease or elevations in intracranial pressure...this study are defined as follows: ASA I- Healthy Subject ASA II- Subject with mild systemic disease without functional limitations. Cardiovascular...bronchospastic disease or bronchodilator use, atrioventricular block, severe hepatic dysfunction, or current use of alpha- or beta- adrenergic drug

Clinical presentation of Attenuated Psychosis Syndrome in children and adolescents: Is there an age effect?

PubMed

Ribolsi, Michele; Lin, Ashleigh; Wardenaar, Klaas J; Pontillo, Maria; Mazzone, Luigi; Vicari, Stefano; Armando, Marco

2017-06-01

There is limited research on clinical features related to age of presentation of the Attenuated Psychosis Syndrome in children and adolescents (CAD). Based on findings in CAD with psychosis, we hypothesized that an older age at presentation of Attenuated Psychosis Syndrome would be associated with less severe symptoms and better psychosocial functioning than presentation in childhood or younger adolescence. Ninety-four CAD (age 9-18) meeting Attenuated Psychosis Syndrome criteria participated in the study. The sample was divided and compared according to the age of presentation of Attenuated Psychosis Syndrome (9-14 vs 15-18 years). The predictive value of age of Attenuated Psychosis Syndrome presentation was investigated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC)-curve calculations. The two Attenuated Psychosis Syndrome groups were homogeneous in terms of gender distribution, IQ scores and comorbid diagnoses. Older Attenuated Psychosis Syndrome patients showed better functioning and lower depressive scores. ROC curves revealed that severity of functional impairment was best predicted using an age of presentation cut-off of 14.9 years for social functioning and 15.9 years for role functioning. This study partially confirmed our hypothesis; older age at presentation of Attenuated Psychosis Syndrome was associated with less functional impairment, but age was not associated with psychotic symptoms. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Functional assignment of solute-binding proteins of ABC transporters using a fluorescence-based thermal shift assay.

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

Giulliani, S. E.; Frank, A. E.; Collart, F. R.

2008-12-08

We have used a fluorescence-based thermal shift (FTS) assay to identify amino acids that bind to solute-binding proteins in the bacterial ABC transporter family. The assay was validated with a set of six proteins with known binding specificity and was consistently able to map proteins with their known binding ligands. The assay also identified additional candidate binding ligands for several of the amino acid-binding proteins in the validation set. We extended this approach to additional targets and demonstrated the ability of the FTS assay to unambiguously identify preferential binding for several homologues of amino acid-binding proteins with known specificity andmore » to functionally annotate proteins of unknown binding specificity. The assay is implemented in a microwell plate format and provides a rapid approach to validate an anticipated function or to screen proteins of unknown function. The ABC-type transporter family is ubiquitous and transports a variety of biological compounds, but the current annotation of the ligand-binding proteins is limited to mostly generic descriptions of function. The results illustrate the feasibility of the FTS assay to improve the functional annotation of binding proteins associated with ABC-type transporters and suggest this approach that can also be extended to other protein families.« less

Harnessing long-term flux records to better understand ecosystem response to drought

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Novick, K. A.; Ficklin, D. L.; Stoy, P. C.; Williams, C. A.; Bohrer, G.; Oishi, A. C.; Papuga, S. A.; Blanken, P.; Noormets, A.; Scott, R. L.; Wang, L.; Roman, D. T.; Yi, K.; Sulman, B. N.; Phillips, R.

2016-12-01

While ongoing climate change affects a number of meteorological drivers relevant to plant functioning, the predicted increase in the frequency and severity of droughts may ultimately have the biggest impact on ecosystem carbon cycling. Because it is difficult to experimentally manipulate all of the meteorological drivers that change during drought (including precipitation, light, temperature, and humidity), our understanding of the mechanisms by which plants respond to drought is generally limited to an understanding of how plants respond to variable soil moisture. As flux tower records grow in length and number, they permit us to harness natural spatial and temporal variability in hydrologic condition to better understand how ecosystems respond to the full suite of meteorological drivers that change during drought stress. Here, a series of case studies are presented that illustrate how long term flux data can be used to disentangle limitations to ecosystem functioning imposed by declining soil moisture as compared to rising atmospheric demand for water during drought. At the site-level, we pair observations from the Morgan-Monroe State Forest Ameriflux tower (active since 1999) with eco-physiological datasets collected during the severe 2012 Midwestern drought. We show that vapor pressure deficit (VPD) limits ecosystem carbon uptake and transpiration as much as soil moisture, but that individual species vary in their sensitivity to these drivers. We then present results from two cross-site Ameriflux syntheses that quantify how VPD as compared to soil moisture limitations to carbon and water cycling vary across broad climate gradients spanning semi-arid to mesic biomes. Informed by these results, we end by highlighting ways that flux network data may be leveraged together with other eco-physiological networks and databases to further expand our understanding of the mechanisms determining ecosystem response to drought.

Self-reported prevalence and health correlates of functional limitation among Massachusetts elderly Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, and non-Hispanic white neighborhood comparison group.

PubMed

Tucker, K L; Falcon, L M; Bianchi, L A; Cacho, E; Bermudez, O I

2000-02-01

Limited data suggest that Puerto Ricans experience greater disability than other ethnic groups, but few studies have examined the factors associated with this apparent difference. We describe the prevalence of functional limitation and disability in a representative sample of Puerto Rican and Dominican elders in Massachusetts, and in a neighborhood comparison group of non-Hispanic whites (NHWs). We then relate disability scores, based on both prevalence and severity of ADL or IADL limitation, with self-reported history of diagnosed health conditions--adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI; weight kg/height m(2)), income, education, living alone, smoking, and alcohol use. Seventy-five percent of Dominican women and 73% of Puerto Rican women reported difficulty with at least one ADL, compared with 64% of NHW women. Puerto Rican men reported significantly more limitation than did NHW or Dominican men. Conditions significantly associated with at least two disability measures among the NHW included smoking, former heavy alcohol use, arthritis, cataract, respiratory disease, and high BMI, but not stroke, diabetes, history of heart attack, or depression. The patterns for Puerto Ricans differed, with the strongest associations between disability and stroke, arthritis, diabetes, and depression, followed by history of heart attack, high BMI, cataract, poverty status, and respiratory disease. Only arthritis and depression were consistently significantly associated with disability among this smaller sample of Dominican elders. Functional limitation and disability are more prevalent among Puerto Ricans and among Dominican women than among neighborhood NHWs in Massachusetts. Greater disability is associated with the presence of chronic health conditions, which differ by ethnic group. Additional research is needed to further define the social and health factors that contribute to these ethnic differences.

Multidisciplinary Treatment of Severe Osteogenesis Imperfecta: Functional Outcomes at Skeletal Maturity.

PubMed

Montpetit, Kathleen; Palomo, Telma; Glorieux, Francis H; Fassier, François; Rauch, Frank

2015-10-01

To determine the functional outcomes associated with long-term multidisciplinary treatment, intravenous bisphosphonate treatment, orthopedic surgery, and rehabilitation in children with severe osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) (diagnosed clinically as OI types III or IV). Retrospective study where outcomes were measured prospectively. Pediatric orthopedic hospital. Adolescents (N=41; age range, 15-21y) with severe OI (OI type III: n=17; OI type IV: n=24) who had started therapy before the age of 6 years, had received treatment for at least 10 years, and had achieved final height. Intravenous bisphosphonate treatment, orthopedic surgery, and rehabilitation. Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory. At the time of the last available follow-up examination, none of the individuals diagnosed with OI type III (most severely affected group) was able to ambulate without ambulation aids, whereas 20 (83%) patients with OI type IV were able to ambulate without ambulation aids. Regarding self-care, we specifically assessed 8 skills that we deemed essential for living independently (grooming; dressing; toileting; bed, chair, toilet, tub, and car transfers). Only 6 (35%) of the youths with OI type III were able to complete all 8 items, whereas 23 (96%) individuals with OI type IV managed to perform all tasks. Teens with OI type III often needed assistance for the transfer to toilet, tub, and car and for personal hygiene and clothing management associated with toileting, usually because of limitations in upper-extremity function. These observations suggest that further improvements in the functional status of the most severely affected children with OI are contingent on advances in the clinical management of upper-extremity issues. Copyright © 2015 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Caregivers' reported functional limitations in activities of daily living among middle-aged adults with intellectual disabilities.

PubMed

Lin, Lan-Ping; Hsia, Yi-Chen; Hsu, Shang-Wei; Loh, Ching-Hui; Wu, Chia-Ling; Lin, Jin-Ding

2013-12-01

This study was conducted to describe the functioning of Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and to examine socio-economic effects on ADL functioning among adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) aged 45 years and older (N=480) in Taiwan. The Barthel Index (BI) was used to determine a baseline level of ADL functioning in the study participants. There are five categories of functional impairment using the following cut-off values in Taiwan: total dependence (BI score 0-20), severe (BI score 21-60), moderate (BI score 61-90), mild (BI score 91-99), and total independence (BI score 100) (Taiwan Department of Health, 2012). The results revealed that 2.3% of adults with ID were in total dependence, 11.9% were in severe dependence, 27.9% were in moderate dependence, 8.1% had a mild dependence, and 49.8% were totally independent. In the multiple linear regression model of the ADL score, we determined that educational level, comorbid Down's syndrome, and disability level are the variables able to significantly predict ADL score (R(2)=0.190) after controlling for the factors of age, marital status, and other comorbidity conditions. Those ID adults with a lower education level (primary vs. literate, β=4.780, p=0.031; intermediate vs. literate, β=6.642, p=0.030), with comorbid Down's syndrome (β=-7.135, p=0.063), and with a more severe disability condition (severe vs. mild, β=-7.650, p=0.007; profound vs. mild, β=-19.169, p<0.001) had significantly lower ADL scores. The present study highlights the need to support mobility in older adults with ID as much as possible to optimize independence in this group. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Apoptosis-induced lymphopenia in sepsis and other severe injuries.

PubMed

Girardot, Thibaut; Rimmelé, Thomas; Venet, Fabienne; Monneret, Guillaume

2017-02-01

Sepsis and other acute injuries such as severe trauma, extensive burns, or major surgeries, are usually followed by a period of marked immunosuppression. In particular, while lymphocytes play a pivotal role in immune response, their functions and numbers are profoundly altered after severe injuries. Apoptosis plays a central role in this process by affecting immune response at various levels. Indeed, apoptosis-induced lymphopenia duration and depth have been associated with higher risk of infection and mortality in various clinical settings. Therapies modulating apoptosis represent an interesting approach to restore immune competence after acute injury, although their use in clinical practice still presents several limitations. After briefly describing the apoptosis process in physiology and during severe injuries, we will explore the immunological consequences of injury-induced lymphocyte apoptosis, and describe associations with clinically relevant outcomes in patients. Therapeutic perspectives targeting apoptosis will also be discussed.

Post-polymerization functionalization of polyolefins.

PubMed

Boaen, Nicole K; Hillmyer, Marc A

2005-03-01

Polyolefins are macromolecular alkanes and include the most familiar and most commercially produced plastic, polyethylene. The low cost of these materials combined with their diverse and desirable property profiles drive such large-scale production. One property that renders polyolefins so attractive is their resistance to harsh chemical environments. However, this attribute becomes a severe limitation when attempting to chemically convert these plastics into value-added materials. Functionalization of polymers is a useful methodology for the generation of new materials with wide ranging applications, and this tutorial review describes both new and established methods for the post-polymerization modification of polyolefins.

Combined tooth-implant-supported telescopic prostheses in a midterm follow-up of > 2 years.

PubMed

Joda, Tim

2013-01-01

The aim of this trial was to evaluate telescopic-retained prostheses on teeth and implants. Ten patients with a mean of 2.8 teeth received strategic implants to achieve triangular/quadrangular support. Survival and complication rates were estimated for telescopic abutments and prostheses. After a mean observation period of > 2 years, no abutment was lost and all prostheses were in function. Complication rates were low, and maintenance services were limited to minor interventions. Combined tooth-implant-retained telescopic prostheses improve prosthetic support and offer successful function over a midterm period in patients with a severely reduced dentition.

Reprogramming cellular functions with engineered membrane proteins.

PubMed

Arber, Caroline; Young, Melvin; Barth, Patrick

2017-10-01

Taking inspiration from Nature, synthetic biology utilizes and modifies biological components to expand the range of biological functions for engineering new practical devices and therapeutics. While early breakthroughs mainly concerned the design of gene circuits, recent efforts have focused on engineering signaling pathways to reprogram cellular functions. Since signal transduction across cell membranes initiates and controls intracellular signaling, membrane receptors have been targeted by diverse protein engineering approaches despite limited mechanistic understanding of their function. The modular architecture of several receptor families has enabled the empirical construction of chimeric receptors combining domains from distinct native receptors which have found successful immunotherapeutic applications. Meanwhile, progress in membrane protein structure determination, computational modeling and rational design promise to foster the engineering of a broader range of membrane receptor functions. Marrying empirical and rational membrane protein engineering approaches should enable the reprogramming of cells with widely diverse fine-tuned functions. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Aspects of Theory of Mind that attenuate the relationship between persecutory delusions and social functioning in schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

PubMed

Phalen, Peter L; Dimaggio, Giancarlo; Popolo, Raffaele; Lysaker, Paul H

2017-09-01

Despite the apparent relevance of persecutory delusions to social relationships, evidence linking these beliefs to social functioning has been inconsistent. In this study, we examined the hypothesis that theory of mind moderates the relationship between persecutory delusions and social functioning. 88 adults with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were assessed concurrently for social functioning, severity of persecutory delusions, and two components of theory of mind: mental state decoding and mental state reasoning. Mental state decoding was assessed using the Eyes Test, mental state reasoning using the Hinting Task, and social functioning assessed with the Social Functioning Scale. Moderation effects were evaluated using linear models and the Johnson-Neyman procedure. Mental state reasoning was found to moderate the relationship between persecutory delusions and social functioning, controlling for overall psychopathology. For participants with reasoning scores in the bottom 78th percentile, persecutory delusions showed a significant negative relationship with social functioning. However, for those participants with mental state reasoning scores in the top 22nd percentile, more severe persecutory delusions were not significantly associated with worse social functioning. Mental state decoding was not a statistically significant moderator. Generalizability is limited as participants were generally men in later phases of illness. Mental state reasoning abilities may buffer the impact of persecutory delusions on social functioning, possibly by helping individuals avoid applying global beliefs of persecution to specific individuals or by allowing for the correction of paranoid inferences. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

The promotion of cooperation by the poor in dynamic chicken games

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ito, Hiromu; Katsumata, Yuki; Hasegawa, Eisuke; Yoshimura, Jin

2017-02-01

The evolution of cooperative behavior is one of the most important issues in game theory. Previous studies have shown that cooperation can evolve only under highly limited conditions, and various modifications have been introduced to games to explain the evolution of cooperation. Recently, a utility function basic to game theory was shown to be dependent on current wealth as a conditional (state) variable in a dynamic version of utility theory. Here, we introduce this dynamic utility function to several games. Under certain conditions, poor players exhibit cooperative behavior in two types of chicken games (the hawk-dove game and the snowdrift game) but not in the prisoner’s dilemma game and the stag hunt game. This result indicates that cooperation can be exhibited by the poor in some chicken games. Thus, the evolution of cooperation may not be as limited as has been suggested in previous studies.

IGF-1, the cross road of the nutritional, inflammatory and hormonal pathways to frailty.

PubMed

Maggio, Marcello; De Vita, Francesca; Lauretani, Fulvio; Buttò, Valeria; Bondi, Giuliana; Cattabiani, Chiara; Nouvenne, Antonio; Meschi, Tiziana; Dall'Aglio, Elisabetta; Ceda, Gian Paolo

2013-10-21

The decline in functional capacity is a heterogeneous phenomenon in the elderly. An accelerated ageing determines a frail status. It results in an increased vulnerability to stressors for decreased physiological reserves. The early identification of a frail status is essential for preventing loss of functional capacity, and its clinical consequences. Frailty and mobility limitation result from an interplay of different pathways including multiple anabolic deficiency, inflammation, oxidative stress, and a poor nutritional status. However, the age-related decline in insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) bioactivity deserves special attention as it could represent the ideal crossroad of endocrine, inflammatory, and nutritional pathways to frailty. Several minerals, namely magnesium, selenium, and zinc, appear to be important determinants of IGF-1 bioactivity. This review aims to provide an overview of the potential usefulness of nutrients modulating IGF-1 as potential therapeutic targets in the prevention of mobility limitation occurring in frail older subjects.

Review of thalamocortical resting-state fMRI studies in schizophrenia

PubMed Central

Giraldo-Chica, Monica; Woodward, Neil D.

2017-01-01

Brain circuitry underlying cognition, emotion, and perception is abnormal in schizophrenia. There is considerable evidence that the neuropathology of schizophrenia includes the thalamus, a key hub of cortical-subcortical circuitry and an important regulator of cortical activity. However, the thalamus is a heterogeneous structure composed of several nuclei with distinct inputs and cortical connections. Limitations of conventional neuroimaging methods and conflicting findings from post-mortem investigations have made it difficult to determine if thalamic pathology in schizophrenia is widespread or limited to specific thalamocortical circuits. Resting-state fMRI has proven invaluable for understanding the large-scale functional organization of the brain and investigating neural circuitry relevant to psychiatric disorders. This article summarizes resting-state fMRI investigations of thalamocortical functional connectivity in schizophrenia. Particular attention is paid to the course, diagnostic specificity, and clinical correlates of thalamocortical network dysfunction. PMID:27531067

Platelets and hemophilia: A review of the literature.

PubMed

Riedl, Julia; Ay, Cihan; Pabinger, Ingrid

2017-07-01

Hemophilia A and B are inherited bleeding disorders due to deficiencies of the clotting factors VIII and IX, respectively. The severity of the disease correlates with remaining factor levels, although individual differences in bleeding tendency are seen despite similar factor levels. While thrombin generation is severely impaired in persons with hemophilia, primary hemostasis, i.e. platelet function, has been generally considered to be normal. However, some studies reported prolonged bleeding times in hemophilia, suggesting that also primary hemostasis is affected. In several other studies different aspects of platelet function in hemophilia have been investigated in more detail and various alterations were discovered, such as increased platelet P-selectin expression, a lower number of procoagulant, so-called 'coated' platelets, lower aggregation upon co-incubation with tissue factor, or reduced platelet contractile forces during clot formation in comparison to healthy individuals. An influence of platelet function on clinical phenotype was suggested, which might contribute in part to variations in bleeding tendency in hemophilic patients with similar factor levels. However, the available evidence is currently limited and no clear correlations between platelet function parameters and clinical phenotypes have been demonstrated. The impact of alterations of platelet function in hemophilia remains to be better defined. Another interesting role of platelets in hemophilia has been reported recently by establishing a novel gene-therapeutic strategy using platelets as a delivery system for FVIII, showing promising results in animal models. This review gives an overview on the currently published literature on platelet function and the potential roles of platelets in hemophilia. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Does the Cave Environment Reduce Functional Diversity?

PubMed Central

Fernandes, Camile Sorbo; Batalha, Marco Antonio; Bichuette, Maria Elina

2016-01-01

Caves are not colonised by all taxa present in the surface species pool, due to absence of light and the tendency to food limitation when compared to surface communities. Under strong species sorting during colonisation and later by the restrictive environmental filter, traits that are not adaptive in subterranean habitats may be filtered out. We tested whether cave communities were assembled by the restrictive regime propitiated by permanent darkness or by competitive exclusion due to resource scarcity. When compared to surface communities, the restrictive subterranean regime would lead to lower functional diversity and phenotypic clustering inside the caves, and the opposite should be expected in the case of competitive exclusion. Using isopods (Oniscidea) as model taxa, we measured several niche descriptors of taxa from surface and cave habitats, used a multivariate measure of functional diversity, and compared their widths. We found phenotypic overdispersion and higher functional diversity in cave taxa when compared to surface taxa. On the one hand, the dry climate outside of caves hampered the survival of several taxa and their ecological strategies, not viable under severe desiccation risk, culminating in the clustering of functional traits. In contrast, this restriction does not occur inside of caves, where isopods find favourable conditions under lower predation pressures and more amenable environmental parameters that allow occupation and subsequent diversification. Our results showed that, at least for some taxa, caves may not be such a harsh environment as previously thought. The high functional diversity we found inside caves adds an additional reason for the conservation of these sensitive environments. PMID:27003837

Time correlation functions of simple liquids: A new insight on the underlying dynamical processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garberoglio, Giovanni; Vallauri, Renzo; Bafile, Ubaldo

2018-05-01

Extensive molecular dynamics simulations of liquid sodium have been carried out to evaluate correlation functions of several dynamical quantities. We report the results of a novel analysis of the longitudinal and transverse correlation functions obtained by evaluating directly their self- and distinct contributions at different wavevectors k. It is easily recognized that the self-contribution remains close to its k → 0 limit, which turns out to be exactly the autocorrelation function of the single particle velocity. The wavevector dependence of the longitudinal and transverse spectra and their self- and distinct parts is also presented. By making use of the decomposition of the velocity autocorrelation spectrum in terms of longitudinal and transverse parts, our analysis is able to recognize the effect of different dynamical processes in different frequency ranges.

Expert consensus document: Advances in the evaluation of anorectal function.

PubMed

Carrington, Emma V; Scott, S Mark; Bharucha, Adil; Mion, François; Remes-Troche, Jose M; Malcolm, Allison; Heinrich, Henriette; Fox, Mark; Rao, Satish S

2018-05-01

Faecal incontinence and evacuation disorders are common, impair quality of life and incur substantial economic costs worldwide. As symptoms alone are poor predictors of underlying pathophysiology and aetiology, diagnostic tests of anorectal function could facilitate patient management in those cases that are refractory to conservative therapies. In the past decade, several major technological advances have improved our understanding of anorectal structure, coordination and sensorimotor function. This Consensus Statement provides the reader with an appraisal of the current indications, study performance characteristics, clinical utility, strengths and limitations of the most widely available tests of anorectal structure (ultrasonography and MRI) and function (anorectal manometry, neurophysiological investigations, rectal distension techniques and tests of evacuation, including defecography). Additionally, this article provides our consensus on the clinical relevance of these tests.

Disease course and long-term outcome of juvenile localized scleroderma: Experience from a single pediatric rheumatology Centre and literature review.

PubMed

Martini, Giorgia; Fadanelli, Gloria; Agazzi, Anna; Vittadello, Fabio; Meneghel, Alessandra; Zulian, Francesco

2018-05-03

Juvenile Localized Scleroderma (JLS) is a rare disorder that may cause severe aesthetic sequelae and functional disability. To date, data on natural history and long-term outcome are discordant and difficult to compare due to the heterogeneity of clinical subtypes, treatments and methods to evaluate activity and outcome in previous studies. A retrospective and cross-sectional study including 133 patients followed between January 1991 and December 2016 was conducted at our Pediatric Rheumatology Centre. Disease course was drawn by retrospective analysis of patients' clinical features, treatment, disease course and outcome at the last evaluation. Disease activity and severity of tissue damage were assessed by using parameters derived from the Localized Scleroderma Cutaneous Assessment Tool (LoSCAT) and thermography. Most patients achieved complete remission, as only 12.5%, all with the linear subtype, had still active disease after over 10 years of follow-up. At least one disease relapse occurred in 22.2% of patients and first flare was observed 20 months after first treatment discontinuation. Mild tissue damage was observed in more than half of patients, in 25.4% was moderate and in 23.0% severe; 19.8% presented a functional limitation. The entity of skin and subcutaneous fat loss established at the early stages of the disease as 27.8% of patients with shorter disease duration had severe damage and the rates remained constant in patients with longer follow-up. The delay in start of systemic treatment was associated with longer disease activity and higher relapse rate. Patients with linear scleroderma (LS), pansclerotic morphea (PM) and mixed subtype (MS) presented more severe aesthetic and functional damage but did not differ from other subtypes as for rate of complete remission. JLS in some patients can be a very aggressive disease with persistent activity after >10 years and/or several disease relapses. As tissue damage establishes early in disease course a prompt diagnosis and start of appropriate treatment is crucial to control inflammation, to limit and stabilize damage, before it become irreversible. Clinicians must be aware that children with JLS may present disease reactivation so it is important to closely follow-up patients, particularly in the first 2 years after discontinuation of treatment when disease relapses may occur more frequently. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

There is more to pollinator-mediated selection than pollen limitation.

PubMed

Sletvold, Nina; Agren, Jon

2014-07-01

Spatial variation in pollinator-mediated selection (Δβpoll ) is a major driver of floral diversification, but we lack a quantitative understanding of its link to pollen limitation (PL) and net selection on floral traits. For 2-5 years, we quantified Δβpoll on floral traits in two populations each of two orchid species differing in PL. In both species, spatiotemporal variation in Δβpoll explained much of the variation in net selection. Selection was consistently stronger and the proportion that was pollinator-mediated was higher in the severely pollen-limited deceptive species than in the rewarding species. Within species, variation in PL could not explain variation in Δβpoll for any trait, indicating that factors influencing the functional relationship between trait variation and pollination success govern a major part of the observed variation in Δβpoll . Separating the effects of variation in mean interaction intensity and in the functional significance of traits will be necessary to understand spatiotemporal variation in selection exerted by the biotic environment. © 2014 The Author(s). Evolution © 2014 The Society for the Study of Evolution.

Solubility Limits in Lennard-Jones Mixtures: Effects of Disparate Molecule Geometries.

PubMed

Dyer, Kippi M; Perkyns, John S; Pettitt, B Montgomery

2015-07-23

In order to better understand general effects of the size and energy disparities between macromolecules and solvent molecules in solution, especially for macromolecular constructs self-assembled from smaller molecules, we use the first- and second-order exact bridge diagram extensions of the HNC integral equation theory to investigate single-component, binary, ternary, and quaternary mixtures of Lennard-Jones fluids. For pure fluids, we find that the HNCH3 bridge function integral equation (i.e., exact to third order in density) is necessary to quantitatively predict the pure gas and pure liquid sides of the coexistence region of the phase diagram of the Lennard-Jones fluid. For the mixtures, we find that the HNCH2 bridge function integral equation is sufficient to qualitatively predict solubility in the binary, ternary, and quaternary mixtures, up to the nominal solubility limit. The results, as limiting cases, should be useful to several problems, including accurate phase diagram predictions for complex mixtures, design of self-assembling nanostructures via solvent controls, and the solvent contributions to the conformational behavior of macromolecules in complex fluids.

Socioeconomic impact of osteoarthritis in Hong Kong: utilization of health and social services, and direct and indirect costs.

PubMed

Woo, Jean; Lau, Edith; Lau, Chak Sing; Lee, Polly; Zhang, James; Kwok, Timothy; Chan, Cynthia; Chiu, P; Chan, Kai Ming; Chan, A; Lam, D

2003-08-15

To determine the direct and indirect cost of osteoarthritis (OA) according to disease severity, and to estimate the total cost of the disease in Hong Kong. This study is a retrospective, cross-sectional, nonrandom, cohort design, with subjects stratified according to disease severity based on functional limitation and the presence or absence of joint prosthesis. Subjects were recruited from primary care, geriatric medicine, rheumatology, and orthopedic clinics. There were 219 patients in the mild disease category, 290 patients in the severe category, and 65 patients with joint replacement. A questionnaire gathered information on demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, function limitation, use of health and social services, and effect on occupation and living arrangements over the previous 12 months. Costs were calculated as direct and indirect. Low education and socioeconomic class were associated with more severe disease. OA affected family or close relationships in 44%. The average cost incurred as a result of side effects of medication is similar to the average cost of medication itself. Excluding joint replacement, the direct costs ranged from Hong Kong (HK) dollar $11,690 to $40,180 per person per year and indirect costs, HK $3,300-$6,640. The direct costs are comparable to those reported in Western countries; however, the ratio of direct to indirect costs is much higher than 1, in contrast to the greater indirect versus direct costs reported in whites. The total cost expressed as a percentage of gross national product is also much lower in Hong Kong. The socioeconomic impact of OA in the Hong Kong population is comparable to Western countries, but the economic burden is largely placed on the government, with patients having relatively low out-of-pocket expenditures.

Summer dormancy, drought survival and functional resource acquisition strategies in California perennial grasses.

PubMed

Balachowski, Jennifer A; Bristiel, Pauline M; Volaire, Florence A

2016-08-01

Evidence suggests drought severity is increasing due to climate change, but strategies promoting severe drought survival in perennial grasses have been seldom explored. This is particularly true of summer dormancy, an adaptation common in summer-dry Mediterranean-type climates. In addition, though theory predicts superior drought survival results in lower potential productivity, studies rarely measure both drought survival and growth under optimal conditions. Physiological and functional ecological approaches were integrated to quantify interspecific variation in foliar and root traits in a suite of eight California perennial grass species. In a glasshouse experiment, summer dormancy, foliar functional trait variation, and seasonal growth and phenology under non-limiting water conditions and dehydration tolerance under progressive drought were quantified. In a second glasshouse study, root functional traits were quantified under non-limiting water conditions in rhizotrons. Summer dormancy was associated with higher dehydration tolerance, and negatively associated with traits conferring dehydration avoidance. Species with greater summer dormancy were characterized by greater springtime productivity, earlier reproduction, and a shallow and fine root system, which are indicative of dehydration escape. Summer dormancy was associated with an acquisitive, competitive functional strategy in spring, and a conservative strategy in summer. Both the escape and acquisitive springtime strategies observed in summer dormant perennial taxa are typically associated with annual grasses. California grasslands were once dominated by perennial species, but have been overtaken by non-native Mediterranean annual grasses, which are expected to be further favoured by climate change. Owing to functional similarity with these exotic annuals, it is suggested that native summer dormant taxa may play an important ecological role in the future of both natural and restored California grasslands. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Emerging nanotechnology approaches in tissue engineering for peripheral nerve regeneration.

PubMed

Cunha, Carla; Panseri, Silvia; Antonini, Stefania

2011-02-01

Effective nerve regeneration and functional recovery subsequent to peripheral nerve injury is still a clinical challenge. Autologous nerve graft transplantation is a feasible treatment in several clinical cases, but it is limited by donor site morbidity and insufficient donor tissue, impairing complete functional recovery. Tissue engineering has introduced innovative approaches to promote and guide peripheral nerve regeneration by using biomimetic conduits creating favorable microenvironments for nervous ingrowth, but despite the development of a plethora of nerve prostheses, few approaches have as yet entered the clinic. Promising strategies using nanotechnology have recently been proposed, such as the use of scaffolds with functionalized cell-binding domains, the use of guidance channels with cell-scale internally oriented fibers, and the possibility of sustained release of neurotrophic factors. This review addresses the fabrication, advantages, drawbacks, and results achieved by the most recent nanotechnology approaches in view of future solutions for peripheral nerve repair. Peripheral nerve repair strategies are very limited despite numerous advances on the field of neurosciences and regenerative medicine. This review discusses nanotechnology based strategies including scaffolds with functionalized cell binding domains, the use of guidance channels, and the potential use of sustained release neurotropic factors. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Recent advances in the cell biology of aging.

PubMed

Hayflick, L

1980-01-01

Cultured normal human and animal cells are predestined to undergo irreversible functional decrements that mimic age changes in the whole organism. When normal human embryonic fibroblasts are cultured in vitro, 50 +/- 10 population doublings occur. This maximum potential is diminished in cells derived from older donors and appears to be inversely proportional to their age. The 50 population doubling limit can account for all cells produced during a lifetime. The limitation on doubling potential of cultured normal cells is also expressed in vivo when serial transplants are made. There may be a direct correlation between the mean maximum life spans of several species and the population doubling potential of their cultured cells. A plethora of functional decrements occurs in cultured normal cells as they approach their maximum division capability. Many of these decrements are similar to those occurring in intact animals as they age. We have concluded that these functional decrements expressed in vitro, rather than cessation of cell division, are the essential contributors to age changes in intact animals. Thus, the study of events leading to functional losses in cultured normal cells may provide useful insights into the biology of aging.

Temporomandibular Joint Regenerative Medicine

PubMed Central

Van Bellinghen, Xavier; Idoux-Gillet, Ysia; Pugliano, Marion; Strub, Marion; Bornert, Fabien; Clauss, Francois; Schwinté, Pascale; Keller, Laetitia; Benkirane-Jessel, Nadia; Lutz, Jean Christophe; Fioretti, Florence

2018-01-01

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is an articulation formed between the temporal bone and the mandibular condyle which is commonly affected. These affections are often so painful during fundamental oral activities that patients have lower quality of life. Limitations of therapeutics for severe TMJ diseases have led to increased interest in regenerative strategies combining stem cells, implantable scaffolds and well-targeting bioactive molecules. To succeed in functional and structural regeneration of TMJ is very challenging. Innovative strategies and biomaterials are absolutely crucial because TMJ can be considered as one of the most difficult tissues to regenerate due to its limited healing capacity, its unique histological and structural properties and the necessity for long-term prevention of its ossified or fibrous adhesions. The ideal approach for TMJ regeneration is a unique scaffold functionalized with an osteochondral molecular gradient containing a single stem cell population able to undergo osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation such as BMSCs, ADSCs or DPSCs. The key for this complex regeneration is the functionalization with active molecules such as IGF-1, TGF-β1 or bFGF. This regeneration can be optimized by nano/micro-assisted functionalization and by spatiotemporal drug delivery systems orchestrating the 3D formation of TMJ tissues. PMID:29393880

Right ventricular function during acute exacerbation of severe equine asthma.

PubMed

Decloedt, A; Borowicz, H; Slowikowska, M; Chiers, K; van Loon, G; Niedzwiedz, A

2017-09-01

Pulmonary hypertension has been described in horses with severe equine asthma, but its effect on the right ventricle has not been fully elucidated. To evaluate right ventricular structure and function after a 1-week period of pulmonary hypertension secondary to acute exacerbation of severe equine asthma. Prospective study. A clinical episode of severe equine asthma was induced experimentally in six susceptible horses. Examinations in remission and on day 7 of the clinical episode included a physical examination with clinical scoring, echocardiography, arterial blood gas measurements, venous blood sampling for cardiac biomarkers, intracardiac pressure measurements, right ventricular and right atrial myocardial biopsies, airway endoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage. After 1 month of recovery, physical examination, echocardiography and cardiac biomarker analysis were repeated. Echocardiographic and pressure measurements were compared with those in 10 healthy control horses. All horses developed clinical signs of acute pulmonary obstruction. Right heart pressures increased significantly. Altered right ventricular function could be detected by tissue Doppler and speckle tracking echocardiography. Cardiac troponin concentrations did not increase significantly, but were highly elevated in one horse which exercised in the paddock prior to sampling. Focal neutrophil infiltration was present in two myocardial samples. Even in remission, asthmatic horses showed a thicker right ventricular wall, an increased left ventricular end-systolic eccentricity index at chordal level and decreased right ventricular longitudinal strain compared with controls. The induced clinical episode was rather mild and the number of horses was limited because of the invasive nature of the study. Pulmonary obstruction in asthmatic horses induces pulmonary hypertension with right ventricular structural and functional changes. © 2017 EVJ Ltd.

Physical performance testing in mucopolysaccharidosis I: a pilot study.

PubMed

Dumas, Helene M; Fragala, Maria A; Haley, Stephen M; Skrinar, Alison M; Wraith, James E; Cox, Gerald F

2004-01-01

To develop and field-test a physical performance measure (MPS-PPM) for individuals with Mucopolysaccharidosis I (MPS I), a rare genetic disorder. Motor performance and endurance items were developed based on literature review, clinician feedback, feasibility, and equipment and training needs. A standardized testing protocol and scoring rules were created. The MPS-PPM includes: Arm Function (7 items), Leg Function (5 items), and Endurance (2 items). Pilot data were collected for 10 subjects (ages 5-29 years). We calculated Spearman's rho correlations between age, severity and summary z-scores on the MPS-PPM. Subjects had variable presentations, as correlations among the three sub-test scores were not significant. Increasing age was related to greater severity in physical performance (r = 0.72, p<0.05) and lower scores on the Leg Function (r = -0.67, p<0.05) and Endurance (r = -0.65, p<0.05) sub-tests. The MPS-PPM was sensitive to detecting physical performance deficits, as six subjects could not complete the full battery of Arm Function items and eight subjects were unable to complete all Leg Function items. Subjects walked more slowly and expended more energy than typically developing peers. Individuals with MPS I have difficulty with arm and leg function and reduced endurance. The MPS-PPM is a clinically feasible measure that detects limitations in physical performance and may have potential to quantify changes in function following intervention. Copyright 2004 Taylor and Francis Ltd.

Carbon Limitation Induces ςS-Dependent Gene Expression in Pseudomonas fluorescens in Soil

PubMed Central

Koch, Birgit; Worm, Jakob; Jensen, Linda E.; Højberg, Ole; Nybroe, Ole

2001-01-01

Recent studies employing reporter gene technology indicate that the availabilities of the major nutrients nitrogen, phosphate, and iron to Pseudomonas are not severely limited in bulk soil. Indirect evidence has pointed to carbon limitation as a severe nutritional stress in this environment. We show that a plasmid (pGM115)-borne transcriptional fusion between the ςS-dependent Escherichia coli promoter Pfic and lacZ functions as a reliable reporter for carbon availability in Pseudomonas fluorescens. When P. fluorescens strain DF57(pGM115) was introduced into bulk soil, carbon-limiting conditions were indicated by citrate-repressible induction of β-galactosidase activity. To address carbon availability at the single-cell level, we developed an immunofluorescence double-staining procedure for individual DF57 cells expressing β-galactosidase from Pfic. Changes in cell size and expression of β-galactosidase were analyzed by flow cytometry. Cells extracted from soil microcosms reduced their size less than carbon-starved cells in pure culture and showed an increased tendency to aggregate. The single-cell analysis revealed that for cells residing in soil, the expression of β-galactosidase became heterogeneous and only a DF57 subpopulation appeared to be carbon limited. In soil amended with barley straw, limited nitrogen availability has been determined by use of the bioluminescent reporter strain P. fluorescens DF57-N3. We used strain DF57-N3(pGM115) as a double reporter for carbon and nitrogen limitation that allowed us to study the dynamics of carbon and nitrogen availabilities in more detail. In straw-amended soil β-galactosidase activity remained low, while nitrogen limitation-dependent bioluminescence appeared after a few days. Hence, nitrogen became limited under conditions where carbon resources were not completely exhausted. PMID:11472905

Mapping the genome of meta-generalized gradient approximation density functionals: The search for B97M-V

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

Mardirossian, Narbe; Head-Gordon, Martin, E-mail: mhg@cchem.berkeley.edu; Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720

2015-02-21

A meta-generalized gradient approximation density functional paired with the VV10 nonlocal correlation functional is presented. The functional form is selected from more than 10{sup 10} choices carved out of a functional space of almost 10{sup 40} possibilities. Raw data come from training a vast number of candidate functional forms on a comprehensive training set of 1095 data points and testing the resulting fits on a comprehensive primary test set of 1153 data points. Functional forms are ranked based on their ability to reproduce the data in both the training and primary test sets with minimum empiricism, and filtered based onmore » a set of physical constraints and an often-overlooked condition of satisfactory numerical precision with medium-sized integration grids. The resulting optimal functional form has 4 linear exchange parameters, 4 linear same-spin correlation parameters, and 4 linear opposite-spin correlation parameters, for a total of 12 fitted parameters. The final density functional, B97M-V, is further assessed on a secondary test set of 212 data points, applied to several large systems including the coronene dimer and water clusters, tested for the accurate prediction of intramolecular and intermolecular geometries, verified to have a readily attainable basis set limit, and checked for grid sensitivity. Compared to existing density functionals, B97M-V is remarkably accurate for non-bonded interactions and very satisfactory for thermochemical quantities such as atomization energies, but inherits the demonstrable limitations of existing local density functionals for barrier heights.« less

Mapping the genome of meta-generalized gradient approximation density functionals: The search for B97M-V

DOE PAGES

Mardirossian, Narbe; Head-Gordon, Martin

2015-02-20

We present a meta-generalized gradient approximation density functional paired with the VV10 nonlocal correlation functional. The functional form is selected from more than 10 10 choices carved out of a functional space of almost 10 40 possibilities. This raw data comes from training a vast number of candidate functional forms on a comprehensive training set of 1095 data points and testing the resulting fits on a comprehensive primary test set of 1153 data points. Functional forms are ranked based on their ability to reproduce the data in both the training and primary test sets with minimum empiricism, and filteredmore » based on a set of physical constraints and an often-overlooked condition of satisfactory numerical precision with medium-sized integration grids. The resulting optimal functional form has 4 linear exchange parameters, 4 linear same-spin correlation parameters, and 4 linear opposite-spin correlation parameters, for a total of 12 fitted parameters. The final density functional, B97M-V, is further assessed on a secondary test set of 212 data points, applied to several large systems including the coronene dimer and water clusters, tested for the accurate prediction of intramolecular and intermolecular geometries, verified to have a readily attainable basis set limit, and checked for grid sensitivity. Compared to existing density functionals, B97M-V is remarkably accurate for non-bonded interactions and very satisfactory for thermochemical quantities such as atomization energies, but inherits the demonstrable limitations of existing local density functionals for barrier heights.« less

Comprehensive reliability allocation method for CNC lathes based on cubic transformed functions of failure mode and effects analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Zhou; Zhu, Yunpeng; Ren, Hongrui; Zhang, Yimin

2015-03-01

Reliability allocation of computerized numerical controlled(CNC) lathes is very important in industry. Traditional allocation methods only focus on high-failure rate components rather than moderate failure rate components, which is not applicable in some conditions. Aiming at solving the problem of CNC lathes reliability allocating, a comprehensive reliability allocation method based on cubic transformed functions of failure modes and effects analysis(FMEA) is presented. Firstly, conventional reliability allocation methods are introduced. Then the limitations of direct combination of comprehensive allocation method with the exponential transformed FMEA method are investigated. Subsequently, a cubic transformed function is established in order to overcome these limitations. Properties of the new transformed functions are discussed by considering the failure severity and the failure occurrence. Designers can choose appropriate transform amplitudes according to their requirements. Finally, a CNC lathe and a spindle system are used as an example to verify the new allocation method. Seven criteria are considered to compare the results of the new method with traditional methods. The allocation results indicate that the new method is more flexible than traditional methods. By employing the new cubic transformed function, the method covers a wider range of problems in CNC reliability allocation without losing the advantages of traditional methods.

Automatic transfer function generation for volume rendering of high-resolution x-ray 3D digital mammography images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alyassin, Abdal M.

2002-05-01

3D Digital mammography (3DDM) is a new technology that provides high resolution X-ray breast tomographic data. Like any other tomographic medical imaging modalities, viewing a stack of tomographic images may require time especially if the images are of large matrix size. In addition, it may cause difficulty to conceptually construct 3D breast structures. Therefore, there is a need to readily visualize the data in 3D. However, one of the issues that hinder the usage of volume rendering (VR) is finding an automatic way to generate transfer functions that efficiently map the important diagnostic information in the data. We have developed a method that randomly samples the volume. Based on the mean and the standard deviation of these samples, the technique determines the lower limit and upper limit of a piecewise linear ramp transfer function. We have volume rendered several 3DDM data using this technique and compared visually the outcome with the result from a conventional automatic technique. The transfer function generated through the proposed technique provided superior VR images over the conventional technique. Furthermore, the improvement in the reproducibility of the transfer function correlated with the number of samples taken from the volume at the expense of the processing time.

Nanotechnological Strategies for Protein Delivery.

PubMed

Villegas, María Rocío; Baeza, Alejandro; Vallet-Regí, María

2018-04-25

The use of therapeutic proteins plays a fundamental role in the treatment of numerous diseases. The low physico-chemical stability of proteins in physiological conditions put their function at risk in the human body until they reach their target. Moreover, several proteins are unable to cross the cell membrane. All these facts strongly hinder their therapeutic effect. Nanomedicine has emerged as a powerful tool which can provide solutions to solve these limitations and improve the efficacy of treatments based on protein administration. This review discusses the advantages and limitations of different types of strategies employed for protein delivery, such as PEGylation, transport within liposomes or inorganic nanoparticles or their in situ encapsulation.

A simple underwater imaging model.

PubMed

Hou, Weilin

2009-09-01

It is commonly known that underwater imaging is hindered by both absorption and scattering by particles of various origins. However, evidence also indicates that the turbulence in natural underwater environments can cause severe image-quality degradation. A model is presented to include the effects of both particle and turbulence on underwater optical imaging through optical transfer functions to help quantify the limiting factors under different circumstances. The model utilizes Kolmogorov-type index of refraction power spectra found in the ocean, along with field examples, to demonstrate that optical turbulence can limit imaging resolution by affecting high spatial frequencies. The effects of the path radiance are also discussed.

A comparative study of advanced shock-capturing schemes applied to Burgers' equation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yang, H. Q.; Przekwas, A. J.

1992-01-01

A systematic evaluation is conducted of all extant numerical schemes for nonlinear scalar transport problems, and several advanced shock-capturing schemes are used to solve the nonlinear Burgers' equation in order to characterize their ability to resolve the sharp discontinuity, expansion zone, and propagation and collision features of shocks. For discontinuous functions, the Warming-Beam scheme generates preshock wiggles, while the Lax-Wendroff scheme generates postshock ones. Such limiters as the MUSCL or the superbee are more compressive than minimod or monotonic limiters. The performance of such TVD schemes as the upwind, the symmetric, and the Roe-Sweby, resemble each other.

Stone Man: A Case Report

PubMed Central

Mortazavi, Hamed; Eshghpour, Majid; Niknami, Mahdi; Saeedi, Morteza

2012-01-01

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is a rare hereditary connective tissue disease characterized by the progressive ectopic ossification of ligaments, tendons, and facial and skeletal muscles throughout life. Symptoms begin in childhood as localized soft tissue swellings. Immobility and articular dysfunction appear with involvement of the spine and proximal extremities. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a critical component involved in the maxillofacial region, resulting in severe limitation of masticatory function, although TMJ involvement is rare. The aim of this article is to present a 28-year-old man with dental problems and slowly progressive limitation of motion in the jaw, knees, shoulders and hips as well as neck distortion. PMID:23599712

Comparative Study of the Labial Gland Secretion in Termites (Isoptera)

PubMed Central

Sillam-Dussès, David; Krasulová, Jana; Vrkoslav, Vladimír; Pytelková, Jana; Cvačka, Josef; Kutalová, Kateřina; Bourguignon, Thomas; Miura, Toru; Šobotník, Jan

2012-01-01

Labial glands are present in all castes and developmental stages of all termite species. In workers, their secretion contains a food-marking pheromone and digestive enzymes, while soldier secretion plays a defensive role. However, these functions were studied only in a limited set of species, and do not allow drawing general conclusions. Hence, we have investigated the chemical composition of the labial gland extracts from soldiers and workers in 15 termite species belonging to 6 families using an integrative approach based on proteomic and small-molecule profiling. We confirmed the presence of hydroquinone and cellulase in the labial glands of workers, and we identified new toxic compounds in soldiers and workers of several species. Our results highlight the dual role of labial gland secretion, i.e. the defensive role in soldiers and workers of several termite species, and the digestive function in workers. PMID:23071569

Comparative study of the labial gland secretion in termites (Isoptera).

PubMed

Sillam-Dussès, David; Krasulová, Jana; Vrkoslav, Vladimír; Pytelková, Jana; Cvačka, Josef; Kutalová, Kateřina; Bourguignon, Thomas; Miura, Toru; Šobotník, Jan

2012-01-01

Labial glands are present in all castes and developmental stages of all termite species. In workers, their secretion contains a food-marking pheromone and digestive enzymes, while soldier secretion plays a defensive role. However, these functions were studied only in a limited set of species, and do not allow drawing general conclusions. Hence, we have investigated the chemical composition of the labial gland extracts from soldiers and workers in 15 termite species belonging to 6 families using an integrative approach based on proteomic and small-molecule profiling. We confirmed the presence of hydroquinone and cellulase in the labial glands of workers, and we identified new toxic compounds in soldiers and workers of several species. Our results highlight the dual role of labial gland secretion, i.e. the defensive role in soldiers and workers of several termite species, and the digestive function in workers.

Combined effect of boron and salinity on water transport: The role of aquaporins.

PubMed

Del Carmen Martínez-Ballesta, Maria; Bastías, Elizabeth; Carvajal, Micaela

2008-10-01

Boron toxicity is an important disorder that can limit plant growth on soils of arid and semi arid environments throughout the world. Although there are several reports about the combined effect of salinity and boron toxicity on plant growth and yield, there is no consensus about the experimental results. A general antagonistic relationship between boron excess and salinity has been observed, however the mechanisms for this interaction is not clear and several options can be discussed. In addition, there is no information, concerning the interaction between boron toxicity and salinity with respect to water transport and aquaporins function in the plants. We recently documented in the highly boron- and salt-tolerant the ecotype of Zea mays L. amylacea from Lluta valley in Northern Chile that under salt stress, the activity of specific membrane components can be influenced directly by boron, regulating the water uptake and water transport through the functions of certain aquaporin isoforms.

Versatile control of Plasmodium falciparum gene expression with an inducible protein-RNA interaction

PubMed Central

Goldfless, Stephen J.; Wagner, Jeffrey C.; Niles, Jacquin C.

2014-01-01

The available tools for conditional gene expression in Plasmodium falciparum are limited. Here, to enable reliable control of target gene expression, we build a system to efficiently modulate translation. We overcame several problems associated with other approaches for regulating gene expression in P. falciparum. Specifically, our system functions predictably across several native and engineered promoter contexts, and affords control over reporter and native parasite proteins irrespective of their subcellular compartmentalization. Induction and repression of gene expression are rapid, homogeneous, and stable over prolonged periods. To demonstrate practical application of our system, we used it to reveal direct links between antimalarial drugs and their native parasite molecular target. This is an important out come given the rapid spread of resistance, and intensified efforts to efficiently discover and optimize new antimalarial drugs. Overall, the studies presented highlight the utility of our system for broadly controlling gene expression and performing functional genetics in P. falciparum. PMID:25370483

Juvenile Fibromyalgia: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Treatment.

PubMed

Tesher, Melissa S

2015-06-01

A 14-year-old boy presented with months of severe widespread musculoskeletal pain. He was profoundly fatigued and unable to attend school. Laboratory evaluation, including complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, inflammatory markers, and thyroid function, was unrevealing. Physical examination was also normal except for multiple tender points. The patient was diagnosed with juvenile primary fibromyalgia syndrome and referred for multidisciplinary treatment including physical therapy, exercise, and counseling, and his daily functioning gradually improves. Juvenile fibromyalgia is a complex syndrome that often severely limits patients' activities and can impede normal adolescent development. Effective treatment requires an understanding of the biologic, psychologic, and social factors contributing to the perpetuation of chronic pain. The author reviews the diagnostic criteria, pathophysiology, and treatment of juvenile fibromyalgia. Medications, particularly antidepressants and anticonvulsants, can be useful adjuncts to therapy. However, multimodal pain management including intensive physical therapy, exercise, counseling, and sleep hygiene is most effective in treating fibromyalgia. Copyright 2015, SLACK Incorporated.

A critical assessment of Mus musculus gene function prediction using integrated genomic evidence

PubMed Central

Peña-Castillo, Lourdes; Tasan, Murat; Myers, Chad L; Lee, Hyunju; Joshi, Trupti; Zhang, Chao; Guan, Yuanfang; Leone, Michele; Pagnani, Andrea; Kim, Wan Kyu; Krumpelman, Chase; Tian, Weidong; Obozinski, Guillaume; Qi, Yanjun; Mostafavi, Sara; Lin, Guan Ning; Berriz, Gabriel F; Gibbons, Francis D; Lanckriet, Gert; Qiu, Jian; Grant, Charles; Barutcuoglu, Zafer; Hill, David P; Warde-Farley, David; Grouios, Chris; Ray, Debajyoti; Blake, Judith A; Deng, Minghua; Jordan, Michael I; Noble, William S; Morris, Quaid; Klein-Seetharaman, Judith; Bar-Joseph, Ziv; Chen, Ting; Sun, Fengzhu; Troyanskaya, Olga G; Marcotte, Edward M; Xu, Dong; Hughes, Timothy R; Roth, Frederick P

2008-01-01

Background: Several years after sequencing the human genome and the mouse genome, much remains to be discovered about the functions of most human and mouse genes. Computational prediction of gene function promises to help focus limited experimental resources on the most likely hypotheses. Several algorithms using diverse genomic data have been applied to this task in model organisms; however, the performance of such approaches in mammals has not yet been evaluated. Results: In this study, a standardized collection of mouse functional genomic data was assembled; nine bioinformatics teams used this data set to independently train classifiers and generate predictions of function, as defined by Gene Ontology (GO) terms, for 21,603 mouse genes; and the best performing submissions were combined in a single set of predictions. We identified strengths and weaknesses of current functional genomic data sets and compared the performance of function prediction algorithms. This analysis inferred functions for 76% of mouse genes, including 5,000 currently uncharacterized genes. At a recall rate of 20%, a unified set of predictions averaged 41% precision, with 26% of GO terms achieving a precision better than 90%. Conclusion: We performed a systematic evaluation of diverse, independently developed computational approaches for predicting gene function from heterogeneous data sources in mammals. The results show that currently available data for mammals allows predictions with both breadth and accuracy. Importantly, many highly novel predictions emerge for the 38% of mouse genes that remain uncharacterized. PMID:18613946

Limiting similarity and Darwin's naturalization hypothesis: understanding the drivers of biotic resistance against invasive plant species.

PubMed

Yannelli, F A; Koch, C; Jeschke, J M; Kollmann, J

2017-03-01

Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain biotic resistance of a recipient plant community based on reduced niche opportunities for invasive alien plant species. The limiting similarity hypothesis predicts that invasive species are less likely to establish in communities of species holding similar functional traits. Likewise, Darwin's naturalization hypothesis states that invasive species closely related to the native community would be less successful. We tested both using the invasive alien Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. and Solidago gigantea Aiton, and grassland species used for ecological restoration in central Europe. We classified all plant species into groups based on functional traits obtained from trait databases and calculated the phylogenetic distance among them. In a greenhouse experiment, we submitted the two invasive species at two propagule pressures to competition with communities of ten native species from the same functional group. In another experiment, they were submitted to pairwise competition with native species selected from each functional group. At the community level, highest suppression for both invasive species was observed at low propagule pressure and not explained by similarity in functional traits. Moreover, suppression decreased asymptotically with increasing phylogenetic distance to species of the native community. When submitted to pairwise competition, suppression for both invasive species was also better explained by phylogenetic distance. Overall, our results support Darwin's naturalization hypothesis but not the limiting similarity hypothesis based on the selected traits. Biotic resistance of native communities against invasive species at an early stage of establishment is enhanced by competitive traits and phylogenetic relatedness.

[Are language disorders in Alzheimer's disease simply aphasia?

PubMed

Hazif-Thomas, Cyril; Thomas, Philippe

Alzheimer's disease is accompanied by gradual aphasia, becoming more severe when the cognitive disorders are more marked. However, the quality of care provided to the patient can modulate the evolution of these language difficulties. Aphasia is linked to a human communication deficiency and can be limited by taking into account the phatic function of language to keep the channels of communication open. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.

A Follow-Up Study of School Phobic Adolescents Admitted to an In-Patient Unit

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berg, Jan

1970-01-01

of the 1/3 to 2/3 of school phobic adolescents who had returned to school after treatment at the in-patient unit, 1/3 of the group were well-adjusted, 1/3 had limited functioning, and 1/3 were severely incapacitated by neurotic problems and interpersonal difficulties. This paper is the basis of a talk delivered, by invitation, at the Charles Burns…

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

Bernardin, John D; Baca, Allen G

This paper presents the mechanical design, fabrication and dynamic testing of an electrostatic analyzer spacecraft instrument. The functional and environmental requirements combined with limited spacecraft accommodations, resulted in complex component geometries, unique material selections, and difficult fabrication processes. The challenging aspects of the mechanical design and several of the more difficult production processes are discussed. In addition, the successes, failures, and lessons learned from acoustic and random vibration testing of a full-scale prototype instrument are presented.

Characterization of dystrophin deficient rats: a new model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

PubMed

Larcher, Thibaut; Lafoux, Aude; Tesson, Laurent; Remy, Séverine; Thepenier, Virginie; François, Virginie; Le Guiner, Caroline; Goubin, Helicia; Dutilleul, Maéva; Guigand, Lydie; Toumaniantz, Gilles; De Cian, Anne; Boix, Charlotte; Renaud, Jean-Baptiste; Cherel, Yan; Giovannangeli, Carine; Concordet, Jean-Paul; Anegon, Ignacio; Huchet, Corinne

2014-01-01

A few animal models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) are available, large ones such as pigs or dogs being expensive and difficult to handle. Mdx (X-linked muscular dystrophy) mice only partially mimic the human disease, with limited chronic muscular lesions and muscle weakness. Their small size also imposes limitations on analyses. A rat model could represent a useful alternative since rats are small animals but 10 times bigger than mice and could better reflect the lesions and functional abnormalities observed in DMD patients. Two lines of Dmd mutated-rats (Dmdmdx) were generated using TALENs targeting exon 23. Muscles of animals of both lines showed undetectable levels of dystrophin by western blot and less than 5% of dystrophin positive fibers by immunohistochemistry. At 3 months, limb and diaphragm muscles from Dmdmdx rats displayed severe necrosis and regeneration. At 7 months, these muscles also showed severe fibrosis and some adipose tissue infiltration. Dmdmdx rats showed significant reduction in muscle strength and a decrease in spontaneous motor activity. Furthermore, heart morphology was indicative of dilated cardiomyopathy associated histologically with necrotic and fibrotic changes. Echocardiography showed significant concentric remodeling and alteration of diastolic function. In conclusion, Dmdmdx rats represent a new faithful small animal model of DMD.

Genetic and Imaging Approaches Reveal Pro-Inflammatory and Immunoregulatory Roles of Mast Cells in Contact Hypersensitivity.

PubMed

Gaudenzio, Nicolas; Marichal, Thomas; Galli, Stephen J; Reber, Laurent L

2018-01-01

Contact hypersensitivity (CHS) is a common T cell-mediated skin disease induced by epicutaneous sensitization to haptens. Mast cells (MCs) are widely deployed in the skin and can be activated during CHS responses to secrete diverse products, including some with pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory functions. Conflicting results have been obtained regarding pathogenic versus protective roles of MCs in CHS, and this has been attributed in part to the limitations of certain models for studying MC functions in vivo . This review discusses recent advances in the development and analysis of mouse models to investigate the roles of MCs and MC-associated products in vivo . Notably, fluorescent avidin-based two-photon imaging approaches enable in vivo selective labeling and simultaneous tracking of MC secretory granules (e.g., during MC degranulation) and MC gene activation by real-time longitudinal intravital microscopy in living mice. The combination of such genetic and imaging tools has shed new light on the controversial role played by MCs in mouse models of CHS. On the one hand, they can amplify CHS responses of mild severity while, on the other hand, can limit the inflammation and tissue injury associated with more severe or chronic models, in part by representing an initial source of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10.

The mean seven years' results of the use of poly-L/D-lactic acid (PLDLA) interposition implant and bone packing in revision metacarpophalangeal arthroplasty: a prospective cohort study.

PubMed

Tiihonen, R; Honkanen, P B; Belt, E A; Ikävalko, M; Skyttä, E T

2012-01-01

Revision arthroplasty of metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints in chronic inflammatory arthritis patients after silicone implants is challenging due of severe bone loss and soft tissue deficiencies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of revision MCP arthroplasty using poly-L/D-lactic acid 96:4 (PLDLA) interposition implant and morcelised allograft or autograft bone packing in patients with failed MCP arthroplasties and severe osteolysis. The study group consisted of 15 patients (15 hands and 36 joints) at a mean follow-up of seven years (range 5-10 years). The radiographs were reviewed for osteolysis and incorporation of the grafted bone. The clinical assessments included active range of motion, evaluation of pain, subjective outcome and assessment of grip power. PLDLA interposition arthroplasty combined with bone packing provided satisfactory pain relief, but function was limited. Radiographic analysis showed complete incorporation of the grafted bone to the diaphyseal portion of the host metacarpal and phalangeal bones in 30 of the 36 joints. All the patients had very limited grip strength, both on the operated and non-operated side. Due to soft tissue deficiencies long-term function and alignment problems can not be resolved with PLDLA interposition implant.

Detection of proteolytic activity by covalent tethering of fluorogenic substrates in zymogram gels.

PubMed

Deshmukh, Ameya A; Weist, Jessica L; Leight, Jennifer L

2018-05-01

Current zymographic techniques detect only a subset of known proteases due to the limited number of native proteins that have been optimized for incorporation into polyacrylamide gels. To address this limitation, we have developed a technique to covalently incorporate fluorescently labeled, protease-sensitive peptides using an azido-PEG3-maleimide crosslinker. Peptides incorporated into gels enabled measurement of MMP-2, -9, -14, and bacterial collagenase. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that use of peptide functionalized gels could surpass detection limits of current techniques. Finally, electrophoresis of conditioned media from cultured cells resulted in the appearance of several proteolytic bands, some of which were undetectable by gelatin zymography. Taken together, these results demonstrate that covalent incorporation of fluorescent substrates can greatly expand the library of detectable proteases using zymographic techniques.

From Airy to Abbe: quantifying the effects of wide-angle focusing for scalar spherical waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Calm, Yitzi M.; Merlo, Juan M.; Burns, Michael J.; Naughton, Michael J.

2017-10-01

Recent advances in optical microscopy have enabled imaging with spatial resolution beyond the diffraction limit. This limit is sometimes taken as one of several different criteria according to different conventions, including Rayleigh’s 0.61λ /NA, Abbe’s 0.5λ /NA, and Sparrow’s 0.47λ /NA. In this paper, we perform a parametric study, numerically integrating the scalar Kirchhoff diffraction integrals, and we propose new functional forms for the resolution limits derived from scalar focusing. The new expressions remain accurate under wide angle focusing, up to 90^\\circ . Our results could materially impact the design of high intensity focused ultrasound systems, and can be used as a qualitative guideline for the design of a particular type of planar optical element: the flat lens metasurface.

Continuity and Change from Adolescence to Emerging Adulthood: Adolescence-limited vs. Life-course-persistent Profound Ego Development Arrests.

PubMed

Billings, Rebecca L; Hauser, Stuart T; Allen, Joseph P

2008-11-01

Participants ( n = 36) with consistent Pre-conformist ego development levels during multiple adolescent assessments were studied to determine whether and how their ego levels had changed at age 25. Those ( n = 12) whose ego levels remained at the Pre-conformist level were assigned to a life-course-persistent profound ego development arrest trajectory group; those ( n = 24) whose ego levels reached the Conformist or Post-conformist level at age 25 were assigned to an adolescence-limited profound ego development arrest trajectory group. Analysis of predictors and age 25 correlates of group membership revealed that selected age 14 family interaction behaviors differentiated the two groups. At age 25, members of the adolescence-limited group showed superior performance on several measures of interpersonal and intrapersonal functioning.

A Perspective on the Clinical Translation of Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering

PubMed Central

Webber, Matthew J.; Khan, Omar F.; Sydlik, Stefanie A.; Tang, Benjamin C.; Langer, Robert

2016-01-01

Scaffolds have been broadly applied within tissue engineering and regenerative medicine to regenerate, replace, or augment diseased or damaged tissue. For a scaffold to perform optimally, several design considerations must be addressed, with an eye toward the eventual form, function, and tissue site. The chemical and mechanical properties of the scaffold must be tuned to optimize the interaction with cells and surrounding tissues. For complex tissue engineering, mass transport limitations, vascularization, and host tissue integration are important considerations. As the tissue architecture to be replaced becomes more complex and hierarchical, scaffold design must also match this complexity to recapitulate a functioning tissue. We outline these design constraints and highlight creative and emerging strategies to overcome limitations and modulate scaffold properties for optimal regeneration. We also highlight some of the most advanced strategies that have seen clinical application and discuss the hurdles that must be overcome for clinical use and commercialization of tissue engineering technologies. Finally, we provide a perspective on the future of scaffolds as a functional contributor to advancing tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. PMID:25201605

Comparison of seismic waveform inversion results for the rupture history of a finite fault: application to the 1986 North Palm Springs, California, earthquake

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hartzell, S.

1989-01-01

The July 8, 1986, North Palm Strings earthquake is used as a basis for comparison of several different approaches to the solution for the rupture history of a finite fault. The inversion of different waveform data is considered; both teleseismic P waveforms and local strong ground motion records. Linear parametrizations for slip amplitude are compared with nonlinear parametrizations for both slip amplitude and rupture time. Inversions using both synthetic and empirical Green's functions are considered. In general, accurate Green's functions are more readily calculable for the teleseismic problem where simple ray theory and flat-layered velocity structures are usually sufficient. However, uncertainties in the variation in t* with frequency most limit the resolution of teleseismic inversions. A set of empirical Green's functions that are well recorded at teleseismic distances could avoid the uncertainties in attenuation. In the inversion of strong motion data, the accurate calculation of propagation path effects other than attenuation effects is the limiting factor in the resolution of source parameters. -from Author

Nuclear transport in Entamoeba histolytica: knowledge gap and therapeutic potential.

PubMed

Gwairgi, Marina A; Ghildyal, Reena

2018-03-22

Entamoeba histolytica is the protozoan parasite that causes human amoebiasis. It is one of the leading parasitic disease burdens in tropical regions and developing countries, with spread to developed countries through migrants from and travellers to endemic regions. Understanding E. histolytica's invasion mechanisms requires an understanding of how it interacts with external cell components and how it engulfs and kills cells (phagocytosis). Recent research suggests that optimal phagocytosis requires signalling events from the cell surface to the nucleus via the cytoplasm, and the induction of several factors that are transported to the plasma membrane. Current research in other protozoans suggests the presence of proteins with nuclear localization signals, nuclear export signals and Ran proteins; however, there is limited literature on their functionality and their functional similarity to higher eukaryotes. Based on learnings from the development of antivirals, nuclear transport elements in E. histolytica may present viable, specific, therapeutic targets. In this review, we aim to summarize our limited knowledge of the eukaryotic nuclear transport mechanisms that are conserved and may function in E. histolytica.

A perspective on the clinical translation of scaffolds for tissue engineering.

PubMed

Webber, Matthew J; Khan, Omar F; Sydlik, Stefanie A; Tang, Benjamin C; Langer, Robert

2015-03-01

Scaffolds have been broadly applied within tissue engineering and regenerative medicine to regenerate, replace, or augment diseased or damaged tissue. For a scaffold to perform optimally, several design considerations must be addressed, with an eye toward the eventual form, function, and tissue site. The chemical and mechanical properties of the scaffold must be tuned to optimize the interaction with cells and surrounding tissues. For complex tissue engineering, mass transport limitations, vascularization, and host tissue integration are important considerations. As the tissue architecture to be replaced becomes more complex and hierarchical, scaffold design must also match this complexity to recapitulate a functioning tissue. We outline these design constraints and highlight creative and emerging strategies to overcome limitations and modulate scaffold properties for optimal regeneration. We also highlight some of the most advanced strategies that have seen clinical application and discuss the hurdles that must be overcome for clinical use and commercialization of tissue engineering technologies. Finally, we provide a perspective on the future of scaffolds as a functional contributor to advancing tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Optical imaging of architecture and function in the living brain sheds new light on cortical mechanisms underlying visual perception.

PubMed

Grinvald, A

1992-01-01

Long standing questions related to brain mechanisms underlying perception can finally be resolved by direct visualization of the architecture and function of mammalian cortex. This advance has been accomplished with the aid of two optical imaging techniques with which one can literally see how the brain functions. The upbringing of this technology required a multi-disciplinary approach integrating brain research with organic chemistry, spectroscopy, biophysics, computer sciences, optics and image processing. Beyond the technological ramifications, recent research shed new light on cortical mechanisms underlying sensory perception. Clinical applications of this technology for precise mapping of the cortical surface of patients during neurosurgery have begun. Below is a brief summary of our own research and a description of the technical specifications of the two optical imaging techniques. Like every technique, optical imaging also suffers from severe limitations. Here we mostly emphasize some of its advantages relative to all alternative imaging techniques currently in use. The limitations are critically discussed in our recent reviews. For a series of other reviews, see Cohen (1989).

Preliminary investigation of an electromyography-controlled video game as a home program for persons in the chronic phase of stroke recovery.

PubMed

Donoso Brown, Elena V; McCoy, Sarah Westcott; Fechko, Amber S; Price, Robert; Gilbertson, Torey; Moritz, Chet T

2014-08-01

To investigate the preliminary effectiveness of surface electromyography (sEMG) biofeedback delivered via interaction with a commercial computer game to improve motor control in chronic stroke survivors. Single-blinded, 1-group, repeated-measures design: A1, A2, B, A3 (A, assessment; B, intervention). Laboratory and participants' homes. A convenience sample of persons (N=9) between 40 and 75 years of age with moderate to severe upper extremity motor impairment and at least 6 months poststroke completed the study. The electromyography-controlled video game system targeted the wrist muscle activation with the goal of increasing selective muscle activation. Participants received several laboratory training sessions with the system and then were instructed to use the system at home for 45 minutes, 5 times per week for the following 4 weeks. Primary outcome measures included duration of system use, sEMG during home play, and pre/post sEMG measures during active wrist motion. Secondary outcomes included kinematic analysis of movement and functional outcomes, including the Wolf Motor Function Test and the Chedoke Arm and Hand Activity Inventory-9. One third of participants completed or exceeded the recommended amount of system use. Statistically significant changes were observed on both game play and pre/post sEMG outcomes. Limited carryover, however, was observed on kinematic or functional outcomes. This preliminary investigation indicates that use of the electromyography-controlled video game impacts muscle activation. Limited changes in kinematic and activity level outcomes, however, suggest that the intervention may benefit from the inclusion of a functional activity component. Copyright © 2014 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Which factors affect limitation of pronation/supination after forearm fractures in children? A prospective multicentre study.

PubMed

Colaris, Joost W; Allema, Jan Hein; Reijman, Max; de Vries, Mark R; Ulas Biter, L; Bloem, Rolf M; van de Ven, Cees P; Verhaar, Jan A N

2014-04-01

Both-bone forearm fractures in children frequently result in a limitation of pronation/supination, which hinders daily activities. The purpose of this prospective multicentre study was to investigate which clinical factors are related to the limitation of pronation/supination in children with a both-bone forearm fracture. In four Dutch hospitals, consecutive children (<16 years) who sustained a both-bone forearm fracture were included. Children were followed up for 6-9 months and data from questionnaires, physical examination and X-rays were collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between limitation of pronation/supination (≥20°) and several clinical factors. A group of 410 children with both-bone forearm fractures were included, of which 10 children missed the final examination (follow-up rate of 97.6%). We found that a re-fracture (odds ratio (OR) 11.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2; 118.5), a fracture in the diaphysis (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.4; 7.9) and less physiotherapy during follow-up (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.82; 0.98) were independently associated with a limitation of pronation/supination of 20° or more. These findings imply that a re-fracture and a diaphyseal located fracture were associated independently of each other with a limitation of pronation/supination in children with a both-bone forearm fracture. Furthermore, in children with severe limitation extensive physiotherapy is associated with better functional outcome. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Nanotopography-guided tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

PubMed

Kim, Hong Nam; Jiao, Alex; Hwang, Nathaniel S; Kim, Min Sung; Kang, Do Hyun; Kim, Deok-Ho; Suh, Kahp-Yang

2013-04-01

Human tissues are intricate ensembles of multiple cell types embedded in complex and well-defined structures of the extracellular matrix (ECM). The organization of ECM is frequently hierarchical from nano to macro, with many proteins forming large scale structures with feature sizes up to several hundred microns. Inspired from these natural designs of ECM, nanotopography-guided approaches have been increasingly investigated for the last several decades. Results demonstrate that the nanotopography itself can activate tissue-specific function in vitro as well as promote tissue regeneration in vivo upon transplantation. In this review, we provide an extensive analysis of recent efforts to mimic functional nanostructures in vitro for improved tissue engineering and regeneration of injured and damaged tissues. We first characterize the role of various nanostructures in human tissues with respect to each tissue-specific function. Then, we describe various fabrication methods in terms of patterning principles and material characteristics. Finally, we summarize the applications of nanotopography to various tissues, which are classified into four types depending on their functions: protective, mechano-sensitive, electro-active, and shear stress-sensitive tissues. Some limitations and future challenges are briefly discussed at the end. Crown Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Benefits and limitations of animal models in partial bladder outlet obstruction for translational research.

PubMed

Kitta, Takeya; Kanno, Yukiko; Chiba, Hiroki; Higuchi, Madoka; Ouchi, Mifuka; Togo, Mio; Moriya, Kimihiko; Shinohara, Nobuo

2018-01-01

The functions of the lower urinary tract have been investigated for more than a century. Lower urinary tract symptoms, such as incomplete bladder emptying, weak urine stream, daytime urinary frequency, urgency, urge incontinence and nocturia after partial bladder outlet obstruction, is a frequent cause of benign prostatic hyperplasia in aging men. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. The use of animal models is absolutely imperative for understanding the pathophysiological processes involved in bladder dysfunction. Surgical induction has been used to study lower urinary tract functions of numerous animal species, such as pig, dog, rabbit, guinea pig, rat and mouse, of both sexes. Several morphological and functional modifications under partial bladder outlet obstruction have not only been observed in the bladder, but also in the central nervous system. Understanding the changes of the lower urinary tract functions induced by partial bladder outlet obstruction would also contribute to appropriate drug development for treating these pathophysiological conditions. In the present review, we discuss techniques for creating partial bladder outlet obstruction, the characteristics of several species, as well as issues of each model, and their translational value. © 2017 The Japanese Urological Association.

Impaired Voluntary Movement Control and Its Rehabilitation in Cerebral Palsy.

PubMed

Gordon, Andrew M

2016-01-01

Cerebral palsy is caused by early damage to the developing brain, as the most common pediatric neurological disorder. Hemiplegia (unilateral spastic cerebral palsy) is the most common subtype, and the resulting impairments, lateralized to one body side, especially affect the upper extremity, limiting daily function. This chapter first describes the pathophysiology and mechanisms underlying impaired upper extremity control of cerebral palsy. It will be shown that the severity of impaired hand function closely relates to the integrity of the corticospinal tract innervating the affected hand. It will also shown that the developing corticospinal tract can reorganize its connectivity depending on the timing and location of CNS injury, which also has implications for the severity of hand impairments and rehabilitation. The mechanisms underlying impaired motor function will be highlighted, including deficits in movement execution and planning and sensorimotor integration. It will be shown that despite having unimanual hand impairments, bimanual movement control deficits and mirror movements also impact function. Evidence for motor learning-based therapies including Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy and Bimanual Training, and the possible pathophysiological predictors of treatment outcome and plasticity will be described. Finally, future directions for rehabilitations will be presented.

Functional dyspepsia

PubMed Central

Brun, Rita; Kuo, Braden

2010-01-01

Dyspepsia is a common term used for a heterogeneous group of abdominal symptoms. Functional dyspepsia (FD) is the focus of this review. The 2006 Rome III criteria defined FD and its subgroups, postprandial distress syndrome (PDS) and epigastric pain syndrome (EPS). FD is a very common condition with a high prevalence throughout the world, adversely affecting the quality of life of patients. The pathophysiology of FD has been under investigation during the past two decades. Multiple mechanisms such as abnormal gastric emptying, visceral hypersensitivity, impaired gastric accommodation, and central nervous system factors are likely involved. Several tests are available for the assessment of various physiologic functions possibly involved in the pathogenesis of FD, and some of these could be used in clinical practice, helping to understand the abnormalities underlining patients’ complaints. Currently, the possibilities of pharmacological therapy for FD are still limited, however, experience of using prokinetics, tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), and several alternative techniques has been accumulated. The different combinations of alterations in physiologic gastrointestinal and central nervous system functions result in the very heterogeneous nature of FD so combined approaches to these patients could be beneficial in challenging cases. PMID:21180597

mTOR Cross-Talk in Cancer and Potential for Combination Therapy.

PubMed

Conciatori, Fabiana; Ciuffreda, Ludovica; Bazzichetto, Chiara; Falcone, Italia; Pilotto, Sara; Bria, Emilio; Cognetti, Francesco; Milella, Michele

2018-01-19

The mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) pathway plays an essential role in sensing and integrating a variety of exogenous cues to regulate cellular growth and metabolism, in both physiological and pathological conditions. mTOR functions through two functionally and structurally distinct multi-component complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2, which interact with each other and with several elements of other signaling pathways. In the past few years, many new insights into mTOR function and regulation have been gained and extensive genetic and pharmacological studies in mice have enhanced our understanding of how mTOR dysfunction contributes to several diseases, including cancer. Single-agent mTOR targeting, mostly using rapalogs, has so far met limited clinical success; however, due to the extensive cross-talk between mTOR and other pathways, combined approaches are the most promising avenues to improve clinical efficacy of available therapeutics and overcome drug resistance. This review provides a brief and up-to-date narrative on the regulation of mTOR function, the relative contributions of mTORC1 and mTORC2 complexes to cancer development and progression, and prospects for mTOR inhibition as a therapeutic strategy.

mTOR Cross-Talk in Cancer and Potential for Combination Therapy

PubMed Central

Conciatori, Fabiana; Ciuffreda, Ludovica; Bazzichetto, Chiara; Falcone, Italia; Pilotto, Sara; Bria, Emilio; Cognetti, Francesco; Milella, Michele

2018-01-01

The mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) pathway plays an essential role in sensing and integrating a variety of exogenous cues to regulate cellular growth and metabolism, in both physiological and pathological conditions. mTOR functions through two functionally and structurally distinct multi-component complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2, which interact with each other and with several elements of other signaling pathways. In the past few years, many new insights into mTOR function and regulation have been gained and extensive genetic and pharmacological studies in mice have enhanced our understanding of how mTOR dysfunction contributes to several diseases, including cancer. Single-agent mTOR targeting, mostly using rapalogs, has so far met limited clinical success; however, due to the extensive cross-talk between mTOR and other pathways, combined approaches are the most promising avenues to improve clinical efficacy of available therapeutics and overcome drug resistance. This review provides a brief and up-to-date narrative on the regulation of mTOR function, the relative contributions of mTORC1 and mTORC2 complexes to cancer development and progression, and prospects for mTOR inhibition as a therapeutic strategy. PMID:29351204

Testing of therapies in a novel nebulin nemaline myopathy model demonstrate a lack of efficacy.

PubMed

Sztal, Tamar E; McKaige, Emily A; Williams, Caitlin; Oorschot, Viola; Ramm, Georg; Bryson-Richardson, Robert J

2018-05-30

Nemaline myopathies are heterogeneous congenital muscle disorders causing skeletal muscle weakness and, in some cases, death soon after birth. Mutations in nebulin, encoding a large sarcomeric protein required for thin filament function, are responsible for approximately 50% of nemaline myopathy cases. Despite the severity of the disease there is no effective treatment for nemaline myopathy with limited research to develop potential therapies. Several supplements, including L-tyrosine, have been suggested to be beneficial and consequently self-administered by nemaline myopathy patients without any knowledge of their efficacy. We have characterized a zebrafish model for nemaline myopathy caused by a mutation in nebulin. These fish form electron-dense nemaline bodies and display reduced muscle function akin to the phenotypes observed in nemaline myopathy patients. We have utilized our zebrafish model to test and evaluate four treatments currently self-administered by nemaline myopathy patients to determine their ability to increase skeletal muscle function. Analysis of muscle pathology and locomotion following treatment with L-tyrosine, L-carnitine, taurine, or creatine revealed no significant improvement in skeletal muscle function emphasizing the urgency to develop effective therapies for nemaline myopathy.

Default mode network abnormalities in posttraumatic stress disorder: A novel network-restricted topology approach.

PubMed

Akiki, Teddy J; Averill, Christopher L; Wrocklage, Kristen M; Scott, J Cobb; Averill, Lynnette A; Schweinsburg, Brian; Alexander-Bloch, Aaron; Martini, Brenda; Southwick, Steven M; Krystal, John H; Abdallah, Chadi G

2018-08-01

Disruption in the default mode network (DMN) has been implicated in numerous neuropsychiatric disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, studies have largely been limited to seed-based methods and involved inconsistent definitions of the DMN. Recent advances in neuroimaging and graph theory now permit the systematic exploration of intrinsic brain networks. In this study, we used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), diffusion MRI, and graph theoretical analyses to systematically examine the DMN connectivity and its relationship with PTSD symptom severity in a cohort of 65 combat-exposed US Veterans. We employed metrics that index overall connectivity strength, network integration (global efficiency), and network segregation (clustering coefficient). Then, we conducted a modularity and network-based statistical analysis to identify DMN regions of particular importance in PTSD. Finally, structural connectivity analyses were used to probe whether white matter abnormalities are associated with the identified functional DMN changes. We found decreased DMN functional connectivity strength to be associated with increased PTSD symptom severity. Further topological characterization suggests decreased functional integration and increased segregation in subjects with severe PTSD. Modularity analyses suggest a spared connectivity in the posterior DMN community (posterior cingulate, precuneus, angular gyrus) despite overall DMN weakened connections with increasing PTSD severity. Edge-wise network-based statistical analyses revealed a prefrontal dysconnectivity. Analysis of the diffusion networks revealed no alterations in overall strength or prefrontal structural connectivity. DMN abnormalities in patients with severe PTSD symptoms are characterized by decreased overall interconnections. On a finer scale, we found a pattern of prefrontal dysconnectivity, but increased cohesiveness in the posterior DMN community and relative sparing of connectivity in this region. The DMN measures established in this study may serve as a biomarker of disease severity and could have potential utility in developing circuit-based therapeutics. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Accuracy of automated classification of major depressive disorder as a function of symptom severity.

PubMed

Ramasubbu, Rajamannar; Brown, Matthew R G; Cortese, Filmeno; Gaxiola, Ismael; Goodyear, Bradley; Greenshaw, Andrew J; Dursun, Serdar M; Greiner, Russell

2016-01-01

Growing evidence documents the potential of machine learning for developing brain based diagnostic methods for major depressive disorder (MDD). As symptom severity may influence brain activity, we investigated whether the severity of MDD affected the accuracies of machine learned MDD-vs-Control diagnostic classifiers. Forty-five medication-free patients with DSM-IV defined MDD and 19 healthy controls participated in the study. Based on depression severity as determined by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD), MDD patients were sorted into three groups: mild to moderate depression (HRSD 14-19), severe depression (HRSD 20-23), and very severe depression (HRSD ≥ 24). We collected functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data during both resting-state and an emotional-face matching task. Patients in each of the three severity groups were compared against controls in separate analyses, using either the resting-state or task-based fMRI data. We use each of these six datasets with linear support vector machine (SVM) binary classifiers for identifying individuals as patients or controls. The resting-state fMRI data showed statistically significant classification accuracy only for the very severe depression group (accuracy 66%, p = 0.012 corrected), while mild to moderate (accuracy 58%, p = 1.0 corrected) and severe depression (accuracy 52%, p = 1.0 corrected) were only at chance. With task-based fMRI data, the automated classifier performed at chance in all three severity groups. Binary linear SVM classifiers achieved significant classification of very severe depression with resting-state fMRI, but the contribution of brain measurements may have limited potential in differentiating patients with less severe depression from healthy controls.

Multiple mediation path model of pain's cascading influence on physical disability in individuals with SCI from Colombia, South America.

PubMed

Perrin, Paul B; Paredes, Alejandra Morlett; Olivera, Silvia Leonor; Lozano, Juan Esteban; Leal, Wendy Tatiana; Ahmad, Usman F; Arango-Lasprilla, Juan Carlos

2017-01-01

Research has begun to document the bivariate connections between pain in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) and various aspects of health related quality of life (HRQOL), such as fatigue, social functioning, mental health, and physical functioning. The purpose of this study was to construct and test a theoretical path model illuminating the stage-wise and sequential (cascading) HRQOL pathways through which pain increases physical disability in individuals with SCI in a sample from Colombia, South America. It was hypothesized that increased pain would lead to decreased energy, which would lead to decreased mental health and social functioning, which both would lead to emotional role limitations, which finally would lead to physical role limitations. A cross-sectional study assessed individuals with SCI (n = 40) in Neiva, Colombia. Participants completed a measure indexing various aspects of HRQOL. The path model overall showed excellent fit indices, and each individual path within the model was statistically significant. Pain exerted significant indirect effects through all possible mediators in the model, ultimately suggesting that energy, mental health, social functioning, and role limitations-emotional were likely pathways through which pain exerted its effects on physical disability in individuals with SCI. These findings uncover several potential nodes for clinical intervention which if targeted in the context of rehabilitation or outpatient services, could result in salubrious direct and indirect effects reverberating down the theoretical causal chain and ultimately reducing physical disability in individuals with SCI.

What is the role of brain mechanisms underlying arousal in recovery of motor function after structural brain injuries?

PubMed Central

Schiff, Nicholas D.

2013-01-01

Purpose of review Standard neurorehabilitation approaches have limited impact on motor recovery in patients with severe injuries. Consideration of the contributions of impaired arousal offers a novel approach to understand and enhance recovery. Recent findings Animal and human neuroimaging studies are elucidating the neuroanatomical bases of arousal and of arousal regulation, the process by which the cerebrum mobilizes resources. Studies of patients with disorders of consciousness have revealed that recovery of these processes is associated with marked improvements in motor performance. Recent studies have also demonstrated that patients with less severe brain injuries also have impaired arousal, manifesting as diminished sustained attention, fatigue and apathy. In these less severely injured patients it is difficult to connect disorders of arousal with motor recovery due to a lack of measures of arousal independent of motor function. Summary Arousal impairment is common after brain injury and likely plays a significant role in recovery of motor function. A more detailed understanding of this connection will help to develop new therapeutic strategies applicable for a wide range of patients. This requires new tools that continuously and objectively measure arousal in patients with brain injury, to correlate with detailed measures of motor performance and recovery. PMID:22002078

Recovering refractive index correlation function from measurement of tissue scattering phase function (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rogers, Jeremy D.

2016-03-01

Numerous methods have been developed to quantify the light scattering properties of tissue. These properties are of interest in diagnostic and screening applications due to sensitivity to changes in tissue ultrastructure and changes associated with disease such as cancer. Tissue is considered a weak scatterer because that the mean free path is much larger than the correlation length. When this is the case, all scattering properties can be calculated from the refractive index correlation function Bn(r). Direct measurement of Bn(r) is challenging because it requires refractive index measurement at high resolution over a large tissue volume. Instead, a model is usually assumed. One particularly useful model, the Whittle-Matern function includes several realistic function types such as mass fractal and exponential. Optical scattering properties for weakly scattering media can be determined analytically from Bn(r) by applying the Rayleigh-Gans-Debye (RGD) or Born Approximation, and so measured scattering properties are used to fit parameters of the model function. Direct measurement of Bn(r) would provide confirmation that the function is a good representation of tissue or help in identifying the length scale at which changes occur. The RGD approximation relates the scattering phase function to the refractive index correlation function through a Fourier transform. This can be inverted without approximation, so goniometric measurement of the scattering can be converted to Bn(r). However, geometric constraints of the measurement of the phase function, angular resolution, and wavelength result in a band limited measurement of Bn(r). These limits are discussed and example measurements are described.

Surgical Approach, Findings, and Eight-Year Follow-Up in a Twenty-Nine Year Old Female With Freeman-Sheldon Syndrome Presenting With Blepharophimosis Causing Near-Complete Visual Obstruction.

PubMed

Portillo, Augusto L; Poling, Mikaela I; McCormick, Rodger J

2016-07-01

The authors describe the surgical approach, findings, and 8-year follow-up in a 29-year-old woman, with severe Freeman-Sheldon syndrome, presenting with congenital blepharophimosis of both upper eyelids resulting in near-complete functional visual obstruction. To avoid possible Freeman-Sheldon syndrome-associated complications of malignant hyperthermia, difficult vascular access, and challenging endotracheal intubation, the surgery was completed under local anesthesia without sedation, and anatomical and functional correction was immediate and remained stable at 8-year follow-up. Unlike many congenital craniofacial syndromes, which frequently involve life-long impairments, important implications exist for plastic surgeons to facilitate opportunities for patients to overcome functional limitations.

Anorectal and Pelvic Pain

PubMed Central

Bharucha, Adil E.; Lee, Tae Hee

2016-01-01

Although pelvic pain is a symptom of several structural anorectal and pelvic disorders (eg, anal fissure, endometriosis, and pelvic inflammatory disease), this comprehensive review will focus on the three most common nonstructural, or functional, disorders associated with pelvic pain: functional anorectal pain (ie, levator ani syndrome, unspecified anorectal pain, and proctalgia fugax), interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome, and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. The first two conditions occur in both sexes, while the latter occurs only in men. They are defined by symptoms, supplemented with levator tenderness (levator ani syndrome) and bladder mucosal inflammation (interstitial cystitis). Although distinct, these conditions share several similarities, including associations with dysfunctional voiding or defecation, comorbid conditions (eg, fibromyalgia, depression), impaired quality of life, and increased health care utilization. Several factors, including pelvic floor muscle tension, peripheral inflammation, peripheral and central sensitization, and psychosocial factors, have been implicated in the pathogenesis. The management is tailored to symptoms, is partly supported by clinical trials, and includes multidisciplinary approaches such as lifestyle modifications and pharmacologic, behavioral, and physical therapy. Opioids should not be avoided, and surgery has a limited role, primarily in refractory interstitial cystitis. PMID:27712641

Normal expiratory flow rate and lung volumes in patients with combined emphysema and interstitial lung disease: a case series and literature review.

PubMed

Heathcote, Karen L; Cockcroft, Donald W; Fladeland, Derek A; Fenton, Mark E

2011-01-01

Pulmonary function tests in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis characteristically show a restrictive pattern including small lung volumes and increased expiratory flow rates resulting from a reduction in pulmonary compliance due to diffuse fibrosis. Conversely, an obstructive pattern with hyperinflation results in emphysema by loss of elastic recoil, expiratory collapse of the peripheral airways and air trapping. When the diseases coexist, pulmonary volumes are compensated, and a smaller than expected reduction or even normal lung volumes can be found. The present report describes 10 patients with progressive breathlessness, three of whom experienced severe limitation in their quality of life. All patients showed lung interstitial involvement and emphysema on computed tomography scan of the chest. The 10 patients showed normal spirometry and lung volumes with severe compromise of gas exchange. Normal lung volumes do not exclude diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in patients with concomitant emphysema. The relatively preserved lung volumes may underestimate the severity of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and attenuate its effects on lung function parameters.

Telehealth for Persons with Severe Functional Disabilities and their Caregivers: Facilitating Self-care Management in the Home Setting

PubMed Central

Forducey, Pamela G.; Glueckauf, Robert L.; Bergquist, Thomas; Maheu, Marlene M.; Yutsis, Maya

2012-01-01

Persons with severe functional disabilities are the highest users of health care services. Caring for the needs of this population represents a significant percentage of our national health care costs. A growing body of research has demonstrated the efficacy of self-management strategies and caregiver engagement for effective long-term care for individuals with chronic medical conditions. Economic forces over the past decade have led to new challenges and resulted in major changes in health care delivery resulting in shortened length of inpatient stays and greater limits on the length of outpatient treatment. Telehealth is an innovative method for health care delivery and a means of meeting this new challenge. This paper highlights the findings of three pilot studies on the use of telecommunications technologies in promoting self-care management and enhancing health care outcomes in persons with severe disabilities and their family caregivers. The importance of matching technology to the needs of this population, lessons learned from these investigations, and future directions for research are addressed. PMID:22662729

Do All O Stars Form in Star Clusters?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weidner, C.; Gvaramadze, V. V.; Kroupa, P.; Pflamm-Altenburg, J.

The question whether or not massive stars can form in isolation or only in star clusters is of great importance for the theory of (massive) star formation as well as for the stellar initial mass function of whole galaxies (IGIMF-theory). While a seemingly easy question it is rather difficult to answer. Several physical processes (e.g. star-loss due to stellar dynamics or gas expulsion) and observational limitations (e.g. dust obscuration of young clusters, resolution) pose severe challenges to answer this question. In this contribution we will present the current arguments in favour and against the idea that all O stars form in clusters.

The use of microperimetry in assessing visual function in age-related macular degeneration.

PubMed

Cassels, Nicola K; Wild, John M; Margrain, Tom H; Chong, Victor; Acton, Jennifer H

Microperimetry is a novel technique for assessing visual function that appears particularly suitable for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Compared with standard automated perimetry, microperimetry offers several unique features. It simultaneously images the fundus, incorporates an eye-tracking system to correct the stimulus location for fixation loss, and identifies any preferred retinal loci. We identified 52 articles that met the inclusion criteria for a systematic review of microperimetry in the assessment of visual function in AMD. We discuss microperimetry and AMD in relation to disease severity, structural imaging outcomes, other measures of visual function, and evaluation of the efficacy of surgical and/or medical therapies in clinical trials. The evidence for the use of microperimetry in the functional assessment of AMD is encouraging. Disruptions of the ellipsoid zone band and retinal pigment epithelium are clearly associated with reduced differential light sensitivity despite the maintenance of good visual acuity. Reduced differential light sensitivity is also associated with outer segment thinning and retinal pigment epithelium thickening in early AMD and with both a thickening and a thinning of the whole retina in choroidal neovascularization. Microperimetry, however, lacks the robust diffuse and focal loss age-corrected probability analyses associated with standard automated perimetry, and the technique is currently limited by this omission. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Network formation: neighborhood structures, establishment costs, and distributed learning.

PubMed

Chasparis, Georgios C; Shamma, Jeff S

2013-12-01

We consider the problem of network formation in a distributed fashion. Network formation is modeled as a strategic-form game, where agents represent nodes that form and sever unidirectional links with other nodes and derive utilities from these links. Furthermore, agents can form links only with a limited set of neighbors. Agents trade off the benefit from links, which is determined by a distance-dependent reward function, and the cost of maintaining links. When each agent acts independently, trying to maximize its own utility function, we can characterize “stable” networks through the notion of Nash equilibrium. In fact, the introduced reward and cost functions lead to Nash equilibria (networks), which exhibit several desirable properties such as connectivity, bounded-hop diameter, and efficiency (i.e., minimum number of links). Since Nash networks may not necessarily be efficient, we also explore the possibility of “shaping” the set of Nash networks through the introduction of state-based utility functions. Such utility functions may represent dynamic phenomena such as establishment costs (either positive or negative). Finally, we show how Nash networks can be the outcome of a distributed learning process. In particular, we extend previous learning processes to so-called “state-based” weakly acyclic games, and we show that the proposed network formation games belong to this class of games.

Felt Obligation to Help Others as a Protective Factor Against Losses in Psychological Well-being Following Functional Decline in Middle and Later Life

PubMed Central

2009-01-01

This study examined felt obligation to help others in two domains (close others and society) as protective factors against losses in psychological well-being following functional decline. Lagged-dependent regression models were estimated using data from 849 respondents aged 35–74 years and without any functional limitations at baseline in the 1995–2005 National Survey of Midlife in the United States. Greater felt obligation to help close others protected against declining self-acceptance in the face of more severe functional decline, and greater felt obligation to help society protected against declining personal growth and self-acceptance. Greater felt obligation to help close others and society protected against increasing depressive symptoms at younger ages in adulthood. Findings suggest the importance for additional research on how aspects of altruism can promote psychological adaptation to declining functional health in middle and later life. PMID:19825942

Crafting the TALE: construction of a measure to assess the functions of autobiographical remembering.

PubMed

Bluck, Susan; Alea, Nicole

2011-07-01

Theory suggests that autobiographical remembering serves several functions. This research builds on previous empirical efforts (Bluck, Alea, Habermas, & Rubin, 2005) with the aim of constructing a brief, valid measure of three functions of autobiographical memory. Participants (N=306) completed 28 theoretically derived items concerning the frequency with which they use autobiographical memory to serve a variety of functions. To examine convergent and discriminant validity, participants rated their tendency to think about and talk about the past, and measures of future time orientation, self-concept clarity, and trait personality. Confirmatory factor analysis of the function items resulted in a respecified model with 15 items in three factors. The newly developed Thinking about Life Experiences scale (TALE) shows good internal consistency as well as convergent validity for three subscales: Self-Continuity, Social-Bonding, and Directing-Behaviour. Analyses demonstrate factorial equivalence across age and gender groups. Potential use and limitations of the TALE are discussed.

Favorable Changes in Cardiac Geometry and Function Following Gastric Bypass Surgery

PubMed Central

Owan, Theophilus; Avelar, Erick; Morley, Kimberly; Jiji, Ronny; Hall, Nathaniel; Krezowski, Joseph; Gallagher, James; Williams, Zachary; Preece, Kevin; Gundersen, Nancy; Strong, Michael B.; Pendleton, Robert C.; Segerson, Nathan; Cloward, Tom V.; Walker, James M.; Farney, Robert J.; Gress, Richard E.; Adams, Ted D.; Hunt, Steven C.; Litwin, Sheldon E.

2013-01-01

Objectives The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that gastric bypass surgery (GBS) would favorably impact cardiac remodeling and function. Background GBS is increasingly used to treat severe obesity, but there are limited outcome data. Methods We prospectively studied 423 severely obese patients undergoing GBS and a reference group of severely obese subjects that did not have surgery (n = 733). Results At a 2-year follow up, GBS subjects had a large reduction in body mass index compared with the reference group (−15.4 ± 7.2 kg/m2 vs. −0.03 ± 4.0 kg/m2; p < 0.0001), as well as significant reductions in waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and insulin resistance. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased. The GBS group had reductions in left ventricular (LV) mass index and right ventricular (RV) cavity area. Left atrial volume did not change in GBS but increased in reference subjects. In conjunction with reduced chamber sizes, GBS subjects also had increased LV midwall fractional shortening and RV fractional area change. In multivariable analysis, age, change in body mass index, severity of nocturnal hypoxemia, E/E', and sex were independently associated with LV mass index, whereas surgical status, change in waist circumference, and change in insulin resistance were not. Conclusions Marked weight loss in patients undergoing GBS was associated with reverse cardiac remodeling and improved LV and RV function. These data support the use of bariatric surgery to prevent cardiovascular complications in severe obesity. PMID:21292133

Neural Anatomy of Primary Visual Cortex Limits Visual Working Memory.

PubMed

Bergmann, Johanna; Genç, Erhan; Kohler, Axel; Singer, Wolf; Pearson, Joel

2016-01-01

Despite the immense processing power of the human brain, working memory storage is severely limited, and the neuroanatomical basis of these limitations has remained elusive. Here, we show that the stable storage limits of visual working memory for over 9 s are bound by the precise gray matter volume of primary visual cortex (V1), defined by fMRI retinotopic mapping. Individuals with a bigger V1 tended to have greater visual working memory storage. This relationship was present independently for both surface size and thickness of V1 but absent in V2, V3 and for non-visual working memory measures. Additional whole-brain analyses confirmed the specificity of the relationship to V1. Our findings indicate that the size of primary visual cortex plays a critical role in limiting what we can hold in mind, acting like a gatekeeper in constraining the richness of working mental function. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Pervasive Transcription of a Herpesvirus Genome Generates Functionally Important RNAs

PubMed Central

Canny, Susan P.; Reese, Tiffany A.; Johnson, L. Steven; Zhang, Xin; Kambal, Amal; Duan, Erning; Liu, Catherine Y.; Virgin, Herbert W.

2014-01-01

ABSTRACT Pervasive transcription is observed in a wide range of organisms, including humans, mice, and viruses, but the functional significance of the resulting transcripts remains uncertain. Current genetic approaches are often limited by their emphasis on protein-coding open reading frames (ORFs). We previously identified extensive pervasive transcription from the murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV68) genome outside known ORFs and antisense to known genes (termed expressed genomic regions [EGRs]). Similar antisense transcripts have been identified in many other herpesviruses, including Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus and human and murine cytomegalovirus. Despite their prevalence, whether these RNAs have any functional importance in the viral life cycle is unknown, and one interpretation is that these are merely “noise” generated by functionally unimportant transcriptional events. To determine whether pervasive transcription of a herpesvirus genome generates RNA molecules that are functionally important, we used a strand-specific functional approach to target transcripts from thirteen EGRs in MHV68. We found that targeting transcripts from six EGRs reduced viral protein expression, proving that pervasive transcription can generate functionally important RNAs. We characterized transcripts emanating from EGRs 26 and 27 in detail using several methods, including RNA sequencing, and identified several novel polyadenylated transcripts that were enriched in the nuclei of infected cells. These data provide the first evidence of the functional importance of regions of pervasive transcription emanating from MHV68 EGRs. Therefore, studies utilizing mutation of a herpesvirus genome must account for possible effects on RNAs generated by pervasive transcription. PMID:24618256

Relating crash frequency and severity: evaluating the effectiveness of shoulder rumble strips on reducing fatal and major injury crashes.

PubMed

Wu, Kun-Feng; Donnell, Eric T; Aguero-Valverde, Jonathan

2014-06-01

To approach the goal of "Toward Zero Deaths," there is a need to develop an analysis paradigm to better understand the effects of a countermeasure on reducing the number of severe crashes. One of the goals in traffic safety research is to search for an effective treatment to reduce fatal and major injury crashes, referred to as severe crashes. To achieve this goal, the selection of promising countermeasures is of utmost importance, and relies on the effectiveness of candidate countermeasures in reducing severe crashes. Although it is important to precisely evaluate the effectiveness of candidate countermeasures in reducing the number of severe crashes at a site, the current state-of-the-practice often leads to biased estimates. While there have been a few advanced statistical models developed to mitigate the problem in practice, these models are computationally difficult to estimate because severe crashes are dispersed spatially and temporally, and cannot be integrated into the Highway Safety Manual framework, which develops a series of safety performance functions and crash modification factors to predict the number of crashes. Crash severity outcomes are generally integrated into the Highway Safety Manual using deterministic distributions rather than statistical models. Accounting for the variability in crash severity as a function geometric design, traffic flow, and other roadway and roadside features is afforded by estimating statistical models. Therefore, there is a need to develop a new analysis paradigm to resolve the limitations in the current Highway Safety Manual methods. We propose an approach which decomposes the severe crash frequency into a function of the change in the total number of crashes and the probability of a crash becoming a severe crash before and after a countermeasure is implemented. We tested this approach by evaluating the effectiveness of shoulder rumble strips on reducing the number of severe crashes. A total of 310 segments that have had shoulder rumble strips installed during 2002-2009 are included in the analysis. It was found that shoulder rumble strips reduce the total number of crashes, but have no statistically significant effect on reducing the probability of a severe crash outcome. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A comparative gene expression analysis of iron-limited cultures of Chaetoceros socialis and Pseudo-nitzschia arenysensis using newly developed iron assays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdala, Z. M.; Powell, K.; Cronin, D.; Chappell, D.

2016-02-01

A comparative gene expression analysis of iron-limited cultures of Chaetoceros socialis and Pseudo-nitzschia arenysensisusing newly developed iron assays Zuzanna M. Abdala, Kimberly Powell, Dylan P. Cronin, P. Dreux Chappell Diatoms, accounting for about 40% of the primary production in marine ecosystems, play a vital role in the dynamics of marine systems. Iron availability is understood to be a driving factor controlling productivity of many marine phytoplankton, including diatoms, as it functions as a cofactor for many proteins including several involved with photosynthetic processes. Previous work examining transcriptomes of diatoms of the Thalassiosira genus grown in controlled laboratory settings has identified genes whose expression can be used as sensitive markers of iron status. Data mining publically available diatom transcriptome data for these genes enables development of additional iron status assays for environmentally-relevant diatoms. For the present study, gene expression analysis of iron-limited laboratory cultures of Chaetoceros socialis and Pseudo-nitzschia arenysensis grown in continuous light was done using quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). C. socialis and P. arenysensis serve as comparative models for analyzing gene expression in iron limitation in different ecological community assemblages. These data may ultimately assist to illuminate the function of iron in photosynthetic activity in diatoms.

Nanotechnology Applications in Functional Foods; Opportunities and Challenges.

PubMed

Singh, Harjinder

2016-03-01

Increasing knowledge on the link between diet and human health has generated a lot of interest in the development of functional foods. However, several challenges, including discovering of beneficial compounds, establishing optimal intake levels, and developing adequate food delivering matrix and product formulations, need to be addressed. A number of new processes and materials derived from nanotechnology have the potential to provide new solutions in many of these fronts. Nanotechnology is concerned with the manipulation of materials at the atomic and molecular scales to create structures that are less than 100 nm in size in one dimension. By carefully choosing the molecular components, it seems possible to design particles with different surface properties. Several food-based nanodelivery vehicles, such as protein-polysaccharide coacervates, multiple emulsions, liposomes and cochleates have been developed on a laboratory scale, but there have been very limited applications in real food systems. There are also public concerns about potential negative effects of nanotechnology-based delivery systems on human health. This paper provides an overview of the new opportunities and challenges for nanotechnology-based systems in future functional food development.

Solventless, curable fluid oligomeric systems for high performance microwave, acoustical and mechanical applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lefave, G. M.; Stanton, Leo; Foreman, Jim

1994-01-01

While establishing the basis for a 'Technology 2000' product plan several years ago we plugged in the usual factors contributing toward product success: price/performance justifiable; profitable, warranting high quality maintenance, enhancement, and specific property improvement; narrow inventory requirements; and raw material integrable backwards with easily variable properties (molecular weight, functionality, and isomer control). We resolved this by selecting radical functional, low molecular weight polybutadiene liquid polymers. Encouraged by the need for solid rocket binders, several companies embarked on various perceptions of binder performance requirements over four decades ago. Initially dominated by progress of liquid polysulfides, soon a few settled primarily upon polybutadiene based binders. Such an approach in a few instances was exploited quite viably with a series of functional group terminated liquid polybutadienes: hydroxyl, mercaptan, carboxyl, vinyl, and amine. Good results are obtained for oligomers, liquid polymers, and their hybrids. The only significant limits on compounded products has been solvent resistance and oxidative sensitivity, unless sufficient proportion of sulfide or nitrile moiety is incorporated. For convenience, they have been grouped under the trademarks Nylane, Seamax, Oligomax, and Castomax.

Echocardiographic assessment of the right ventricle in the current era: Application in clinical practice.

PubMed

Venkatachalam, Sridhar; Wu, Geru; Ahmad, Masood

2017-12-01

The right ventricle has unique structural and functional characteristics. It is now well recognized that the so-called forgotten ventricle is a key player in cardiovascular physiology. Furthermore, there is accumulating evidence that demonstrates right ventricular dysfunction as an important marker of morbidity and mortality in several commonly encountered clinical situations such as heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary embolism, right ventricular myocardial infarction, and adult congenital heart disease. In contrast to the left ventricle, echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular function is more challenging as volume estimations are not possible without the use of three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography. Guidelines on chamber quantification provide a standardized approach to assessment of the right ventricle. The technique and limitations of each of the parameters for RV size and function need to be fully understood. In this era of multimodality imaging, echocardiography continues to remain a useful tool for the initial assessment and follow-up of patients with right heart pathology. Several novel approaches such as 3D and strain imaging of the right ventricle have expanded the usefulness of this indispensable modality. © 2017, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Gene polymorphisms associated with functional dyspepsia.

PubMed

Kourikou, Anastasia; Karamanolis, George P; Dimitriadis, George D; Triantafyllou, Konstantinos

2015-07-07

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a constellation of functional upper abdominal complaints with poorly elucidated pathophysiology. However, there is increasing evidence that susceptibility to FD is influenced by hereditary factors. Genetic association studies in FD have examined genotypes related to gastrointestinal motility or sensation, as well as those related to inflammation or immune response. G-protein b3 subunit gene polymorphisms were first reported as being associated with FD. Thereafter, several gene polymorphisms including serotonin transporter promoter, interlukin-17F, migration inhibitory factor, cholecystocynine-1 intron 1, cyclooxygenase-1, catechol-o-methyltransferase, transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 receptor, regulated upon activation normal T cell expressed and secreted, p22PHOX, Toll like receptor 2, SCN10A, CD14 and adrenoreceptors have been investigated in relation to FD; however, the results are contradictory. Several limitations underscore the value of current studies. Among others, inconsistencies in the definitions of FD and controls, subject composition differences regarding FD subtypes, inadequate samples, geographical and ethnical differences, as well as unadjusted environmental factors. Further well-designed studies are necessary to determine how targeted genes polymorphisms, influence the clinical manifestations and potentially the therapeutic response in FD.

Long-term trajectories of patients with neck pain and low back pain presenting to chiropractic care: A latent class growth analysis.

PubMed

Ailliet, L; Rubinstein, S M; Hoekstra, T; van Tulder, M W; de Vet, H C W

2018-01-01

Information on the course of neck pain (NP) and low back pain (LBP) typically relies on data collected at few time intervals during a period of up to 1 year. In this prospective, multicentre practice-based cohort study, patients consulting a chiropractor responded weekly for 52 weeks to text messages on their cell phones. Data from 448 patients (153 NP, 295 LBP) who had returned at least one set of answers in the first 26 weeks were used. Outcome measures were pain intensity (VAS) and functional outcome, assessed using four different questions: pain intensity, limitation in activities of daily living (ADL), number of days with pain in the previous week and number of days limited in ADL. Distinct patterns of pain were analysed with quadratic latent class growth analysis. The final model was a 4-class model for NP and LBP. The 'recovering from mild baseline pain' is most common (76.3% of NP patients/58.3% of LBP patients) followed by the 'recovering from severe baseline pain' class (16.3% NP/29.8% LBP). They follow similar trajectories when considered over a period of 6 months. Pain at baseline, duration of complaints, functional status, limitations in ADL and the score on psychosocial scales were the variables that most contributed to distinguish between groups. Most patients with NP or LBP presenting in chiropractic care show a trajectory of symptoms characterized by persistent or fluctuating pain of low or medium intensity. Only a minority either experience a rapid complete recovery or develop chronic severe pain. Ninety percentage of patients with neck pain or low back pain presenting to chiropractors have a 30% improvement within 6 weeks and then show a trajectory of symptoms characterized by persistent or fluctuating pain of low or medium intensity. Only a minority either experience a rapid complete recovery or develop chronic severe pain. © 2017 European Pain Federation - EFIC®.

Assessment of NgR1 Function In Vivo After Spinal Cord Injury

PubMed Central

Tong, Jing; Ren, Yi; Wang, Xiaowei; Dimopoulos, Vassilios G.; Kesler, Henry N.; Liu, Weimin; He, Xiaosheng; Nedergaard, Maiken; Huang, Jason H.

2014-01-01

Background: Neuronal Nogo-66 receptor 1 (NgR1) has attracted attention as a converging point for mediating the effects of myelin-associate inhibitory ligands in the CNS, establishing the growth restrictive environment, and limiting axon regeneration following traumatic injury. Objective: The importance of NgR1 has been undermined by several studies that have shown the lack of substantial axon regeneration following spinal cord injury (SCI) in NgR1 knockout or knockdown animal models. This study aims to investigate the factors that may be contributing to the discrepancy. Methods: We used mice carrying either a homozygous or heterozygous null mutation in the NgR1 gene and subjected them to either a moderate or severe SCI. Results: Locomotor function assessments revealed that the level of functional recovery is affected by the degree of injury suffered. NgR1 ablation enhanced local collateral sprouting in the mutant mice. Reactive astrocytes and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) are upregulated surrounding the injury site. MMP-9, which has been shown to degrade CSPGs, was significantly upregulated in the homozygous mutant mice compared to the heterozygous or wild-type mice. However, CSPG levels remained higher in the homozygous compared to the heterozygous mice, suggesting that CSPG-degrading activity of MMP-9 may require the presence of NgR1. Conclusion: Genetic ablation of NgR1 may lead to significant recovery in locomotor function following SCI. The difference in locomotor recovery we observed between the groups that suffered varying degrees of injury suggests that injury severity may be a confounding factor in functional recovery following SCI. PMID:24594926

Hypoglycaemia and cognitive function.

PubMed

Warren, Roderick E; Frier, Brian M

2005-09-01

Acute hypoglycaemia impairs cerebral function, and available data indicate that cognitive performance becomes impaired at a blood glucose level of 2.6-3.0 mmol/l in healthy subjects. Methodological problems limit comparisons between studies, but in general complex tasks are more sensitive to hypoglycaemia than simple tasks, and some cognitive abilities are completely abolished. The onset of hypoglycaemic cognitive dysfunction is immediate, but recovery may be considerably delayed. There is persuasive evidence of adaptation to hypoglycaemia, partly due to increased brain glucose uptake capacity, although other mechanisms may exist. Patients who are exposed to chronic or recurrent hypoglycaemia become remarkably tolerant to the state, but this is insufficient to prevent severe hypoglycaemia with neuroglycopenic decompensation, probably because symptomatic and counterregulatory responses adapt even more. During experimental hypoglycaemia, administration of non-glucose cerebral fuels preserves cognitive function. However, little progress has been made as yet towards protecting cognitive function during hypoglycaemia in clinical practice. The chronic effects of recurrent hypoglycaemia remain contentious. There are numerous case reports of hypoglycaemic brain damage and of cognitive deterioration attributed to repeated severe hypoglycaemia. The major prospective studies, including the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial, did not report cognitive declines in intensively treated patients, but had unrepresentative study populations and may have been too short to detect such effects. Structural and functional brain changes are not only associated with recurrent severe hypoglycaemia, but also with hyperglycaemia and early disease onset and may in part be due to hyperglycaemic microvascular disease. Children may be more prone to acute metabolic insults, and there is evidence of developmental disadvantage associated with hypoglycaemic episodes.

Determinants of Occupational and Residential Functioning in Bipolar Disorder

PubMed Central

Depp, Colin A; Mausbach, Brent T; Bowie, Christopher; Wolyniec, Paula; Thornquist, Mary H.; Luke, James R.; McGrath, John A.; Pulver, Ann E.; Harvey, Philip D.; Patterson, Thomas L

2013-01-01

Background Bipolar disorder is associated with reduced rates of employment and residential independence. The influence of cognitive impairment and affective symptoms on these functional attainments has received little previous attention and is the focus of this study. Method A total of 229 adult outpatients with bipolar disorder without active substance use disorders and with an average of mild severity of affective symptoms were included in the analyses. After adjusting for sociodemographic and illness history covariates, univariate and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate the independent and interactive associations of neurocognitive ability, performance-based functional capacity, and affective symptom severity with residential independence, occupational status and number of hours worked. Results A total of 30% of the sample was unemployed and 18% were not independently residing. Neurocognitive ability was the strongest predictor of any employment, but depressive symptom severity was the only variable significantly related to hours worked. The strongest predictor of residential independence was performance-based functional capacity. Affective symptoms and neurocognitive ability were independent (non-interactive) predictors of occupational and residential status. Limitations This is a cross-sectional study and thus causal direction among variables is unknown. The sample was ethnically homogeneous and thus the results may not generalize to ethnically diverse samples. Conclusions This study confirmed elevated rates of unemployment and residential non-independence in adults with bipolar disorder. Interventions targeting cognitive deficits and functional capacity may increase the likelihood of any employment or residential independence, respectively. Interventions targeting depressive symptoms may be most influential on work outcomes among those already employed. PMID:22129770

[Congenital myotonic dystrophy in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: case series].

PubMed

Domingues, Sara; Alves Pereira, Clara; Machado, Angela; Pereira, Sandra; Machado, Leonilde; Fraga, Carla; Oliveira, Abílio; Vale, Isabel; Quelhas, Ilídio

2014-02-01

Steinert myotonic dystrophy is a multisystemic disease, autosomal dominant, with a wide spectrum of severity and clinical manifestations. The most severe form is one that manifests in the neonatal period, called congenital myotonic dystrophy. This condition is distinguished by overall hypotonia at birth and respiratory function compromise. Complications are frequent, mainly psychomotor development delay, growth failure, food difficulties and constipation. It is associated with a poor prognosis, with an overall mortality of up to 50% of severely affected children. We present five patients with congenital myotonic dystrophy in order to describe clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. Existing data in the literature on psychomotor development, complications and prognosis of survivors with congenital myotonic dystrophy are scarce. In our case studies, we have found significant chronic psychomotor limitations.

An Investigation of the Optical Microvariability of the Blazar PG 0735+178

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McFarland, J. P.; Miller, H. R.; Carini, M. T.; Jang, M.; Noble, J. C.

2003-05-01

The blazar PG 0735+178 was monitored for more than 20 nights for microvariability on multiple timescales. We present this data which shows variations of amplitude several hundredths to several tenths of a magnitude on timescales of hours to days. The object also has exhibited variations with an amplitude as large as 2 magnitudes on the timescale of years. This microvariability will be investigated as a function of outburst and quiescent states of the object over the course of these timescales. These variations place severe limits on the size of the emitting region, and provide constraints for the physical processes responsible for these variations. JPM and HRM are grateful for support of a grant from the Research Corporation and the PEGA-RPE program at Georgia State University.

Personal and Contextual Factors Affecting the Functional Ability of Children and Adolescents with Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review.

PubMed

Sinclair, Cate M; Meredith, Pamela; Strong, Jenny; Feeney, Rachel

2016-05-01

Chronic pain can significantly impair functioning of children and adolescents; however, evidence suggests that current psychological approaches have limited effect on functioning post treatment. The objective of this review is to present the current evidence for the personal and contextual factors that affect functioning and disability of children and adolescents with chronic pain, to support the evolution of new treatments. Key word searches were conducted in PsycINFO, MEDLINE via Ovid, CINAHL, and PubMed from 1995 to October 2014. Studies were included if they (1) were written in English, (2) included children or adolescents with chronic pain (>3 mo), (3) had at least 1 personal attribute or 1 contextual factor, (4) had 1 measure of functional ability, and (5) had reported correlations between personal or contextual factors and functional measure. Thirty-three studies were identified which met all inclusion criteria. Several personal factors (depression, anxiety, pain intensity, and catastrophizing) and contextual/environmental factors (parenting characteristics) were consistently associated with higher levels of disability, whereas evidence for other factors was less consistent. Complex interactions between personal and contextual factors were reported. Child physical/cognitive capacities, teacher/peer behaviors, and broader cultural and environmental social systems, received little attention. Several parent and child factors were consistently linked with functional disability, whereas better family functioning was associated with functional ability. Applying an ecological framework, assisted identification of areas for further research, and provides direction for treatments that may be more effective in optimizing long-term functional outcomes, extending current psychological approaches.

Structural symmetry and protein function.

PubMed

Goodsell, D S; Olson, A J

2000-01-01

The majority of soluble and membrane-bound proteins in modern cells are symmetrical oligomeric complexes with two or more subunits. The evolutionary selection of symmetrical oligomeric complexes is driven by functional, genetic, and physicochemical needs. Large proteins are selected for specific morphological functions, such as formation of rings, containers, and filaments, and for cooperative functions, such as allosteric regulation and multivalent binding. Large proteins are also more stable against denaturation and have a reduced surface area exposed to solvent when compared with many individual, smaller proteins. Large proteins are constructed as oligomers for reasons of error control in synthesis, coding efficiency, and regulation of assembly. Symmetrical oligomers are favored because of stability and finite control of assembly. Several functions limit symmetry, such as interaction with DNA or membranes, and directional motion. Symmetry is broken or modified in many forms: quasisymmetry, in which identical subunits adopt similar but different conformations; pleomorphism, in which identical subunits form different complexes; pseudosymmetry, in which different molecules form approximately symmetrical complexes; and symmetry mismatch, in which oligomers of different symmetries interact along their respective symmetry axes. Asymmetry is also observed at several levels. Nearly all complexes show local asymmetry at the level of side chain conformation. Several complexes have reciprocating mechanisms in which the complex is asymmetric, but, over time, all subunits cycle through the same set of conformations. Global asymmetry is only rarely observed. Evolution of oligomeric complexes may favor the formation of dimers over complexes with higher cyclic symmetry, through a mechanism of prepositioned pairs of interacting residues. However, examples have been found for all of the crystallographic point groups, demonstrating that functional need can drive the evolution of any symmetry.

A Comparison of Voice Activity and Participation Profiles Among Etiological Groups.

PubMed

Lee, Seung Jin; Choi, Hong-Shik; Kim, HyangHee

2018-05-11

The purpose of this study was to determine whether patients with functional voice disorders show voice activity and participation profiles different from those of the organic and neurogenic groups. The Korean Version of the Voice Activity and Participation Profile (K-VAPP) was administered to 200 participants (150 patients with functional, organic, and neurogenic voice disorders, 50 for each etiological group, 50 controls without vocal complaint). The K-VAPP subscale scores of the etiological groups were compared, controlling for age, professional use of voice, and severity of voice disorder measured by overall severity of the Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V). Results of a one-way analysis of variance indicated significant differences in the overall severity across groups (neurogenic > functional = organic > control). Among four groups, the organic group showed higher mean Z-scores of the K-VAPP than the control group, and the functional group showed higher mean Z-scores of the K-VAPP than the organic group. Compared with the neurogenic group, the functional group showed lower mean Z-scores for total score, Activity Limitation Score, SUB3, and SUB5. A comparison among three etiological groups showed that the functional group did not show higher scores than the organic group. On the contrary, the functional group showed a lower total score, Participation Restriction Score, and score for subsection 3 (effect on daily communication) than the neurogenic group. Psychometric assessment of voice disorders using the K-VAPP could provide clinicians with baseline information that is applicable to various voice disorders. Further studies pertaining to the follow-up of voice disorders with various etiologies are needed to extend its clinical usefulness. Copyright © 2018 The Voice Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Functional brain networks in Alzheimer's disease: EEG analysis based on limited penetrable visibility graph and phase space method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jiang; Yang, Chen; Wang, Ruofan; Yu, Haitao; Cao, Yibin; Liu, Jing

2016-10-01

In this paper, EEG series are applied to construct functional connections with the correlation between different regions in order to investigate the nonlinear characteristic and the cognitive function of the brain with Alzheimer's disease (AD). First, limited penetrable visibility graph (LPVG) and phase space method map single EEG series into networks, and investigate the underlying chaotic system dynamics of AD brain. Topological properties of the networks are extracted, such as average path length and clustering coefficient. It is found that the network topology of AD in several local brain regions are different from that of the control group with no statistically significant difference existing all over the brain. Furthermore, in order to detect the abnormality of AD brain as a whole, functional connections among different brain regions are reconstructed based on similarity of clustering coefficient sequence (CCSS) of EEG series in the four frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, and beta), which exhibit obvious small-world properties. Graph analysis demonstrates that for both methodologies, the functional connections between regions of AD brain decrease, particularly in the alpha frequency band. AD causes the graph index complexity of the functional network decreased, the small-world properties weakened, and the vulnerability increased. The obtained results show that the brain functional network constructed by LPVG and phase space method might be more effective to distinguish AD from the normal control than the analysis of single series, which is helpful for revealing the underlying pathological mechanism of the disease.

Advantages and disadvantages of using the PRISMA7 to determine the elderly subjects for whom the SMAF is useful for assessing functional status in Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso).

PubMed

Berthé, A; Somda, M A S; Berthé-Sanou, L; Konaté, B; Hien, H; Bayala, E; Tou, F; Drabo, M; Badini-Kinda, F; Macq, J

2017-02-01

One of the difficulties faced by African actors working with the elderly is the lack of appropriate tools for the identification and/or diagnosis of functional disabilities among older people in this limited-resource (material, human, and financial) setting. This study sought to assess the advantages and disadvantages of the combined use of two tools, PRISMA7 (for identifying older individuals at risk of functional disabilities and loss of autonomy) and SMAF (to evaluate the functional status of the elderly) in Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso). PRISMA7 and SMAF were administered to a representative sample of elderly people who lived at home. Data analysis was performed with Stata. The results show that the combination of PRISMA7 and SMAF made it possible to avoid unncessary administration of the SMAF to all subjects, reducing the number of questionnaires to photocopy by 48 % and the working time by 45 %. The prevalence of moderate to severe functional disabilities was 32 % according to the SMAF alone and 25 % when PRISMA7 was administered first and determined whether the SMAF would be used. The 7 % rate of loss to follow-up shows a need for monitoring or help, generally in instrumental activities. In a limited-resource setting, this combination is a good strategy for identifying and evaluating functional disabilities in the elderly. This strategy allows the development of work plans tailored to individual functional needs.

Estimation of the four-wave mixing noise probability-density function by the multicanonical Monte Carlo method.

PubMed

Neokosmidis, Ioannis; Kamalakis, Thomas; Chipouras, Aristides; Sphicopoulos, Thomas

2005-01-01

The performance of high-powered wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) optical networks can be severely degraded by four-wave-mixing- (FWM-) induced distortion. The multicanonical Monte Carlo method (MCMC) is used to calculate the probability-density function (PDF) of the decision variable of a receiver, limited by FWM noise. Compared with the conventional Monte Carlo method previously used to estimate this PDF, the MCMC method is much faster and can accurately estimate smaller error probabilities. The method takes into account the correlation between the components of the FWM noise, unlike the Gaussian model, which is shown not to provide accurate results.

A functional magnetic resonance imaging investigation of episodic memory after traumatic brain injury.

PubMed

Russell, Kathryn C; Arenth, Patricia M; Scanlon, Joelle M; Kessler, Lauren J; Ricker, Joseph H

2011-06-01

Traumatic brain injury often negatively impacts episodic memory; however, studies of the neural substrates of this impairment have been limited. In this study, both encoding and recognition of visually presented stimuli were examined with functional magnetic resonance imaging. Twelve adults with chronic complicated mild, moderate, and severe injuries were compared with a matched group of 12 controls. Behavioral task performance did not differentiate the groups. During neuroimaging, however, the group of individuals with traumatic brain injury exhibited increased activation, as well as increased bilaterality and dispersion as compared to controls. Findings are discussed in terms of increased resource recruitment.

The Diverse Structures and Functions of Surfactant Proteins.

PubMed

Schor, Marieke; Reid, Jack L; MacPhee, Cait E; Stanley-Wall, Nicola R

2016-07-01

Surface tension at liquid-air interfaces is a major barrier that needs to be surmounted by a wide range of organisms; surfactant and interfacially active proteins have evolved for this purpose. Although these proteins are essential for a variety of biological processes, our understanding of how they elicit their function has been limited. However, with the recent determination of high-resolution 3D structures of several examples, we have gained insight into the distinct shapes and mechanisms that have evolved to confer interfacial activity. It is now a matter of harnessing this information, and these systems, for biotechnological purposes. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Density Functional Theory Calculations of the Role of Defects in Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johlin, Eric; Wagner, Lucas; Buonassisi, Tonio; Grossman, Jeffrey C.

2010-03-01

Amorphous silicon holds promise as a cheap and efficient material for thin-film photovoltaic devices. However, current device efficiencies are severely limited by the low mobility of holes in the bulk amorphous silicon material, the cause of which is not yet fully understood. This work employs a statistical analysis of density functional theory calculations to uncover the implications of a range of defects (including internal strain and substitution impurities) on the trapping and mobility of holes, and thereby also on the total conversion efficiency. We investigate the root causes of this low mobility and attempt to provide suggestions for simple methods of improving this property.

PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT OF LIMB CONTRACTURES IN NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASES

PubMed Central

Skalsky, Andrew J.; McDonald, Craig M.

2012-01-01

Synopsis Limb contractures are a common impairment in neuromuscular diseases (NMD). They contribute to increased disability due to decreased motor performance, mobility limitations, reduced functional range of motion, loss of function for activities of daily living (ADL), and increased pain. The pathogenesis of contractures is multifactorial. Myopathic conditions are associated with more severe limb contractures in comparison to neuropathic disorders. Although the evidence supporting the efficacy of multiple interventions to improve ROM in NMD in a sustained manner is lacking, there are generally accepted principles with regard to splinting, bracing, stretching, and surgery that help minimize the impact or disability from the contractures. PMID:22938881

Computed Tomographic Airway Morphology in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Remodeling or Innate Anatomy?

PubMed

Diaz, Alejandro A; Estépar, Raul San José; Washko, George R

2016-01-01

Computed tomographic measures of central airway morphology have been used in clinical, epidemiologic, and genetic investigation as an inference of the presence and severity of small-airway disease in smokers. Although several association studies have brought us to believe that these computed tomographic measures reflect airway remodeling, a careful review of such data and more recent evidence may reveal underappreciated complexity to these measures and limitations that prompt us to question that belief. This Perspective offers a review of seminal papers and alternative explanations of their data in the light of more recent evidence. The relationships between airway morphology and lung function are observed in subjects who never smoked, implying that native airway structure indeed contributes to lung function; computed tomographic measures of central airways such as wall area, lumen area, and total bronchial area are smaller in smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease versus those without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and the airways are smaller as disease severity increases. The observations suggest that (1) native airway morphology likely contributes to the relationships between computed tomographic measures of airways and lung function; and (2) the presence of smaller airways in those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease versus those without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as well as their decrease with disease severity suggests that smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may simply have smaller airways to begin with, which put them at greater risk for the development of smoking-related disease.

NITRIC OXIDE FOR THE ADJUNCTIVE TREATMENT OF SEVERE MALARIA: HYPOTHESIS AND RATIONALE

PubMed Central

Hawkes, Michael; Opoka, Robert Opika; Namasopo, Sophie; Miller, Christopher; Conroy, Andrea L.; Serghides, Lena; Kim, Hani; Thampi, Nisha; Liles, W. Conrad; John, Chandy C.; Kain, Kevin C.

2011-01-01

We hypothesize that supplemental inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) will improve outcomes in children with severe malaria receiving standard antimalarial therapy. The rationale for the hypothesized efficacy of iNO rests on: (1) biological plausibility, based on known actions of NO in modulating endothelial activation; (2) pre-clinical efficacy data from animal models of experimental cerebral malaria; and (3) a human trial of the NO precursor L-arginine, which improved endothelial function in adults with severe malaria. iNO is an attractive new candidate for the adjunctive treatment of severe malaria, given its proven therapeutic efficacy in animal studies, track record of safety in clinical practice and numerous clinical trials, inexpensive manufacturing costs, and ease of administration in settings with limited healthcare infrastructure. We plan to test this hypothesis in a randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01255215). PMID:21745716

Investigating Mechanisms of Chronic Kidney Disease in Mouse Models

PubMed Central

Eddy, Allison A.; Okamura, Daryl M.; Yamaguchi, Ikuyo; López-Guisa, Jesús M.

2011-01-01

Animal models of chronic kidney disease (CKD) are important experimental tools that are used to investigate novel mechanistic pathways and to validate potential new therapeutic interventions prior to pre-clinical testing in humans. Over the past several years, mouse CKD models have been extensively used for these purposes. Despite significant limitations, the model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) has essentially become the high throughput in vivo model, as it recapitulates the fundamental pathogenetic mechanisms that typify all forms of CKD in a relatively short time span. In addition, several alternative mouse models are available that can be used to validate new mechanistic paradigms and/or novel therapies. Several models are reviewed – both genetic and experimentally induced – that provide investigators with an opportunity to include renal functional study end-points together with quantitative measures of fibrosis severity, something that is not possible with the UUO model. PMID:21695449

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Patients Following Massive and Submassive Pulmonary Embolism.

PubMed

Albaghdadi, Mazen S; Dudzinski, David M; Giordano, Nicholas; Kabrhel, Christopher; Ghoshhajra, Brian; Jaff, Michael R; Weinberg, Ido; Baggish, Aaron

2018-03-03

Little data exist regarding the functional capacity of patients following acute pulmonary embolism. We sought to characterize the natural history of symptom burden, right ventricular (RV) structure and function, and exercise capacity among survivors of massive and submassive pulmonary embolism. Survivors of submassive or massive pulmonary embolism (n=20, age 57±13.3 years, 8/20 female) underwent clinical evaluation, transthoracic echocardiography, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing at 1 and 6 months following hospital discharge. At 1 month, 9/20 (45%) patients had New York Heart Association II or greater symptoms, 13/20 (65%) demonstrated either persistent RV dilation or systolic dysfunction, and 14/20 (70%) had objective exercise impairment as defined by a peak oxygen consumption (V˙O 2 ) of <80% of age-sex predicted maximal values (16.25 [13.4-20.98] mL/kg per minute). At 6 months, no appreciable improvements in symptom severity, RV structure or function, and peak V˙O 2 (17.45 [14.08-22.48] mL/kg per minute, P =NS) were observed. No patients demonstrated an exercise limitation attributable to either RV/pulmonary vascular coupling, as defined by a VE/VCO 2 slope >33, or a pulmonary mechanical limit to exercise at either time point. Similarly, persistent RV dilation or dysfunction was not significantly related to symptom burden or peak V˙O 2 at either time point. Persistent symptoms, abnormalities of RV structure and function, and objective exercise limitation are common among survivors of massive and submassive pulmonary embolism. Functional impairment appears to be attributable to general deconditioning rather than intrinsic cardiopulmonary limitation, suggesting an important role for prescribed exercise rehabilitation as a means toward improved patient outcomes and quality of life. © 2018 The Authors. Published on behalf of the American Heart Association, Inc., by Wiley.

Nonlinear optical interactions in silicon waveguides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuyken, B.; Leo, F.; Clemmen, S.; Dave, U.; Van Laer, R.; Ideguchi, T.; Zhao, H.; Liu, X.; Safioui, J.; Coen, S.; Gorza, S. P.; Selvaraja, S. K.; Massar, S.; Osgood, R. M.; Verheyen, P.; Van Campenhout, J.; Baets, R.; Green, W. M. J.; Roelkens, G.

2017-03-01

The strong nonlinear response of silicon photonic nanowire waveguides allows for the integration of nonlinear optical functions on a chip. However, the detrimental nonlinear optical absorption in silicon at telecom wavelengths limits the efficiency of many such experiments. In this review, several approaches are proposed and demonstrated to overcome this fundamental issue. By using the proposed methods, we demonstrate amongst others supercontinuum generation, frequency comb generation, a parametric optical amplifier, and a parametric optical oscillator.

Advanced Airborne Defensive Laser for Incorporation on Strike Fighter Aircraft

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-09-01

Systems within the Pod The Cyclops pod contains several systems working together to perform the high - level functions. The status of these systems must be...by the aircraft is limited, and Cyclops power requirements are high . commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) Ram Air Turbines are available and are...Supply Subsystem The Cyclops pod must generate its own power due to lack of available power from the aircraft; therefore, the Power supply has high

Tunable Thermal Radiative Properties of Nanotube and Nanowire Arrays

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-06-28

1t does not display a currently valid OMB control number PLEASE DO NOT RETURN YOUR FORM TO THE ABOVE ORGANIZATION. 1. REPORT DATE (DD-MM-YYYY) 12...band. Several dielectric function models have been developed to account for different mechanisms, such as Drude’s model for free electrons and...Lorentz oscillator model for phonons [7]. However, the parameters in these models are typically obtained from experiments, limiting their applications in

RNA-seq analysis identifies an intricate regulatory network controlling cluster root development in white lupin

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Highly adapted plant species are able to alter their root architecture to improve nutrient uptake and thrive in environments with limited nutrient supply. Cluster roots (CRs) are specialised structures of dense lateral roots formed by several plant species for the effective mining of nutrient rich soil patches through a combination of increased surface area and exudation of carboxylates. White lupin is becoming a model-species allowing for the discovery of gene networks involved in CR development. A greater understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms driving these developmental processes is important for the generation of smarter plants for a world with diminishing resources to improve food security. Results RNA-seq analyses for three developmental stages of the CR formed under phosphorus-limited conditions and two of non-cluster roots have been performed for white lupin. In total 133,045,174 high-quality paired-end reads were used for a de novo assembly of the root transcriptome and merged with LAGI01 (Lupinus albus gene index) to generate an improved LAGI02 with 65,097 functionally annotated contigs. This was followed by comparative gene expression analysis. We show marked differences in the transcriptional response across the various cluster root stages to adjust to phosphate limitation by increasing uptake capacity and adjusting metabolic pathways. Several transcription factors such as PLT, SCR, PHB, PHV or AUX/IAA with a known role in the control of meristem activity and developmental processes show an increased expression in the tip of the CR. Genes involved in hormonal responses (PIN, LAX, YUC) and cell cycle control (CYCA/B, CDK) are also differentially expressed. In addition, we identify primary transcripts of miRNAs with established function in the root meristem. Conclusions Our gene expression analysis shows an intricate network of transcription factors and plant hormones controlling CR initiation and formation. In addition, functional differences between the different CR developmental stages in the acclimation to phosphorus starvation have been identified. PMID:24666749

Structural and functional differences in the cingulate cortex relate to disease severity in anorexia nervosa

PubMed Central

Bär, Karl-Jürgen; de la Cruz, Feliberto; Berger, Sandy; Schultz, Carl Christoph; Wagner, Gerd

2015-01-01

Background The dysfunction of specific brain areas might account for the distortion of body image in patients with anorexia nervosa. The present study was designed to reveal brain regions that are abnormal in structure and function in patients with this disorder. We hypothesized, based on brain areas of altered activity in patients with anorexia nervosa and regions involved in pain processing, an interrelation of structural aberrations in the frontoparietal–cingulate network and aberrant functional activation during thermal pain processing in patients with the disorder. Methods We determined pain thresholds outside the MRI scanner in patients with anorexia nervosa and matched healthy controls. Thereafter, thermal pain stimuli were applied during fMRI imaging. Structural analyses with high-resolution structural T1-weighted volumes were performed using voxel-based morphometry and a surface-based approach. Results Twenty-six patients and 26 controls participated in our study, and owing to technical difficulties, 15 participants in each group were included in our fMRI analysis. Structural analyses revealed significantly decreased grey matter volume and cortical thickness in the frontoparietal–cingulate network in patients with anorexia nervosa. We detected an increased blood oxygen level–dependent signal in patients during the painful 45°C condition in the midcingulate and posterior cingulate cortex, which positively correlated with increased pain thresholds. Decreased grey matter and cortical thickness correlated negatively with pain thresholds, symptom severity and illness duration, but not with body mass index. Limitations The lack of a specific quantification of body image distortion is a limitation of our study. Conclusion This study provides further evidence for confined structural and functional brain abnormalities in patients with anorexia nervosa in brain regions that are involved in perception and integration of bodily stimuli. The association of structural and functional deviations with thermal thresholds as well as with clinical characteristics might indicate a common neuronal origin. PMID:25825813

Measurement properties of gait-related outcomes in youth with neuromuscular diagnoses: a systematic review.

PubMed

Ammann-Reiffer, Corinne; Bastiaenen, Caroline H G; de Bie, Rob A; van Hedel, Hubertus J A

2014-08-01

Sound measurement properties of outcome tools are essential when evaluating outcomes of an intervention, in clinical practice and in research. The purpose of this study was to review the evidence on reliability, measurement error, and responsiveness of measures of gait function in children with neuromuscular diagnoses. The MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, and PsycINFO databases were searched up to June 15, 2012. Studies evaluating reliability, measurement error, or responsiveness of measures of gait function in 1- to 18-year-old children and youth with neuromuscular diagnoses were included. Quality of the studies was independently rated by 2 raters using a modified COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist. Studies with a fair quality rating or better were considered for best evidence synthesis. Regarding the methodological quality, 32 out of 35 reliability studies, all of the 13 measurement error studies, and 5 out of 10 responsiveness studies were of fair or good quality. Best evidence synthesis revealed moderate to strong evidence for reliability for several measures in children and youth with cerebral palsy (CP) but was limited or unknown in other diagnoses. The Functional Mobility Scale (FMS) and the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) dimension E showed limited positive evidence for responsiveness in children with CP, but it was unknown or controversial in other diagnoses. No information was reported on the minimal important change; thus, evidence on measurement error remained undetermined. As studies on validity were not included in the review, a comprehensive appraisal of the best available gait-related outcome measure per diagnosis is not possible. There is moderate to strong evidence on reliability for several measures of gait function in children and youth with CP, whereas evidence on responsiveness exists only for the FMS and the GMFM dimension E. © 2014 American Physical Therapy Association.

Examination of the relation between body mass index, functional level and health-related quality of life in children with cerebral palsy

PubMed Central

Şimşek, Tülay Tarsuslu; Tuç, Gamze

2014-01-01

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the relation between body mass index (BMI) and functional level and health-related quality of life in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Material and Methods: Two hundred seventy-eight children with CP aged between 2 and 18 years were included in the study. The sociodemographic properties of the children were recorded. Their functional independence levels were assessed with WeeFIM and their health-related quality of life levels were assessed with the Child Health Questionnaire-Parent Form (PF-50). Approval was obtained from the ethics committee of Abant İzzet Baysal University Medical Faculty for this study (Number: 2008/100-77). Results: When classified by body mass index, 26.3% of the children had a normal body weight, 5.4% were overweight, 11.5% were obese and 56.8% had a low body weight. The rate of low body weight was higher in children with moderate and severe CP (52.7% and 53.8%, respectively), while the rate of obesity was higher in children with mild CP who could walk (7.1%). A significant difference was found in children with CP with a normal body weight, overweight children with CP, obese children with CP and children with CP with a low body weight in terms of the total WeeFIM score and the variables of quality of life including physical functionality and role/social limitations because of physical health (p<0.05). In the correlation analysis, a positive correlation was found between WeeFIM and BMI and the subdimensions of role/social limitations because of emotional or behavioral difficulties, pain and discomfort and self-esteem (p<0.05). Conclusions: Our results showed that BMI affected functional independence and health-related quality of life in children with CP and this was more prominent in children who had severe CP and low BMI values. More studies are needed in this area. PMID:26078648

C-mii: a tool for plant miRNA and target identification.

PubMed

Numnark, Somrak; Mhuantong, Wuttichai; Ingsriswang, Supawadee; Wichadakul, Duangdao

2012-01-01

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been known to play an important role in several biological processes in both animals and plants. Although several tools for miRNA and target identification are available, the number of tools tailored towards plants is limited, and those that are available have specific functionality, lack graphical user interfaces, and restrict the number of input sequences. Large-scale computational identifications of miRNAs and/or targets of several plants have been also reported. Their methods, however, are only described as flow diagrams, which require programming skills and the understanding of input and output of the connected programs to reproduce. To overcome these limitations and programming complexities, we proposed C-mii as a ready-made software package for both plant miRNA and target identification. C-mii was designed and implemented based on established computational steps and criteria derived from previous literature with the following distinguishing features. First, software is easy to install with all-in-one programs and packaged databases. Second, it comes with graphical user interfaces (GUIs) for ease of use. Users can identify plant miRNAs and targets via step-by-step execution, explore the detailed results from each step, filter the results according to proposed constraints in plant miRNA and target biogenesis, and export sequences and structures of interest. Third, it supplies bird's eye views of the identification results with infographics and grouping information. Fourth, in terms of functionality, it extends the standard computational steps of miRNA target identification with miRNA-target folding and GO annotation. Fifth, it provides helper functions for the update of pre-installed databases and automatic recovery. Finally, it supports multi-project and multi-thread management. C-mii constitutes the first complete software package with graphical user interfaces enabling computational identification of both plant miRNA genes and miRNA targets. With the provided functionalities, it can help accelerate the study of plant miRNAs and targets, especially for small and medium plant molecular labs without bioinformaticians. C-mii is freely available at http://www.biotec.or.th/isl/c-mii for both Windows and Ubuntu Linux platforms.

C-mii: a tool for plant miRNA and target identification

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been known to play an important role in several biological processes in both animals and plants. Although several tools for miRNA and target identification are available, the number of tools tailored towards plants is limited, and those that are available have specific functionality, lack graphical user interfaces, and restrict the number of input sequences. Large-scale computational identifications of miRNAs and/or targets of several plants have been also reported. Their methods, however, are only described as flow diagrams, which require programming skills and the understanding of input and output of the connected programs to reproduce. Results To overcome these limitations and programming complexities, we proposed C-mii as a ready-made software package for both plant miRNA and target identification. C-mii was designed and implemented based on established computational steps and criteria derived from previous literature with the following distinguishing features. First, software is easy to install with all-in-one programs and packaged databases. Second, it comes with graphical user interfaces (GUIs) for ease of use. Users can identify plant miRNAs and targets via step-by-step execution, explore the detailed results from each step, filter the results according to proposed constraints in plant miRNA and target biogenesis, and export sequences and structures of interest. Third, it supplies bird's eye views of the identification results with infographics and grouping information. Fourth, in terms of functionality, it extends the standard computational steps of miRNA target identification with miRNA-target folding and GO annotation. Fifth, it provides helper functions for the update of pre-installed databases and automatic recovery. Finally, it supports multi-project and multi-thread management. Conclusions C-mii constitutes the first complete software package with graphical user interfaces enabling computational identification of both plant miRNA genes and miRNA targets. With the provided functionalities, it can help accelerate the study of plant miRNAs and targets, especially for small and medium plant molecular labs without bioinformaticians. C-mii is freely available at http://www.biotec.or.th/isl/c-mii for both Windows and Ubuntu Linux platforms. PMID:23281648

Vital Signs: Prevalence of Doctor-Diagnosed Arthritis and Arthritis-Attributable Activity Limitation - United States, 2013-2015.

PubMed

Barbour, Kamil E; Helmick, Charles G; Boring, Michael; Brady, Teresa J

2017-03-10

In the United States, doctor-diagnosed arthritis is a common and disabling chronic condition. Arthritis can lead to severe joint pain and poor physical function, and it can negatively affect quality of life. CDC analyzed 2013-2015 data from the National Health Interview Survey, an annual, nationally representative, in-person interview survey of the health status and behaviors of the noninstitutionalized civilian U.S. adult population, to update previous prevalence estimates of arthritis and arthritis-attributable activity limitations. On average, during 2013-2015, 54.4 million (22.7%) adults had doctor-diagnosed arthritis, and 23.7 million (43.5% of those with arthritis) had arthritis-attributable activity limitations (an age-adjusted increase of approximately 20% in the proportion of adults with arthritis reporting activity limitations since 2002 [p-trend <0.001]). Among adults with heart disease, diabetes, and obesity, the prevalences of doctor-diagnosed arthritis were 49.3%, 47.1%, and 30.6%, respectively; the prevalences of arthritis-attributable activity limitations among adults with these conditions and arthritis were 54.5% (heart disease), 54.0% (diabetes), and 49.0% (obesity). The prevalence of arthritis is high, particularly among adults with comorbid conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Furthermore, the prevalence of arthritis-attributable activity limitations is high and increasing over time. Approximately half of adults with arthritis and heart disease, arthritis and diabetes, or arthritis and obesity are limited by their arthritis. Greater use of evidence-based physical activity and self-management education interventions can reduce pain and improve function and quality of life for adults with arthritis and also for adults with other chronic conditions who might be limited by their arthritis.

Vital Signs: Prevalence of Doctor-Diagnosed Arthritis and Arthritis-Attributable Activity Limitation — United States, 2013–2015

PubMed Central

Helmick, Charles G.; Boring, Michael; Brady, Teresa J.

2017-01-01

Background In the United States, doctor-diagnosed arthritis is a common and disabling chronic condition. Arthritis can lead to severe joint pain and poor physical function, and it can negatively affect quality of life. Methods CDC analyzed 2013–2015 data from the National Health Interview Survey, an annual, nationally representative, in-person interview survey of the health status and behaviors of the noninstitutionalized civilian U.S. adult population, to update previous prevalence estimates of arthritis and arthritis-attributable activity limitations. Results On average, during 2013–2015, 54.4 million (22.7%) adults had doctor-diagnosed arthritis, and 23.7 million (43.5% of those with arthritis) had arthritis-attributable activity limitations (an age-adjusted increase of approximately 20% in the proportion of adults with arthritis reporting activity limitations since 2002 [p-trend <0.001]). Among adults with heart disease, diabetes, and obesity, the prevalences of doctor-diagnosed arthritis were 49.3%, 47.1%, and 30.6%, respectively; the prevalences of arthritis-attributable activity limitations among adults with these conditions and arthritis were 54.5% (heart disease), 54.0% (diabetes), and 49.0% (obesity). Conclusions and Comments The prevalence of arthritis is high, particularly among adults with comorbid conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Furthermore, the prevalence of arthritis-attributable activity limitations is high and increasing over time. Approximately half of adults with arthritis and heart disease, arthritis and diabetes, or arthritis and obesity are limited by their arthritis. Greater use of evidence-based physical activity and self-management education interventions can reduce pain and improve function and quality of life for adults with arthritis and also for adults with other chronic conditions who might be limited by their arthritis. PMID:28278145

Type 2 diabetes mellitus and exercise impairment.

PubMed

Reusch, Jane E B; Bridenstine, Mark; Regensteiner, Judith G

2013-03-01

Limitations in physical fitness, a consistent finding in individuals with both type I and type 2 diabetes mellitus, correlate strongly with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. These limitations may significantly contribute to the persistent excess cardiovascular mortality affecting this group. Exercise impairments in VO2 peak and VO2 kinetics manifest early on in diabetes, even with good glycemic control and in the absence of clinically apparent complications. Subclinical cardiac dysfunction is often present but does not fully explain the observed defect in exercise capacity in persons with diabetes. In part, the cardiac limitations are secondary to decreased perfusion with exercise challenge. This is a reversible defect. Similarly, in the skeletal muscle, impairments in nutritive blood flow correlate with slowed (or inefficient) exercise kinetics and decreased exercise capacity. Several correlations highlight the likelihood of endothelial-specific impairments as mediators of exercise dysfunction in diabetes, including insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, decreased myocardial perfusion, slowed tissue hemoglobin oxygen saturation, and impairment in mitochondrial function. Both exercise training and therapies targeted at improving insulin sensitivity and endothelial function improve physical fitness in subjects with type 2 diabetes. Optimization of exercise functions in people with diabetes has implications for diabetes prevention and reductions in mortality risk. Understanding the molecular details of endothelial dysfunction in diabetes may provide specific therapeutic targets for the remediation of this defect. Rat models to test this hypothesis are under study.

Identifying Older Adults with Serious Illness: A Critical Step toward Improving the Value of Health Care.

PubMed

Kelley, Amy S; Covinsky, Kenneth E; Gorges, Rebecca J; McKendrick, Karen; Bollens-Lund, Evan; Morrison, R Sean; Ritchie, Christine S

2017-02-01

To create and test three prospective, increasingly restrictive definitions of serious illness. Health and Retirement Study, 2000-2012. We evaluated subjects' 1-year outcomes from the interview date when they first met each definition: (A) one or more severe medical conditions (Condition) and/or receiving assistance with activities of daily living (Functional Limitation); (B) Condition and/or Functional Limitation and hospital admission in the last 12 months and/or residing in a nursing home (Utilization); and (C) Condition and Functional Limitation and Utilization. Definitions are increasingly restrictive, but not mutually exclusive. Of 11,577 eligible subjects, 5,297 met definition A; 3,151 definition B; and 1,447 definition C. One-year outcomes were as follows: hospitalization 33 percent (A), 44 percent (B), 47 percent (C); total average Medicare costs $20,566 (A), $26,349 (B), and $30,828 (C); and mortality 13 percent (A), 19 percent (B), 28 percent (C). In comparison, among those meeting no definition, 12 percent had hospitalizations, total Medicare costs averaged $7,789, and 2 percent died. Prospective identification of older adults with serious illness is feasible using clinically accessible criteria and may be a critical step toward improving health care value. These definitions may aid clinicians and health systems in targeting patients who could benefit from additional services. © Health Research and Educational Trust.

a Review of Retinal Prosthesis Approaches

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kien, Tran Trung; Maul, Tomas; Bargiela, Andrzej

Age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa are two of the most common diseases that cause degeneration in the outer retina, which can lead to several visual impairments up to blindness. Vision restoration is an important goal for which several different research approaches are currently being pursued. We are concerned with restoration via retinal prosthetic devices. Prostheses can be implemented intraocularly and extraocularly, which leads to different categories of devices. Cortical Prostheses and Optic Nerve Prostheses are examples of extraocular solutions while Epiretinal Prostheses and Subretinal Prostheses are examples of intraocular solutions. Some of the prostheses that are successfully implanted and tested in animals as well as humans can restore basic visual functions but still have limitations. This paper will give an overview of the current state of art of Retinal Prostheses and compare the advantages and limitations of each type. The purpose of this review is thus to summarize the current technologies and approaches used in developing Retinal Prostheses and therefore to lay a foundation for future designs and research directions.

Restoring function in major depressive disorder: A systematic review.

PubMed

Sheehan, David V; Nakagome, Kazuyuki; Asami, Yuko; Pappadopulos, Elizabeth A; Boucher, Matthieu

2017-06-01

Functional impairment contributes to significant disability and economic burden in major depressive disorder (MDD). Treatment response is measured by improvement in depressive symptoms, but functional improvement often lags behind symptomatic improvement. Residual deficits are associated with relapse of depressive symptoms. A literature search was conducted using the following terms: "major depressive disorder," "functional impairment," "functional outcomes," "recovery of function," "treatment outcome," "outcome assessment," "social functioning," "presenteeism," "absenteeism," "psychiatric status rating scales," and "quality of life." Search limits included publication date (January 1, 1995 to August 31, 2016), English language, and human clinical trials. Controlled, acute-phase, nonrecurrent MDD treatment studies in adults were included if a functional outcome was measured at baseline and endpoint. The qualitative analysis included 35 controlled studies. The Sheehan Disability Scale was the most commonly used functional assessment. Antidepressant treatments significantly improved functional outcomes. Early treatment response predicted functional improvement, while baseline disease severity did not. Clinical studies utilized various methodologies and assessments for functional impairment, and were not standardized or adequately powered. The lack of synchronicity between symptomatic and functional improvement highlights an unmet need for MDD. Treatment guided by routine monitoring of symptoms and functionality may minimize residual functional impairments. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Structural damage identification using piezoelectric impedance measurement with sparse inverse analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Pei; Qi, Shuai; Tang, J.

2018-03-01

The impedance/admittance measurements of a piezoelectric transducer bonded to or embedded in a host structure can be used as damage indicator. When a credible model of the healthy structure, such as the finite element model, is available, using the impedance/admittance change information as input, it is possible to identify both the location and severity of damage. The inverse analysis, however, may be under-determined as the number of unknowns in high-frequency analysis is usually large while available input information is limited. The fundamental challenge thus is how to find a small set of solutions that cover the true damage scenario. In this research we cast the damage identification problem into a multi-objective optimization framework to tackle this challenge. With damage locations and severities as unknown variables, one of the objective functions is the difference between impedance-based model prediction in the parametric space and the actual measurements. Considering that damage occurrence generally affects only a small number of elements, we choose the sparsity of the unknown variables as another objective function, deliberately, the l 0 norm. Subsequently, a multi-objective Dividing RECTangles (DIRECT) algorithm is developed to facilitate the inverse analysis where the sparsity is further emphasized by sigmoid transformation. As a deterministic technique, this approach yields results that are repeatable and conclusive. In addition, only one algorithmic parameter, the number of function evaluations, is needed. Numerical and experimental case studies demonstrate that the proposed framework is capable of obtaining high-quality damage identification solutions with limited measurement information.

SEDHI: a new generation of detection electronics for earth observation satellites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dantes, Didier; Neveu, Claude; Biffi, Jean-Marc; Devilliers, Christophe; Andre, Serge

2017-11-01

Future earth observation optical systems will be more and more demanding in terms of ground sampling distance, swath width, number of spectral bands, duty cycle. Existing architectures of focal planes and video processing electronics are hardly compatible with these new requirements: electronic functions are split in several units, and video processing is limited to frequencies around 5 MHz in order to fulfil the radiometric requirements expected for high performance image quality systems. This frequency limitation induces a high number of video chains operated in parallel to process the huge amount of pixels at focal plane output, and leads to unacceptable mass and power consumption budgets. Furthermore, splitting the detection electronics functions into several units (at least one for the focal plane and proximity electronics, and one for the video processing functions) does not optimise the production costs : specific development efforts must be performed on critical analogue electronics at each equipment level and operations of assembly, integration and tests are duplicated at equipment and subsystem levels. Alcatel Space Industries has proposed to CNES a new concept of highly integrated detection electronics (SEDHI), and is developing for CNES a breadboard which will allow to confirm its potentialities. This paper presents the trade-off study which have been performed before selection of this new concept and summarises the main advantages and drawbacks of each possible architecture. The electrical, mechanical and thermal aspects of the SEDHI concept are described, including the basic technologies : ASIC for phase shift of detector clocks, ASIC for video processing, hybrids, microchip module... The adaptability to a large amount of missions and optical instruments is also discussed.

Validating Multidimensional Outcome Assessment Using the TBI Common Data Elements: An Analysis of the TRACK-TBI Pilot Sample.

PubMed

Nelson, Lindsay D; Ranson, Jana; Ferguson, Adam R; Giacino, Joseph; Okonkwo, David O; Valadka, Alex; Manley, Geoffrey; McCrea, Michael

2017-06-08

The Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOSE) is often the primary outcome measure in clinical trials for traumatic brain injury (TBI). Although the GOSE's capture of global function outcome has several strengths, concerns have been raised about its limited ability to identify mild disability and failure to capture the full scope of problems patients exhibit after TBI. This analysis examined the convergence of disability ratings across a multidimensional set of outcome domains in the Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in Traumatic Brain Injury (TRACK-TBI) Pilot study. The study collected measures recommended by the TBI Common Data Elements (CDE) Workgroup. Patients presenting to 3 emergency departments with a TBI of any severity enrolled in TRACK-TBI prospectively after injury; outcome measures were collected at 3 and six months postinjury. Analyses examined frequency of impairment and overlap between impairment status across the CDE outcome domains of Global Level of Functioning (GOSE), Neuropsychological (cognitive) Impairment, Psychological Status, TBI Symptoms, and Quality of Life. GOSE score correlated in the expected direction with other outcomes (M Spearman's rho = .21 and .49 with neurocognitive and self-report outcomes, respectively). The subsample in the Upper Good Recovery (GOSE 8) category appeared quite healthy across most other outcomes, although 19.0% had impaired executive functioning (Trail Making Test Part B). A significant minority of participants in the Lower Good Recovery subgroup (GOSE 7) met criteria for impairment across numerous other outcome measures. The findings highlight the multidimensional nature of TBI recovery and the limitations of applying only a single outcome measure.

Preoperative Pain and Function: Profiles of Patients Selected for Total Knee Arthroplasty.

PubMed

Nguyen, Uyen-Sa D T; Ayers, David C; Li, Wenjun; Harrold, Leslie R; Franklin, Patricia D

2016-11-01

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an effective treatment to relieve pain and restore function in patients with advanced knee osteoarthritis. TKA utilization is growing rapidly, and the appropriateness of current TKA use is of great interest. We examined patient-reported preoperative pain and function profiles to understand symptom severity at the time of TKA decision. Data were from the Function and Outcomes Research for Comparative Effectiveness in Total Joint Replacement. We included patients undergoing primary, unilateral TKAs between 2011 and 2014 for osteoarthritis and had data on the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) pain and Short-Form 36-item Physical Component Summary (PCS) score. We compared patient profiles across groupings by symptoms: (1) little pain and high function (KOOS ≥70, PCS ≥40); (2) little pain but poor function (KOOS ≥70, PCS <40); (3) high pain but high function (KOOS <70, PCS ≥40); and (4) high pain and poor function (KOOS <70, PCS <40). Of 6936 patients, 77% had high pain and poor function (group 4), 19% had high pain "or" poor function (groups 2-3), and 5% had little pain and high function before TKA (group 1). In group 1, 86% were constantly aware of their knee problem, 48% reported pain daily yet 5% experienced severe or extreme pain on stairs, and 1% pain in bed. Over half had a lot of limitations in vigorous activities. Compared with group 4, group 1 were older, less obese, more educated, and included more men and people reporting being healthy, less disabled, and happy (P < .05 for all). Most patients undergoing TKAs had significant pain and/or poor function. Our results provide critical information given the current debate of potentially inappropriate TKA utilization in the United States. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Influence of thermally activated processes on the deformation behavior during low temperature ECAP

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fritsch, S.; Scholze, M.; F-X Wagner, M.

2016-03-01

High strength aluminum alloys are generally hard to deform. Therefore, the application of conventional severe plastic deformation methods to generate ultrafine-grained microstructures and to further increase strength is considerably limited. In this study, we consider low temperature deformation in a custom-built, cooled equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) tool (internal angle 90°) as an alternative approach to severely plastically deform a 7075 aluminum alloy. To document the maximum improvement of mechanical properties, these alloys are initially deformed from a solid solution heat-treated condition. We characterize the mechanical behavior and the microstructure of the coarse grained initial material at different low temperatures, and we analyze how a tendency for the PLC effect and the strain-hardening rate affect the formability during subsequent severe plastic deformation at low temperatures. We then discuss how the deformation temperature and velocity influence the occurrence of PLC effects and the homogeneity of the deformed ECAP billets. Besides the mechanical properties and these microstructural changes, we discuss technologically relevant processing parameters (such as pressing forces) and practical limitations, as well as changes in fracture behavior of the low temperature deformed materials as a function of deformation temperature.

Hyperinflation and intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure: less room to breathe.

PubMed

Krieger, Bruce P

2009-01-01

Clinically, the symptoms and limited exercise capabilities of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) correlate better with changes in lung volumes than with airflow measurements. The realization of the clinical importance of hyperinflation has been overshadowed for decades by the use of forced expiratory volume during 1 s (FEV(1)) and the ratio of the FEV(1) to the forced expiratory vital capacity (FEV(1)/FVC) to categorize the severity and progression of COPD. Hyperinflation is defined as an elevation in the end-expiratory lung volume or functional residual capacity. When severe hyperinflation encroaches upon inspiratory capacity and limits vital capacity, it results in elevated intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEPi) that places the diaphragm at a mechanical disadvantage and increases the work of breathing. Severe hyperinflation is the major physiologic cause of the resulting hypercarbic respiratory failure and patients' inability to transition (i.e. wean) from mechanical ventilatory support to spontaneous breathing. This paper reviews the basic physiologic principles of hyperinflation and its clinical manifestations as demonstrated by PEEPi. Also reviewed are the adverse effects of hyperinflation and PEEPi in critically ill patients with COPD, and methods for minimizing or counterbalancing these effects. Copyright 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Continuity and Change from Adolescence to Emerging Adulthood: Adolescence-limited vs. Life-course-persistent Profound Ego Development Arrests

PubMed Central

Billings, Rebecca L.; Allen, Joseph P.

2016-01-01

Participants (n = 36) with consistent Pre-conformist ego development levels during multiple adolescent assessments were studied to determine whether and how their ego levels had changed at age 25. Those (n = 12) whose ego levels remained at the Pre-conformist level were assigned to a life-course-persistent profound ego development arrest trajectory group; those (n = 24) whose ego levels reached the Conformist or Post-conformist level at age 25 were assigned to an adolescence-limited profound ego development arrest trajectory group. Analysis of predictors and age 25 correlates of group membership revealed that selected age 14 family interaction behaviors differentiated the two groups. At age 25, members of the adolescence-limited group showed superior performance on several measures of interpersonal and intrapersonal functioning. PMID:28154436

Role of coherence in microsphere-assisted nanoscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perrin, Stephane; Lecler, Sylvain; Leong-Hoi, Audrey; Montgomery, Paul C.

2017-06-01

The loss of the information, due to the diffraction and the evanescent waves, limits the resolving power of classical optical microscopy. In air, the lateral resolution of an optical microscope can approximated at half of the wavelength using a low-coherence illumination. Recently, several methods have been developed in order to overcome this limitation and, in 2011, a new far-field and full-field imaging technique was proposed where a sub-diffraction-limit resolution has been achieved using a transparent microsphere. In this article, the phenomenon of super-resolution using microsphere-assisted microscopy is analysed through rigorous electro-magnetic simulations. The performances of the imaging technique are estimated as function of optical and geometrical parameters. Furthermore, the role of coherence is introduced through the temporal coherence of the light source and the phase response of the object.

Breadboard stellar tracker system test report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kollodge, J. C.; Parrish, K. A.

1984-01-01

BASD has, in the past, developed several unique position tracking algorithms for charge transfer device (CTD) sensors. These algorithms provide an interpixel transfer function with the following characteristics: (1) high linearity; (2) simplified track logic; (3) high gain; and (4) high noise rejection. A previous test program using the GE charge injection device (CID) showed that accuracy for BASD's breadboard was limited to approximately 2% of a pixel (1 sigma) whereas analysis and simulation indicated the limit should be less than 0.5% of a pixel, assuming the limit to be detector response and dark current noise. The test program was conducted under NASA contract No. NAS8-34263. The test approach for that program did not provide sufficient data to identify the sources of error and left open the amount of contribution from parameters such as image distribution, geometric distortion and system alignment errors.

Strategies for designing novel functional meat products.

PubMed

Arihara, Keizo

2006-09-01

In recent years, much attention has been paid to physiological functions of foods due to increasing concerns for health. Although there has been limited information of physiological functions of meat until recently, several attractive meat-based bioactive compounds, such as carnosine, anserine, l-carnitine, conjugated linoleic acid, have been studied. Emphasizing these activities is one possible approach for improving the health image of meat and developing functional meat products. This article provides potential benefits of representative meat-based bioactive compounds on human health and an overview of meat-based functional products. Strategies for designing novel functional meat products utilizing bioactive peptides and/or probiotic bacteria, is also discussed. This article focuses particularly on the possibility of meat protein-derived bioactive peptides, such as antihypertensive peptides. There are still some hurdles in developing and marketing novel functional meat products since such products are unconventional and consumers in many countries recognize meat and meat products to be bad for health. Along with accumulation of scientific data, there is an urgent need to inform consumers of the exact functional value of meat and meat products including novel functional foods.

Variation is function: Are single cell differences functionally important?: Testing the hypothesis that single cell variation is required for aggregate function.

PubMed

Dueck, Hannah; Eberwine, James; Kim, Junhyong

2016-02-01

There is a growing appreciation of the extent of transcriptome variation across individual cells of the same cell type. While expression variation may be a byproduct of, for example, dynamic or homeostatic processes, here we consider whether single-cell molecular variation per se might be crucial for population-level function. Under this hypothesis, molecular variation indicates a diversity of hidden functional capacities within an ensemble of identical cells, and this functional diversity facilitates collective behavior that would be inaccessible to a homogenous population. In reviewing this topic, we explore possible functions that might be carried by a heterogeneous ensemble of cells; however, this question has proven difficult to test, both because methods to manipulate molecular variation are limited and because it is complicated to define, and measure, population-level function. We consider several possible methods to further pursue the hypothesis that variation is function through the use of comparative analysis and novel experimental techniques. © 2015 The Authors. BioEssays published by WILEY Periodicals, Inc.

Employment status, social function decline and caregiver burden among stroke survivors. A South Indian study.

PubMed

Sreedharan, Sapna Erat; Unnikrishnan, J P; Amal, M G; Shibi, B S; Sarma, Sankara; Sylaja, P N

2013-09-15

Stroke leaves at least 60% of the survivors with moderate to severe disability limiting their employment status and social functioning leading to high levels of caregiver burden. We sought to study the employment status and level of change of social functioning of stroke survivors and their principal caregiver and correlate it with severity of stroke, functional disability, and anxiety and depression scores. One hundred and fifty stroke survivors and principal caregivers (3 months-2 years post-stroke) were recruited for the study. The employment status pre- and post-stroke was assessed. The social function of the patient and caregiver was analyzed using a 6 item social function scale developed for the study, encompassing culturally relevant questions. A 20 point scale adapted from Burden assessment schedule was used to assess the caregiver burden. Mean age of the study group was 54.37±12.072 (range 22-75 years), with 116 males and 34 females. Spouse was the principal caregiver for 142/150 patients (94.6%). In the stroke survivors, compared to the pre-stroke employment status of 62.7%, only 20.7% were employed post-stroke with half having change of job. But the employment status of caregiver was not reduced post-stroke (34.7% vs 33.3%). Employment loss in stroke survivors had a statistically significant association with severity of functional disability, male gender and presence of limb weakness (p values 0.037, 0.0001 and 0.043 respectively). There was an overall decline in social functions among the 6 parameters assessed in both the stroke survivors and caregivers. Of the caregiver burden, financial burden was more among female and older caregivers. The functional status and motor weakness of the stroke survivors did not tend to worsen the overall caregiver burden. Loss of occupation among stroke survivors is high. The decline in social function among stroke survivors and caregivers was significant. Even though functional disability contributed to employment loss and social function decline among stroke survivors, it did not have a significant impact on caregiver burden. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Assessment of hospital surge capacity using the MACSIM simulation system: a pilot study.

PubMed

Lennquist Montán, K; Riddez, L; Lennquist, S; Olsberg, A C; Lindberg, H; Gryth, D; Örtenwall, P

2017-08-01

The aim of this study was to use a simulation model developed for the scientific evaluation of methodology in disaster medicine to test surge capacity (SC) in a major hospital responding to a simulated major incident with a scenario copied from a real incident. The tested hospital was illustrated on a system of magnetic boards, where available resources, staff, and patients treated in the hospital at the time of the test were illustrated. Casualties were illustrated with simulation cards supplying all data required to determine procedures for diagnosis and treatment, which all were connected to real consumption of time and resources. The first capacity-limiting factor was the number of resuscitation teams that could work parallel in the emergency department (ED). This made it necessary to refer severely injured to other hospitals. At this time, surgery (OR) and intensive care (ICU) had considerable remaining capacity. Thus, the reception of casualties could be restarted when the ED had been cleared. The next limiting factor was lack of ventilators in the ICU, which permanently set the limit for SC. At this time, there was still residual OR capacity. With access to more ventilators, the full surgical capacity of the hospital could have been utilized. The tested model was evaluated as an accurate tool to determine SC. The results illustrate that SC cannot be determined by testing one single function in the hospital, since all functions interact with each other and different functions can be identified as limiting factors at different times during the response.

Open-source point-of-care electronic medical records for use in resource-limited settings: systematic review and questionnaire surveys

PubMed Central

Bru, Juan; Berger, Christopher A

2012-01-01

Background Point-of-care electronic medical records (EMRs) are a key tool to manage chronic illness. Several EMRs have been developed for use in treating HIV and tuberculosis, but their applicability to primary care, technical requirements and clinical functionalities are largely unknown. Objectives This study aimed to address the needs of clinicians from resource-limited settings without reliable internet access who are considering adopting an open-source EMR. Study eligibility criteria Open-source point-of-care EMRs suitable for use in areas without reliable internet access. Study appraisal and synthesis methods The authors conducted a comprehensive search of all open-source EMRs suitable for sites without reliable internet access. The authors surveyed clinician users and technical implementers from a single site and technical developers of each software product. The authors evaluated availability, cost and technical requirements. Results The hardware and software for all six systems is easily available, but they vary considerably in proprietary components, installation requirements and customisability. Limitations This study relied solely on self-report from informants who developed and who actively use the included products. Conclusions and implications of key findings Clinical functionalities vary greatly among the systems, and none of the systems yet meet minimum requirements for effective implementation in a primary care resource-limited setting. The safe prescribing of medications is a particular concern with current tools. The dearth of fully functional EMR systems indicates a need for a greater emphasis by global funding agencies to move beyond disease-specific EMR systems and develop a universal open-source health informatics platform. PMID:22763661

Evolution of the transfer function characterization of surface scatter phenomena

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harvey, James E.; Pfisterer, Richard N.

2016-09-01

Based upon the empirical observation that BRDF measurements of smooth optical surfaces exhibited shift-invariant behavior when plotted versus    o , the original Harvey-Shack (OHS) surface scatter theory was developed as a scalar linear systems formulation in which scattered light behavior was characterized by a surface transfer function (STF) reminiscent of the optical transfer function (OTF) of modern image formation theory (1976). This shift-invariant behavior combined with the inverse power law behavior when plotting log BRDF versus log   o was quickly incorporated into several optical analysis software packages. Although there was no explicit smooth-surface approximation in the OHS theory, there was a limitation on both the incident and scattering angles. In 1988 the modified Harvey-Shack (MHS) theory removed the limitation on the angle of incidence; however, a moderate-angle scattering limitation remained. Clearly for large incident angles the BRDF was no longer shift-invariant as a different STF was now required for each incident angle. In 2011 the generalized Harvey-Shack (GHS) surface scatter theory, characterized by a two-parameter family of STFs, evolved into a practical modeling tool to calculate BRDFs from optical surface metrology data for situations that violate the smooth surface approximation inherent in the Rayleigh-Rice theory and/or the moderate-angle limitation of the Beckmann-Kirchhoff theory. And finally, the STF can be multiplied by the classical OTF to provide a complete linear systems formulation of image quality as degraded by diffraction, geometrical aberrations and surface scatter effects from residual optical fabrication errors.

Coping, productive time use, and negative mood among adults with severe mental illness: a daily diary study.

PubMed

Yanos, Philip T; West, Michelle L; Smith, Stephen M

2010-12-01

Most studies on coping among persons with severe mental illness have relied on retrospective self-report methods; a limitation of this methodology is susceptibility to recall bias. The purpose of the present investigation was to expand the current understanding of the impact of coping among persons with severe mental illness by examining coping strategies, mood, and social functioning (operationalized as productive time use) using a daily process design. Twenty-seven adults diagnosed with severe mental illness completed baseline clinical interviews and up to 20 days of nightly telephone interviews addressing coping and daily life. A total of 198 coping efforts were reported for 387 days. Mixed-effects regression analyses examined the association between type of daily coping strategy (problem-centered, neutral, or avoidant) and both daily proportion of time participants spent in productive activity and daily negative mood, controlling for demographic and clinical variables. The results indicated that productive time use was significantly lower on days when avoidant strategies were used, in contrast with days when problem-centered strategies and neutral strategies were used. There was no significant main effect of coping on negative mood, although there was a trend in the expected direction. Findings support the hypothesis that the types of coping strategies adults with severe mental illness use are related to better social functioning on a daily level. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Global Epidemiology of Pediatric Severe Sepsis: The Sepsis Prevalence, Outcomes, and Therapies Study

PubMed Central

Weiss, Scott L.; Pappachan, John; Wheeler, Derek; Jaramillo-Bustamante, Juan C.; Salloo, Asma; Singhi, Sunit C.; Erickson, Simon; Roy, Jason A.; Bush, Jenny L.; Nadkarni, Vinay M.; Thomas, Neal J.

2015-01-01

Rationale: Limited data exist about the international burden of severe sepsis in critically ill children. Objectives: To characterize the global prevalence, therapies, and outcomes of severe sepsis in pediatric intensive care units to better inform interventional trials. Methods: A point prevalence study was conducted on 5 days throughout 2013–2014 at 128 sites in 26 countries. Patients younger than 18 years of age with severe sepsis as defined by consensus criteria were included. Outcomes were severe sepsis point prevalence, therapies used, new or progressive multiorgan dysfunction, ventilator- and vasoactive-free days at Day 28, functional status, and mortality. Measurements and Main Results: Of 6,925 patients screened, 569 had severe sepsis (prevalence, 8.2%; 95% confidence interval, 7.6–8.9%). The patients’ median age was 3.0 (interquartile range [IQR], 0.7–11.0) years. The most frequent sites of infection were respiratory (40%) and bloodstream (19%). Common therapies included mechanical ventilation (74% of patients), vasoactive infusions (55%), and corticosteroids (45%). Hospital mortality was 25% and did not differ by age or between developed and resource-limited countries. Median ventilator-free days were 16 (IQR, 0–25), and vasoactive-free days were 23 (IQR, 12–28). Sixty-seven percent of patients had multiorgan dysfunction at sepsis recognition, with 30% subsequently developing new or progressive multiorgan dysfunction. Among survivors, 17% developed at least moderate disability. Sample sizes needed to detect a 5–10% absolute risk reduction in outcomes within interventional trials are estimated between 165 and 1,437 patients per group. Conclusions: Pediatric severe sepsis remains a burdensome public health problem, with prevalence, morbidity, and mortality rates similar to those reported in critically ill adult populations. International clinical trials targeting children with severe sepsis are warranted. PMID:25734408

Global epidemiology of pediatric severe sepsis: the sepsis prevalence, outcomes, and therapies study.

PubMed

Weiss, Scott L; Fitzgerald, Julie C; Pappachan, John; Wheeler, Derek; Jaramillo-Bustamante, Juan C; Salloo, Asma; Singhi, Sunit C; Erickson, Simon; Roy, Jason A; Bush, Jenny L; Nadkarni, Vinay M; Thomas, Neal J

2015-05-15

Limited data exist about the international burden of severe sepsis in critically ill children. To characterize the global prevalence, therapies, and outcomes of severe sepsis in pediatric intensive care units to better inform interventional trials. A point prevalence study was conducted on 5 days throughout 2013-2014 at 128 sites in 26 countries. Patients younger than 18 years of age with severe sepsis as defined by consensus criteria were included. Outcomes were severe sepsis point prevalence, therapies used, new or progressive multiorgan dysfunction, ventilator- and vasoactive-free days at Day 28, functional status, and mortality. Of 6,925 patients screened, 569 had severe sepsis (prevalence, 8.2%; 95% confidence interval, 7.6-8.9%). The patients' median age was 3.0 (interquartile range [IQR], 0.7-11.0) years. The most frequent sites of infection were respiratory (40%) and bloodstream (19%). Common therapies included mechanical ventilation (74% of patients), vasoactive infusions (55%), and corticosteroids (45%). Hospital mortality was 25% and did not differ by age or between developed and resource-limited countries. Median ventilator-free days were 16 (IQR, 0-25), and vasoactive-free days were 23 (IQR, 12-28). Sixty-seven percent of patients had multiorgan dysfunction at sepsis recognition, with 30% subsequently developing new or progressive multiorgan dysfunction. Among survivors, 17% developed at least moderate disability. Sample sizes needed to detect a 5-10% absolute risk reduction in outcomes within interventional trials are estimated between 165 and 1,471 [corrected] patients per group. Pediatric severe sepsis remains a burdensome public health problem, with prevalence, morbidity, and mortality rates similar to those reported in critically ill adult populations. International clinical trials targeting children with severe sepsis are warranted.

Advanced carbon nanotubes functionalization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Setaro, A.

2017-10-01

Similar to graphene, carbon nanotubes are materials made of pure carbon in its sp2 form. Their extended conjugated π-network provides them with remarkable quantum optoelectronic properties. Frustratingly, it also brings drawbacks. The π-π stacking interaction makes as-produced tubes bundle together, blurring all their quantum properties. Functionalization aims at modifying and protecting the tubes while hindering π-π stacking. Several functionalization strategies have been developed to circumvent this limitation in order for nanotubes applications to thrive. In this review, we summarize the different approaches established so far, emphasizing the balance between functionalization efficacy and the preservation of the tubes’ properties. Much attention will be given to a functionalization strategy overcoming the covalent-noncovalent dichotomy and to the implementation of two advanced functionalization schemes: (a) conjugation with molecular switches, to yield hybrid nanosystems with chemo-physical properties that can be tuned in a controlled and reversible way, and; (b) plasmonic nanosystems, whose ability to concentrate and enhance the electromagnetic fields can be taken advantage of to enhance the optical response of the tubes.

Near-infrared spectroscopy and skeletal muscle oxidative function in vivo in health and disease: a review from an exercise physiology perspective

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grassi, Bruno; Quaresima, Valentina

2016-09-01

In most daily activities related to work or leisure, the energy for muscle work substantially comes from oxidative metabolism. Functional limitations or impairments of this metabolism can significantly affect exercise tolerance and performance. As a method for the functional evaluation of skeletal muscle oxidative metabolism, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has important strengths but also several limitations, some of which have been overcome by recent technological developments. Skeletal muscle fractional O2 extraction, the main variable which can be noninvasively evaluated by NIRS, is the result of the dynamic balance between O2 utilization and O2 delivery; it can yield relevant information on key physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms, relevant in the evaluation of exercise performance and exercise tolerance in healthy subjects (in normal and in altered environmental conditions) and in patients. In the right hands, NIRS can offer insights into the physiological and pathophysiological adaptations to conditions of increased O2 needs that involve, in an integrated manner, different organs and systems of the body. In terms of patient evaluation, NIRS allows determination of the evolution of the functional impairments, to identify their correlations with clinical symptoms, to evaluate the effects of therapeutic or rehabilitative interventions, and to gain pathophysiological and diagnostic insights.

Near-infrared spectroscopy and skeletal muscle oxidative function in vivo in health and disease: a review from an exercise physiology perspective.

PubMed

Grassi, Bruno; Quaresima, Valentina

2016-09-01

In most daily activities related to work or leisure, the energy for muscle work substantially comes from oxidative metabolism. Functional limitations or impairments of this metabolism can significantly affect exercise tolerance and performance. As a method for the functional evaluation of skeletal muscle oxidative metabolism, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has important strengths but also several limitations, some of which have been overcome by recent technological developments. Skeletal muscle fractional O2 extraction, the main variable which can be noninvasively evaluated by NIRS, is the result of the dynamic balance between O2 utilization and O2 delivery; it can yield relevant information on key physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms, relevant in the evaluation of exercise performance and exercise tolerance in healthy subjects (in normal and in altered environmental conditions) and in patients. In the right hands, NIRS can offer insights into the physiological and pathophysiological adaptations to conditions of increased O2 needs that involve, in an integrated manner, different organs and systems of the body. In terms of patient evaluation, NIRS allows determination of the evolution of the functional impairments, to identify their correlations with clinical symptoms, to evaluate the effects of therapeutic or rehabilitative interventions, and to gain pathophysiological and diagnostic insights.

From protein structure to function via single crystal optical spectroscopy

PubMed Central

Ronda, Luca; Bruno, Stefano; Bettati, Stefano; Storici, Paola; Mozzarelli, Andrea

2015-01-01

The more than 100,000 protein structures determined by X-ray crystallography provide a wealth of information for the characterization of biological processes at the molecular level. However, several crystallographic “artifacts,” including conformational selection, crystallization conditions and radiation damages, may affect the quality and the interpretation of the electron density maps, thus limiting the relevance of structure determinations. Moreover, for most of these structures, no functional data have been obtained in the crystalline state, thus posing serious questions on their validity in infereing protein mechanisms. In order to solve these issues, spectroscopic methods have been applied for the determination of equilibrium and kinetic properties of proteins in the crystalline state. These methods are UV-vis spectrophotometry, spectrofluorimetry, IR, EPR, Raman, and resonance Raman spectroscopy. Some of these approaches have been implemented with on-line instruments at X-ray synchrotron beamlines. Here, we provide an overview of investigations predominantly carried out in our laboratory by single crystal polarized absorption UV-vis microspectrophotometry, the most applied technique for the functional characterization of proteins in the crystalline state. Studies on hemoglobins, pyridoxal 5′-phosphate dependent enzymes and green fluorescent protein in the crystalline state have addressed key biological issues, leading to either straightforward structure-function correlations or limitations to structure-based mechanisms. PMID:25988179

Determination of the Point-Spread Function for the FERMI Large Area Telescope from On-Orbit Data and Limits on Pair Halos of Active Galactic Nuclei

DOE PAGES

Ackermann, M.; Ajello, M.; Allafort, A.; ...

2013-02-15

We present the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope is a pair-conversion telescope designed to detect photons with energies from ≈20 MeV to >300 GeV. The pre-launch response functions of the LAT were determined through extensive Monte Carlo simulations and beam tests. The point-spread function (PSF) characterizing the angular distribution of reconstructed photons as a function of energy and geometry in the detector is determined here from two years of on-orbit data by examining the distributions of γ rays from pulsars and active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Above 3 GeV, the PSF is found to be broadermore » than the pre-launch PSF. We checked for dependence of the PSF on the class of γ-ray source and observation epoch and found none. We also investigated several possible spatial models for pair-halo emission around BL Lac AGNs. Finally, we found no evidence for a component with spatial extension larger than the PSF and set upper limits on the amplitude of halo emission in stacked images of low- and high-redshift BL Lac AGNs and the TeV blazars 1ES0229+200 and 1ES0347–121.« less

Functional outcomes of community-based brain injury rehabilitation clients.

PubMed

Curran, Christine; Dorstyn, Diana; Polychronis, Con; Denson, Linley

2015-01-01

Community-based rehabilitation can help to maximize function following acquired brain injury (ABI); however, data on treatment outcome is limited in quantity. To describe and evaluate client outcomes of an outpatient programme for adults with moderate-to-severe traumatic and non-traumatic ABI. Two phase design involving retrospective and longitudinal study of programme completers with ABI (n = 47). Changes in functioning were measured with the Mayo-Portland Inventory (MPAI-4), administered pre- and immediately post-rehabilitation and at 3 years follow-up. Self-ratings were supplemented with MPAI-4 data from significant others (n = 32) and staff (n = 32). Injured individuals and informants reported improved physical and psychosocial functioning immediately following the completion of community rehabilitation, with medium-to-large and significant treatment gains noted on the MPAI-4 ability, adjustment and participation sub-scales (Cohen's d range = 0.31-1.10). A deterioration in individuals' adjustment was further reported at follow-up, although this was based on limited data. Issues with longer-term rehabilitation service provision were additionally noted. The data support the need for continuity of care, including ongoing emotional support, to cater to the complex and dynamic needs of the ABI population. However, these results need to be considered in the context of a small sample size and quasi-experimental design.

A review of functional outcomes related to prosthetic treatment after maxillary and mandibular reconstruction in patients with head and neck cancer.

PubMed

Tang, Judith A Lam; Rieger, Jana M; Wolfaardt, Johan F

2008-01-01

This review examined literature that reported functional outcomes across 3 categories of prosthetic treatment after microvascular reconstruction of the maxilla and mandible: (1) conventional dental/tissue-supported prosthesis, (2) implant-retained prosthesis, and (3) no prosthesis. Library databases were searched for articles related to reconstruction of the maxilla and mandible, and references of selected articles were hand searched. Relevant literature was identified and reviewed with criteria specified a priori. Forty-nine articles met the inclusion criteria. Twelve articles reported on function after maxillary reconstruction, with the majority of articles reporting on outcomes for 1 to 6 subjects. Thirty-nine articles reported on function after mandibular reconstruction. Speech outcomes were satisfactory across all groups. Swallowing reports indicated that many patients who received either type of prosthetic rehabilitation resumed a normal diet, whereas those without prosthetic rehabilitation were often restricted to liquid diets or feeding tubes. Patients without prosthetic rehabilitation reportedly had poor masticatory ability, whereas conventional prosthetic treatment allowed some recovery of mastication and implant-retained prosthetic treatment resulted in the most favorable masticatory outcomes. Quality-of-life outcomes were similar across all patients. Several limitations of the current literature prevented definitive conclusions from being reached within this review, especially regarding maxillary reconstruction. However, recognition of these limitations can direct functional assessment for the future.

Basic pharmacology of NMDA receptors.

PubMed

Gonda, Xenia

2012-01-01

NMDA receptors are ionotropic receptors mediating glutamatergic neurotransmission and play a role in several basic functions in the central nervous system, from regulating neurodevelopment and synaptic plasticity, learning and memory formation, cognitive processes, rhythm generation necessary for locomotor activity and breathing, and excitotoxicity. Due to their complex involvement in the above processes, NMDA receptors have been established to play a role in the etiopathology of several neuropsychiatric disorders such as ischaemia and traumatic brain injury, neurodegenerative disorders, pain syndromes, addiction, affective disorders and such neurodevelopmental disorders as autism or schizophrenia. NMDA receptors contain multiple types of subunits with distinct functional and pharmacological properties making the picture more complex. These receptors also offer multiple binding sites to be targeted with pharmacons, however, early broad-spectrum NMDA receptor antagonists had limited clinical use due to their intolerable adverse effect profile. The discovery of several types of subunit selective NMDA receptor antagonists may offer valuable therapeutic possibilities for several disorders, with improved clinical efficacy and decreased side effects. However, in spite of our increasing knowledge concerning the involvement of NMDA receptors in pathological processes, molecules with a selective action, tolerable side effect profile and good clinical efficacy are still only in clinical development in the majority of cases. Nevertheless, NMDA receptors offer a novel opportunity in the treatment of various neuropsychiatric conditions.

[Normal lung volumes in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema].

PubMed

Casas, Juan Pablo; Abbona, Horacio; Robles, Adriana; López, Ana María

2008-01-01

Pulmonary function tests in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis characteristically show a restrictive pattern, resulting from reduction of pulmonary compliance due to diffuse fibrosis. Conversely, an obstructive pattern with hyperinflation results in emphysema by loss of elastic recoil, expiratory collapse of the peripheral airways and air trapping. Previous reports suggest that when both diseases coexist, pulmonary volumes are compensated and a smaller than expected reduction or even normal lung volumes can be found. We report 4 male patients of 64, 60, 73 and 70 years, all with heavy cigarette smoking history and progressive breathlessness. Three of them had severe limitation in their quality of life. All four showed advanced lung interstitial involvement, at high resolution CT scan, fibrotic changes predominantly in the subpleural areas of lower lung fields and concomitant emphysema in the upper lobes. Emphysema and pulmonary fibrosis was confirmed by open lung biopsy in one patient. The four patients showed normal spirometry and lung volumes with severe compromise of gas exchange and poor exercise tolerance evaluated by 6 minute walk test. Severe pulmonary arterial hypertension was also confirmed in three patients. Normal lung volumes does not exclude diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in patients with concomitant emphysema. The relatively preserved lung volumes may underestimate the severity of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and attenuate its effects on lung function parameters.

Clinical outcomes of a specialised inpatient unit for adults with mild to severe intellectual disability and mental illness.

PubMed

Lunsky, Y; White, S E; Palucka, A M; Weiss, J; Bockus, S; Gofine, T

2010-01-01

Limitations of general psychiatric services have led to the development of specialised psychiatric programmes for patients with intellectual disability (ID) and mental health needs. Few studies have examined treatment outcomes of specialised inpatient units, and no studies have explored how the effects of intervention may differ for individuals at varying levels of cognitive ability. The present study examined clinical outcomes of inpatients with mild ID in contrast to inpatients with moderate to severe ID within the same service. Thirty-three patients (17 with mild ID and 16 with moderate to severe ID) discharged between 2006 and 2008 from a specialised inpatient unit in Canada for adults with ID and mental illness were studied. In addition to examining change in scores on clinical measures, outcomes with regard to length of stay, diagnostic change, residential change and re-admission to hospital were explored. Both groups demonstrated clinical improvement from admission to discharge. However, only patients with mild ID demonstrated improvements on the Global Assessment of Functioning. This study is one of the first to consider outcomes of higher and lower functioning individuals with ID on a specialised inpatient unit. Results suggest that outcomes may be different for these groups, and some clinical measures may be more sensitive to changes in patients with more severe disabilities.

Functional disability associated with disease and quality-of-life parameters in Chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

PubMed

Ji, Juan; Zhang, Lijuan; Zhang, Qiuxiang; Yin, Rulan; Fu, Ting; Li, Liren; Gu, Zhifeng

2017-05-02

As an important outcome measure among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, functional disability may contribute to unemployment, loss of work productivity, and impaired quality of life. However, little is known about the risk factors of functional disability in Chinese RA patients. This study aimed (1) to examine the prevalence of functional disability in Chinese RA patients; (2) to explore factors associated with the health assessment questionnaire-disability index (HAQ-DI). A total of 101 RA patients in this cross-sectional study underwent standardized laboratory examinations and responded to the questionnaire for demographic data, the HAQ-DI for functional disability, the Compliance Questionnaire on Rheumatology (CQR) for medication adherence, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for psychological status, and the Short Form 36 health survey (SF-36) for quality of life. Pain, grip/pinch strength, disease activity, and large joint mobility were recorded. Independent samples t-tests, chi-square analyses, and logistic regression modeling were used to analyze the data. The mean ± SD age of RA patients was 54.9 ± 11.9 years. Approximately 15.8% RA patients in mainland China experience functional disability (defined as a HAQ-DI score ≥ 1). Long disease duration, pain, high disease activity, a larger number of tender and swollen joints, high C-reactive protein (CRP) level, decreased grip strength, and limitation of shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee, and ankle motion were associated with the HAQ-DI. Participants with functional disability tended to have more severe depressive symptoms and a lower quality of life compared with individuals without functional disability. Stepwise logistic regression analyses found that limitation of wrist extension (P = 0.001) and lower body pain (BP) score (P = 0.001) explained higher HAQ-DI score. The present study reported that functional disability was common in Chinese RA patients. A low quality of life and limitation of joint mobility had great impacts on functional disability in Chinese RA patients. Targeted and culturally sensitive interventions should be strengthened to delay the onset of disabilities of this population.

Random copolymers that protect proteins

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alexander-Katz, Alfredo; Van Lehn, Reid C.

2018-03-01

Scientists have tried and in some limited cases succeeded to harness proteins to do chemistry (1) or use them in functional materials. However, most proteins only function correctly if they fold into specific conformations, which typically occurs with the assistance of other proteins (such as chaperones, translocons, or transporters) that mediate structure formation, membrane insertion, and intracellular trafficking (2, 3). Several methods have been used to improve protein stability in nonbiological environments—including micelle encapsulation, polymer conjugation, and sol-gel trapping (4)—but for most intended applications, they suffer from low levels of functionality, difficult chemical postfunctionalization, or the requirement of very specific solvent environments. On page 1239 of this issue, Panganiban et al. (5) introduce an approach for stabilizing proteins in disparate solvent environments that does not suffer from these drawbacks.

Steady/unsteady aerodynamic analysis of wings at subsonic, sonic and supersonic Mach numbers using a 3D panel method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cho, Jeonghyun; Han, Cheolheui; Cho, Leesang; Cho, Jinsoo

2003-08-01

This paper treats the kernel function of an integral equation that relates a known or prescribed upwash distribution to an unknown lift distribution for a finite wing. The pressure kernel functions of the singular integral equation are summarized for all speed range in the Laplace transform domain. The sonic kernel function has been reduced to a form, which can be conveniently evaluated as a finite limit from both the subsonic and supersonic sides when the Mach number tends to one. Several examples are solved including rectangular wings, swept wings, a supersonic transport wing and a harmonically oscillating wing. Present results are given with other numerical data, showing continuous results through the unit Mach number. Computed results are in good agreement with other numerical results.

Predictors of life disability in trichotillomania.

PubMed

Tung, Esther S; Flessner, Christopher A; Grant, Jon E; Keuthen, Nancy J

2015-01-01

Limited research has investigated disability and functional impairment in trichotillomania (TTM) subjects. This study examined the relationships between hair pulling (HP) style and severity and disability while controlling for mood severity. Disability was measured in individual life areas (work, social, and family/home life) instead of as a total disability score as in previous studies. One hundred fifty three adult hair pullers completed several structured interviews and self-report instruments. HP style and severity, as well as depression, anxiety, and stress were correlated with work, social, and family/home life impairment on the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS). Multiple regression analyses were performed to determine significant predictors of life impairment. Depressive severity was a significant predictor for all SDS life areas. In addition, interference/avoidance associated with HP was a predictor for work and social life disability. Distress from HP was a significant predictor of social and family/home life disability. Focused HP score and anxiety were significant predictors of family/home life disability. As expected, depression in hair pullers predicted disability across life domains. Avoiding work and social situations can seriously impair functioning in those life domains. Severity of distress and worry about HP may be most elevated in social situations with friends and family and thus predict impairment in those areas. Finally, since HP often occurs at home, time spent in focused hair pulling would have a greater negative impact on family and home responsibilities than social and work life. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A Transferrable Belief Model Representation for Physical Security of Nuclear Materials

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

David Gerts

This work analyzed various probabilistic methods such as classic statistics, Bayesian inference, possibilistic theory, and Dempster-Shafer theory of belief functions for the potential insight offered into the physical security of nuclear materials as well as more broad application to nuclear non-proliferation automated decision making theory. A review of the fundamental heuristic and basic limitations of each of these methods suggested that the Dempster-Shafer theory of belief functions may offer significant capability. Further examination of the various interpretations of Dempster-Shafer theory, such as random set, generalized Bayesian, and upper/lower probability demonstrate some limitations. Compared to the other heuristics, the transferrable beliefmore » model (TBM), one of the leading interpretations of Dempster-Shafer theory, can improve the automated detection of the violation of physical security using sensors and human judgment. The improvement is shown to give a significant heuristic advantage over other probabilistic options by demonstrating significant successes for several classic gedanken experiments.« less

Augmented potential, energy densities, and virial relations in the weak- and strong-interaction limits of DFT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vuckovic, Stefan; Levy, Mel; Gori-Giorgi, Paola

2017-12-01

The augmented potential introduced by Levy and Zahariev [Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 113002 (2014)] is shifted with respect to the standard exchange-correlation potential of the Kohn-Sham density functional theory by a density-dependent constant that makes the total energy become equal to the sum of the occupied orbital energies. In this work, we analyze several features of this approach, focusing on the limit of infinite coupling strength and studying the shift and the corresponding energy density at different correlation regimes. We present and discuss coordinate scaling properties of the augmented potential, study its connection to the response potential, and use the shift to analyze the classical jellium and uniform gas models. We also study other definitions of the energy densities in relation to the functional construction by local interpolations along the adiabatic connection. Our findings indicate that the energy density that is defined in terms of the electrostatic potential of the exchange-correlation hole is particularly well suited for this purpose.

'Look at me when I am talking to you': evidence and assessment of social pragmatics interventions for children with autism and social communication disorders.

PubMed

Tierney, Cheryl D; Kurtz, Marie; Panchik, Ann; Pitterle, Kathleen

2014-04-01

This article provides an analysis of the effectiveness of commonly used interventions for social pragmatic interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and social communication disorders. Several evidence-based social skills interventions are emerging, including peer mentoring, social skills groups, and video modeling. Social stories are effective as supports for improved interactions but generalization is limited. Research supports the need for multimodality and individualized treatment programs. Research validates that video and visual learning is highly effective with children with ASD when utilized with specific, appropriate targets. Multiple studies have shown that picture-based communication systems are effective at improving functional communication with moderate effects on social communication. Despite limitations in research, there is strong evidence in the existing literature for the role of alternative augmentative communication in improving both functional and social communication. Social pragmatic interventions when individualized are effective for improving language, adaptive behavior and social skills.

Sandia National Laboratories proof-of-concept robotic security vehicle

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

Harrington, J.J.; Jones, D.P.; Klarer, P.R.

1989-01-01

Several years ago Sandia National Laboratories developed a prototype interior robot that could navigate autonomously inside a large complex building to air and test interior intrusion detection systems. Recently the Department of Energy Office of Safeguards and Security has supported the development of a vehicle that will perform limited security functions autonomously in a structured exterior environment. The goal of the first phase of this project was to demonstrate the feasibility of an exterior robotic vehicle for security applications by using converted interior robot technology, if applicable. An existing teleoperational test bed vehicle with remote driving controls was modified andmore » integrated with a newly developed command driving station and navigation system hardware and software to form the Robotic Security Vehicle (RSV) system. The RSV, also called the Sandia Mobile Autonomous Navigator (SANDMAN), has been successfully used to demonstrate that teleoperated security vehicles which can perform limited autonomous functions are viable and have the potential to decrease security manpower requirements and improve system capabilities. 2 refs., 3 figs.« less

Solar Thermal Utility-Scale Joint Venture Program (USJVP) Final Report

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

MANCINI,THOMAS R.

2001-04-01

Several years ago Sandia National Laboratories developed a prototype interior robot [1] that could navigate autonomously inside a large complex building to aid and test interior intrusion detection systems. Recently the Department of Energy Office of Safeguards and Security has supported the development of a vehicle that will perform limited security functions autonomously in a structured exterior environment. The goal of the first phase of this project was to demonstrate the feasibility of an exterior robotic vehicle for security applications by using converted interior robot technology, if applicable. An existing teleoperational test bed vehicle with remote driving controls was modifiedmore » and integrated with a newly developed command driving station and navigation system hardware and software to form the Robotic Security Vehicle (RSV) system. The RSV, also called the Sandia Mobile Autonomous Navigator (SANDMAN), has been successfully used to demonstrate that teleoperated security vehicles which can perform limited autonomous functions are viable and have the potential to decrease security manpower requirements and improve system capabilities.« less

Numerical proof of stability of roll waves in the small-amplitude limit for inclined thin film flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barker, Blake

2014-10-01

We present a rigorous numerical proof based on interval arithmetic computations categorizing the linearized and nonlinear stability of periodic viscous roll waves of the KdV-KS equation modeling weakly unstable flow of a thin fluid film on an incline in the small-amplitude KdV limit. The argument proceeds by verification of a stability condition derived by Bar-Nepomnyashchy and Johnson-Noble-Rodrigues-Zumbrun involving inner products of various elliptic functions arising through the KdV equation. One key point in the analysis is a bootstrap argument balancing the extremely poor sup norm bounds for these functions against the extremely good convergence properties for analytic interpolation in order to obtain a feasible computation time. Another is the way of handling analytic interpolation in several variables by a two-step process carving up the parameter space into manageable pieces for rigorous evaluation. These and other general aspects of the analysis should serve as blueprints for more general analyses of spectral stability.

Application of in-situ bioassays with macrophytes in aquatic mesocosm studies.

PubMed

Coors, Anja; Kuckelkorn, Jochen; Hammers-Wirtz, Monika; Strauss, Tido

2006-10-01

Aquatic mesocosm studies assess ecotoxicological effects of chemicals by using small artificial ponds as models of lentic ecosystems. In this study, methods of controlled insertion of macrophytes within an outdoor mesocosm study were explored. Although analytically confirmed concentrations of the model herbicide terbuthylazine were high enough to expect direct effects on phytoplankton, functional parameters and dominant taxa abundance indicated only minor and transient effects. In-situ assays with Lemna minor, Myriophyllum spicatum, Potamogeton lucens and Chara globularis revealed adverse effects at concentrations in accordance with literature data. Complex interactions such as nutrient limitation and competition were possible reasons for the observed growth promotion at the lower concentration of about 5 microg/l terbuthylazine. The approach of macrophyte in-situ bioassays within a mesocosm study proved to be applicable. Presumed advantages are simultaneous acquisition of toxicity data for several species of aquatic plants under more realistic conditions compared to laboratory tests and inclusion of macrophytes as important structural and functional components in mesocosms while limiting their domination of the model ecosystem.

IGF-1, the Cross Road of the Nutritional, Inflammatory and Hormonal Pathways to Frailty

PubMed Central

Maggio, Marcello; De Vita, Francesca; Lauretani, Fulvio; Buttò, Valeria; Bondi, Giuliana; Cattabiani, Chiara; Nouvenne, Antonio; Meschi, Tiziana; Dall’Aglio, Elisabetta; Ceda, Gian Paolo

2013-01-01

The decline in functional capacity is a heterogeneous phenomenon in the elderly. An accelerated ageing determines a frail status. It results in an increased vulnerability to stressors for decreased physiological reserves. The early identification of a frail status is essential for preventing loss of functional capacity, and its clinical consequences. Frailty and mobility limitation result from an interplay of different pathways including multiple anabolic deficiency, inflammation, oxidative stress, and a poor nutritional status. However, the age-related decline in insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) bioactivity deserves special attention as it could represent the ideal crossroad of endocrine, inflammatory, and nutritional pathways to frailty. Several minerals, namely magnesium, selenium, and zinc, appear to be important determinants of IGF-1 bioactivity. This review aims to provide an overview of the potential usefulness of nutrients modulating IGF-1 as potential therapeutic targets in the prevention of mobility limitation occurring in frail older subjects. PMID:24152751

A novel beamformer design method for medical ultrasound. Part I: Theory.

PubMed

Ranganathan, Karthik; Walker, William F

2003-01-01

The design of transmit and receive aperture weightings is a critical step in the development of ultrasound imaging systems. Current design methods are generally iterative, and consequently time consuming and inexact. We describe a new and general ultrasound beamformer design method, the minimum sum squared error (MSSE) technique. The MSSE technique enables aperture design for arbitrary beam patterns (within fundamental limitations imposed by diffraction). It uses a linear algebra formulation to describe the system point spread function (psf) as a function of the aperture weightings. The sum squared error (SSE) between the system psf and the desired or goal psf is minimized, yielding the optimal aperture weightings. We present detailed analysis for continuous wave (CW) and broadband systems. We also discuss several possible applications of the technique, such as the design of aperture weightings that improve the system depth of field, generate limited diffraction transmit beams, and improve the correlation depth of field in translated aperture system geometries. Simulation results are presented in an accompanying paper.

Limitations on the developing preterm brain: impact of periventricular white matter lesions on brain connectivity and cognition.

PubMed

Pavlova, Marina A; Krägeloh-Mann, Ingeborg

2013-04-01

Brain lesions to the white matter in peritrigonal regions, periventricular leukomalacia, in children who were born prematurely represent an important model for studying limitations on brain development. The lesional pattern is of early origin and bilateral, that constrains the compensatory potential of the brain. We suggest that (i) topography and severity of periventricular lesions may have a long-term predictive value for cognitive and social capabilities in preterm birth survivors; and (ii) periventricular lesions may impact cognitive and social functions by affecting brain connectivity, and thereby, the dissociable neural networks underpinning these functions. A further pathway to explore is the relationship between cerebral palsy and cognitive outcome. Restrictions caused by motor disability may affect active exploration of surrounding and social participation that may in turn differentially impinge on cognitive development and social cognition. As an outline for future research, we underscore sex differences, as the sex of a preterm newborn may shape the mechanisms by which the developing brain is affected.

Happiness and the patterns of life: a study of geolocated tweets.

PubMed

Frank, Morgan R; Mitchell, Lewis; Dodds, Peter Sheridan; Danforth, Christopher M

2013-01-01

The patterns of life exhibited by large populations have been described and modeled both as a basic science exercise and for a range of applied goals such as reducing automotive congestion, improving disaster response, and even predicting the location of individuals. However, these studies have had limited access to conversation content, rendering changes in expression as a function of movement invisible. In addition, they typically use the communication between a mobile phone and its nearest antenna tower to infer position, limiting the spatial resolution of the data to the geographical region serviced by each cellphone tower. We use a collection of 37 million geolocated tweets to characterize the movement patterns of 180,000 individuals, taking advantage of several orders of magnitude of increased spatial accuracy relative to previous work. Employing the recently developed sentiment analysis instrument known as the hedonometer, we characterize changes in word usage as a function of movement, and find that expressed happiness increases logarithmically with distance from an individual's average location.

The burden of culture? Health outcomes among immigrants from the former Soviet Union in the United States.

PubMed

Hofmann, Erin Trouth

2012-04-01

Immigrants in the U.S. often experience better health than the native-born, and many explanations for this phenomenon center around the positive health behaviors that immigrants bring from their home cultures. Immigrants from the former Soviet Union may be an exception; because they come from societies where unhealthy lifestyles and high mortality are common, they are often expected to experience worse health than the native population. Using data from the Integrated Health Interview Series, I compare FSU immigrants with U.S.-born, non-Hispanic whites on several health measures. FSU immigrants are twice as likely as native whites to report fair or poor health, but they are less likely to smoke or drink, and are less likely to report a functional limitation. FSU immigrants' advantage in functional limitation is largely explained by their very high levels of education and marriage, indicating that selectivity is important to understanding the health of this population.

Cockcroft-Gault revisited: New de-liver-ance on recommendations for use in cirrhosis.

PubMed

Scappaticci, Gianni B; Regal, Randolph E

2017-01-28

The Cockcroft-Gault (CG) equation has become perhaps the most popular practical approach for estimating renal function among health care professionals. Despite its widespread use, clinicians often overlook not only the limitations of the original serum creatinine (SCr) based equation, but also may not appreciate the validity of the many variations used to compensate for these limitations. For cirrhotic patients in particular, the underlying pathophysiology of the disease contributes to a falsely low SCr, thereby overestimating renal function with use of the CG equation in this population. We reviewed the original CG trial from 1976 along with data surrounding clinician specific alterations to the CG equation that followed through time. These alterations included different formulas for body weight in obese patients and the "rounding up" approach in patients with low SCr. Additionally, we described the pathophysiology and hemodynamic changes that occur in cirrhosis; and reviewed several studies that attempted to estimate renal function in this population. The evidence we reviewed regarding the most accurate manipulation of the original CG equation to estimate creatinine clearance (CrCl) was inconclusive. Unfortunately, the homogeneity of the patient population in the original CG trial limited its external validity. Elimination of body weight in the CG equation actually produced the estimate closest to the measure CrCl. Furthermore, "rounding up" of SCr values often underestimated CrCl. This approach could lead to suboptimal dosing of drug therapies in patients with low SCr. In cirrhotic patients, utilization of SCr based methods overestimated true renal function by about 50% in the literature we reviewed.

Accounting for the economic risk caused by variation in disease severity in fungicide dose decisions, exemplified for Mycosphaerella graminicola on winter wheat.

PubMed

Te Beest, D E; Paveley, N D; Shaw, M W; van den Bosch, F

2013-07-01

A method is presented to calculate economic optimum fungicide doses accounting for the risk aversion of growers responding to variability in disease severity between crops. Simple dose-response and disease-yield loss functions are used to estimate net disease-related costs (fungicide cost plus disease-induced yield loss) as a function of dose and untreated severity. With fairly general assumptions about the shapes of the probability distribution of disease severity and the other functions involved, we show that a choice of fungicide dose which minimizes net costs, on average, across seasons results in occasional large net costs caused by inadequate control in high disease seasons. This may be unacceptable to a grower with limited capital. A risk-averse grower can choose to reduce the size and frequency of such losses by applying a higher dose as insurance. For example, a grower may decide to accept "high-loss" years 1 year in 10 or 1 year in 20 (i.e., specifying a proportion of years in which disease severity and net costs will be above a specified level). Our analysis shows that taking into account disease severity variation and risk aversion will usually increase the dose applied by an economically rational grower. The analysis is illustrated with data on Septoria tritici leaf blotch of wheat caused by Mycosphaerella graminicola. Observations from untreated field plots at sites across England over 3 years were used to estimate the probability distribution of disease severities at mid-grain filling. In the absence of a fully reliable disease forecasting scheme, reducing the frequency of high-loss years requires substantially higher doses to be applied to all crops. Disease-resistant cultivars reduce both the optimal dose at all levels of risk and the disease-related costs at all doses.

Effects of Pediatric Head Trauma for Children, Parents, and Families

PubMed Central

Youngblut, JoAnne M.; Singer, Lynn T.; Boyer, Cindy; Wheatley, Margaret A.; Cohen, Alan R.; Grisoni, Enrique R.

2013-01-01

SUMMARY Severe pediatric head injury has negative consequences for children of all ages. Even mild and moderate head injury results in residual impairment for school-age children and adolescents. Data are needed on the effects of these less severe insults, especially for preschoolers. Although research on the impact of the child’s head injury on the parent–child relationship and family functioning is limited, the experience is likely to be very stressful for the parent and the family. Indeed, family integrity may be at risk. Research is needed that examines the effects of a child’s head injury for the parent and the family over time and identifies factors related to these outcomes. PMID:11249368

[Anthropometry, body composition and functional limitations in the elderly].

PubMed

Arroyo, Patricia; Lera, Lydia; Sánchez, Hugo; Bunout, Daniel; Santos, José Luis; Albala, Cecilia

2007-07-01

Functional limitations limit the independence and jeopardize the quality of life of elderly subjects. To assess the association between anthropometric measures and body composition with functional limitations in community-living older people. Cross-sectional survey of 377 people > or = 6 5 years old (238 women), randomly selected from the SABE/Chile project. Complete anthropometric measurements were done. Handgrip muscle strength was measured using dynamometers. Body composition was determined using Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry. Functional limitations were assessed using self reported and observed activities. Body mass index was strongly associated with fat mass (men r =0.87; women r =0.91) and with lean mass (men r =0.55; women r =0.62). Males had significantly greater lean mass (48.9 kg vs 34.9 kg), and bone mass than females (2.6 kg vs 1.8 kg) and women had higher fat mass than men (26.3 kg vs 22.9 kg). The prevalence of functional limitations was high, affecting more women than men (63.7% vs 37.5%, p <0.01). Functional limitations were associated with lower handgrip strength in both sexes. In the multiple regression models, with functional limitations as dependent variable and anthropometric measures as contributing variables, only hand grip strength had a significant association (negative) with functional limitations in both genders. Age was also a significant risk factor for functional limitations among women. Hand grip strength was strongly and inversely associated with functional limitations. Handgrip dynamometry is an easy, cheap and low time-consuming indicator for the assessment of functional limitations and the evaluation of geriatric interventions aimed to improve functional ability.

Unraveling Executive Functioning in Dual Diagnosis.

PubMed

Duijkers, Judith C L M; Vissers, Constance Th W M; Egger, Jos I M

2016-01-01

In mental health, the term dual-diagnosis is used for the co-occurrence of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) with another mental disorder. These co-occurring disorders can have a shared cause, and can cause/intensify each other's expression. Forming a threat to health and society, dual-diagnosis is associated with relapses in addiction-related behavior and a destructive lifestyle. This is due to a persistent failure to control impulses and the maintaining of inadequate self-regulatory behavior in daily life. Thus, several aspects of executive functioning like inhibitory, shifting and updating processes seem impaired in dual-diagnosis. Executive (dys-)function is currently even seen as a shared underlying key component of most mental disorders. However, the number of studies on diverse aspects of executive functioning in dual-diagnosis is limited. In the present review, a systematic overview of various aspects of executive functioning in dual-diagnosis is presented, striving for a prototypical profile of patients with dual-diagnosis. Looking at empirical results, inhibitory and shifting processes appear to be impaired for SUD combined with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or cluster B personality disorders. Studies involving updating process tasks for dual-diagnosis were limited. More research that zooms in to the full diversity of these executive functions is needed in order to strengthen these findings. Detailed insight in the profile of strengths and weaknesses that underlies one's behavior and is related to diagnostic classifications, can lead to tailor-made assessment and indications for treatment, pointing out which aspects need attention and/or training in one's self-regulative abilities.

Effects of neuromuscular training (NEMEX-TJR) on patient-reported outcomes and physical function in severe primary hip or knee osteoarthritis: a controlled before-and-after study.

PubMed

Ageberg, Eva; Nilsdotter, Anna; Kosek, Eva; Roos, Ewa M

2013-08-08

The benefits of exercise in mild and moderate knee or hip osteoarthritis (OA) are apparent, but the evidence in severe OA is less clear. We recently reported that neuromuscular training was well tolerated and feasible in patients with severe primary hip or knee OA. The aims of this controlled before-and-after study were to compare baseline status to an age-matched population-based reference group and to examine the effects of neuromuscular training on patient-reported outcomes and physical function in patients with severe primary OA of the hip or knee. 87 patients (60-77 years) with severe primary OA of the hip (n = 38, 55% women) or knee (n = 49, 59% women) awaiting total joint replacement (TJR) had supervised, neuromuscular training (NEMEX-TJR) in groups with individualized level and progression of training. A reference group (n = 43, 53% women) was included for comparison with patients' data. Assessments included self-reported outcomes (HOOS/KOOS) and measures of physical function (chair stands, number of knee bends/30 sec, knee extensor strength, 20-meter walk test) at baseline and at follow-up before TJR. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used for comparing patients and references and elucidating influence of demographic factors on change. The paired t-test was used for comparisons within groups. At baseline, patients reported worse scores than the references in all HOOS/KOOS subscales (hip 27-47%, knee 14-52%, of reference scores, respectively) and had functional limitations (hip 72-85%, knee 42-85%, of references scores, respectively). NEMEX-TJR (mean 12 weeks (SD 5.6) of training) improved self-reported outcomes (hip 9-29%, knee 7-20%) and physical function (hip 3-18%, knee 5-19%) (p < 0.005). Between 42% and 62% of hip OA patients, and 39% and 61% of knee OA patients, displayed a clinically meaningful improvement (≥15%) in HOOS/KOOS subscales by training. The improvement in HOOS/KOOS subscale ADL was greater for patients with knee OA than hip OA, while the improvement in subscale Sport/Rec was greater for patients with hip OA than knee OA. Both self-reported outcomes and physical function were clearly worse compared with the reference group. Neuromuscular training with an individualized approach and gradual progression showed promise for improving patient-reported outcomes and physical function even in older patients with severe primary OA of the hip or knee.

Using personality traits to construct linear growth models of mental health in family members of individuals with severe brain injury.

PubMed

Trujillo, Michael; Perrin, Paul B; Doser, Karoline; Norup, Anne

2016-11-01

No studies have examined the impact of personality traits on mental health among caregivers of individuals with severe brain injury. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to construct linear growth models to examine whether the personality traits of family members of individuals with severe brain injury could predict the trajectories of their own mental health-related quality of life (HRQoL), anxiety, and depression beginning in a neurointensive care unit through 1 year after injury. Danish family members of individuals with severe brain injury (n = 52) completed the Short Form-36 assessing mental HRQoL (vitality, social functioning, role limitations-emotional, mental health), anxiety, and depression across 5 time points during the 1st year after injury. The measure of personality was administered 3 months after the patients' discharge. All mental HRQoL, anxiety, and depression variables improved significantly over time. Caregivers who were less neurotic and less conscientious had higher vitality, social functioning, and mental health over time, whereas caregivers who were more agreeable had higher social functioning over time. Caregivers with lower neuroticism had lower anxiety and depression over time, as well as a more accelerated decrease in anxiety and depression. Caregivers' personality traits were strongly associated over time with mental HRQoL, anxiety, and depression, with neuroticism being especially important for trajectories of anxiety and depression. These results suggest that personality assessments for caregivers of individuals with severe brain injury could help identify those most at risk for poor mental health over the course of rehabilitation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).

Interstitial pneumonia associated to peginterferon alpha-2a: A focus on lung function

PubMed Central

Cortés-Telles, Arturo

2016-01-01

Pulmonary toxicity related to the use of pegylated interferon alpha-2a during treatment of hepatitis C infections is rare; nonetheless, some cases with fatal outcomes have been reported. Evaluating patients’ pulmonary function is a key to diagnosis, follow-up and prognosis of several respiratory diseases, but case reports of respiratory manifestations related to the use of pegylated interferon alpha-2a have limited their findings to only baseline measurements. This paper examines the case of a 65-year-old woman with chronic hepatitis C virus infection who developed interstitial pneumonitis associated with pegylated interferon alpha-2a. Initial lung function evaluation revealed a marked reduction compared to an earlier assessment; the results were consistent with a moderate restricted pattern. Fortunately, over the ensuing 8 weeks of follow-up after discontinuing the drug, the patient recovered her lung function and experienced an overall improvement in her respiratory symptoms. PMID:27051119

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

Dumitru, Adrian; Skokov, Vladimir

The conventional and linearly polarized Weizsäcker-Williams gluon distributions at small x are defined from the two-point function of the gluon field in light-cone gauge. They appear in the cross section for dijet production in deep inelastic scattering at high energy. We determine these functions in the small-x limit from solutions of the JIMWLK evolution equations and show that they exhibit approximate geometric scaling. Also, we discuss the functional distributions of these WW gluon distributions over the JIMWLK ensemble at rapidity Y ~ 1/αs. These are determined by a 2d Liouville action for the logarithm of the covariant gauge function g2trmore » A+(q)A+(-q). For transverse momenta on the order of the saturation scale we observe large variations across configurations (evolution trajectories) of the linearly polarized distribution up to several times its average, and even to negative values.« less

The Proteome Folding Project: Proteome-scale prediction of structure and function

PubMed Central

Drew, Kevin; Winters, Patrick; Butterfoss, Glenn L.; Berstis, Viktors; Uplinger, Keith; Armstrong, Jonathan; Riffle, Michael; Schweighofer, Erik; Bovermann, Bill; Goodlett, David R.; Davis, Trisha N.; Shasha, Dennis; Malmström, Lars; Bonneau, Richard

2011-01-01

The incompleteness of proteome structure and function annotation is a critical problem for biologists and, in particular, severely limits interpretation of high-throughput and next-generation experiments. We have developed a proteome annotation pipeline based on structure prediction, where function and structure annotations are generated using an integration of sequence comparison, fold recognition, and grid-computing-enabled de novo structure prediction. We predict protein domain boundaries and three-dimensional (3D) structures for protein domains from 94 genomes (including human, Arabidopsis, rice, mouse, fly, yeast, Escherichia coli, and worm). De novo structure predictions were distributed on a grid of more than 1.5 million CPUs worldwide (World Community Grid). We generated significant numbers of new confident fold annotations (9% of domains that are otherwise unannotated in these genomes). We demonstrate that predicted structures can be combined with annotations from the Gene Ontology database to predict new and more specific molecular functions. PMID:21824995

Parkinsonian Balance Deficits Quantified Using a Game Industry Board and a Specific Battery of Four Paradigms.

PubMed

Darbin, Olivier; Gubler, Coral; Naritoku, Dean; Dees, Daniel; Martino, Anthony; Adams, Elizabeth

2016-01-01

This study describes a cost-effective screening protocol for parkinsonism based on combined objective and subjective monitoring of balance function. Objective evaluation of balance function was performed using a game industry balance board and an automated analyses of the dynamic of the center of pressure in time, frequency, and non-linear domains collected during short series of stand up tests with different modalities and severity of sensorial deprivation. The subjective measurement of balance function was performed using the Dizziness Handicap Inventory questionnaire. Principal component analyses on both objective and subjective measurements of balance function allowed to obtained a specificity and selectivity for parkinsonian patients (vs. healthy subjects) of 0.67 and 0.71 respectively. The findings are discussed regarding the relevance of cost-effective balance-based screening system as strategy to meet the needs of broader and earlier screening for parkinsonism in communities with limited access to healthcare.

Application of TALE-Based Approach for Dissecting Functional MicroRNA-302/367 in Cellular Reprogramming.

PubMed

Zhang, Zhonghui; Wu, Wen-Shu

2018-01-01

MicroRNAs are small 18-24 nt single-stranded noncoding RNA molecules involved in many biological processes, including stemness maintenance and cellular reprogramming. Current methods used in loss-of-function studies of microRNAs have several limitations. Here, we describe a new approach for dissecting miR-302/367 functions by transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs), which are natural effector proteins secreted by Xanthomonas and Ralstonia bacteria. Knockdown of the miR-302/367 cluster uses the Kruppel-associated box repressor domain fused with specific TALEs designed to bind the miR-302/367 cluster promoter. Knockout of the miR-302/367 cluster uses two pairs of TALE nucleases (TALENs) to delete the miR-302/367 cluster in human primary cells. Together, both TALE-based transcriptional repressor and TALENs are two promising approaches for loss-of-function studies of microRNA cluster in human primary cells.

GABA neuron alterations, cortical circuit dysfunction and cognitive deficits in schizophrenia.

PubMed

Gonzalez-Burgos, Guillermo; Fish, Kenneth N; Lewis, David A

2011-01-01

Schizophrenia is a brain disorder associated with cognitive deficits that severely affect the patients' capacity for daily functioning. Whereas our understanding of its pathophysiology is limited, postmortem studies suggest that schizophrenia is associated with deficits of GABA-mediated synaptic transmission. A major role of GABA-mediated transmission may be producing synchronized network oscillations which are currently hypothesized to be essential for normal cognitive function. Therefore, cognitive deficits in schizophrenia may result from a GABA synapse dysfunction that disturbs neural synchrony. Here, we highlight recent studies further suggesting alterations of GABA transmission and network oscillations in schizophrenia. We also review current models for the mechanisms of GABA-mediated synchronization of neural activity, focusing on parvalbumin-positive GABA neurons, which are altered in schizophrenia and whose function has been strongly linked to the production of neural synchrony. Alterations of GABA signaling that impair gamma oscillations and, as a result, cognitive function suggest paths for novel therapeutic interventions.

Visualizing and understanding l'hopital's rule

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gordon, Sheldon P.

2017-11-01

This article uses dynamic software in Excel to demonstrate several ways in which graphical and numerical approaches can be introduced both to enhance student understanding of l'Hopital's Rule and to explain why the Rule actually works to give the 'right' answers. One of the approaches used is to visualize what is happening by examining the limits with both l'Hopital's Rule and the associated Taylor approximation to the function. The dynamic software allows students to experiment with the ideas.

Traditional Athabascan Law Ways and Their Relationship to Contemporary Problems of "Bush Justice". Some Preliminary Observations on Structure and Function. Institute of Social, Economic and Government Research (ISEGR) Occasional Papers No. 7.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hippler, Arthur E.; Conn, Stephen

Resolution of conflicts and disputes in traditional Athabascan society was based on assumptions that: (1) the authority of the leader was absolute, for as representative of both village and victim, he was limited only by the fact that the crime had to be serious enough for third party intervention and that severe sanctions demanded village…

Conserved Receptor-Binding Domains of Lake Victoria Marburgvirus and Zaire Ebolavirus Bind a Shared Receptor

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-04-14

virion, because of the functional importance of and limited variation in this region (44, 45). In some cases, such as murine and feline leukemia viruses ...murine leukemia virus ; PBS, phos- phate-buffered saline; RBD, receptor-binding domain; SARS, severe acute respiratory syndrome; VSV, vesicular stomatitis...entryofpseudotypedret- roviruses. A Moloney murine leukemia virus vector expressing GFP was pseudotyped with the GP1,2 of MARV-Mus (MARV/MLV), a mucin-like

Spinal cord injury: overview of experimental approaches used to restore locomotor activity.

PubMed

Fakhoury, Marc

2015-01-01

Spinal cord injury affects more than 2.5 million people worldwide and can lead to paraplegia and quadriplegia. Anatomical discontinuity in the spinal cord results in disruption of the impulse conduction that causes temporary or permanent changes in the cord's normal functions. Although axonal regeneration is limited, damage to the spinal cord is often accompanied by spontaneous plasticity and axon regeneration that help improve sensory and motor skills. The recovery process depends mainly on synaptic plasticity in the preexisting circuits and on the formation of new pathways through collateral sprouting into neighboring denervated territories. However, spontaneous recovery after spinal cord injury can go on for several years, and the degree of recovery is very limited. Therefore, the development of new approaches that could accelerate the gain of motor function is of high priority to patients with damaged spinal cord. Although there are no fully restorative treatments for spinal injury, various rehabilitative approaches have been tested in animal models and have reached clinical trials. In this paper, a closer look will be given at the potential therapies that could facilitate axonal regeneration and improve locomotor recovery after injury to the spinal cord. This article highlights the application of several interventions including locomotor training, molecular and cellular treatments, and spinal cord stimulation in the field of rehabilitation research. Studies investigating therapeutic approaches in both animal models and individuals with injured spinal cords will be presented.

Serum inverts and improves the fluorescence response of an aptamer beacon to various vitamin D analytes.

PubMed

Bruno, John G; Carrillo, Maria P; Phillips, Taylor; Edge, Allison

2012-01-01

A dominant aptamer loop structure from a library of nearly 100 candidate aptamer sequences developed against immobilized 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) (calcidiol) was converted into a 5'-TYE 665 and 3'-Iowa black-labelled aptamer beacon. The aptamer beacon exhibited a mild 'lights on' reaction in buffer as a function of increasing concentrations of several vitamin D analogues and metabolites, with a limit of detection of approximately 200 ng/mL, and was not specific for any particular congener. In 10% or 50% human serum, the same aptamer beacon inverted its fluorescence behaviour to become a more intense 'lights off' reaction with an improved limit of detection in the range 4-16 ng/mL. We hypothesized that this drastic change in fluorescence behaviour was due to the presence of creatinine and urea in serum, which might destabilize the quenched beacon, causing an increase in fluorescence followed by decreasing fluorescence as a function of vitamin D concentrations that may bind and quench increasingly greater fractions of the denatured beacons. However, the results of several control experiments in the presence of physiological or greater concentrations of creatinine and urea, alone or combined in buffer, failed to produce the beacon fluorescence inversion. Other possible mechanistic hypotheses are also discussed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

New glycoside derivatives of carnosine and analogs resistant to carnosinase hydrolysis: synthesis and characterization of their copper(II) complexes.

PubMed

Lanza, Valeria; Bellia, Francesco; D'Agata, Roberta; Grasso, Giuseppe; Rizzarelli, Enrico; Vecchio, Graziella

2011-02-01

Carnosine (β-alanyl-L-histidine) is an endogenous dipeptide widely and abundantly distributed in muscle and nervous tissues of several animal species. Many functions have been proposed for this compound, such as antioxidant and metal ion-chelator properties. However, the main limitation on therapeutic use of carnosine on pathologies related to increased oxidative stress and/or metal ion dishomeostasis is associated with the hydrolysis by the specific dipeptidase carnosinase. Several attempts have been made to overcome this limitation. On this basis, we functionalized carnosine and its amide derivative with small sugars such as glucose and lactose. The resistance of these derivatives to the carnosinase hydrolysis was tested and compared with that of carnosine. We found that the glycoconjugation protects the dipeptide moiety from carnosinase hydrolysis, thus potentially improving the availability of carnosine. The copper(II) binding properties of all the new synthesized compounds were investigated by spectroscopic (UV-Visible and circular dichroism) and ESI-MS studies. Particularly, the new family of amide derivatives that are not significantly hydrolyzed by carnosinase is a very promising class of carnosine derivatives. The sugar moiety can act as a recognition element. These new derivatives are potentially able to act as chelating agents in the development of clinical approaches for the regulation of metal homeostasis in the field of medicinal inorganic chemistry. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Common capacity-limited neural mechanisms of selective attention and spatial working memory encoding

PubMed Central

Fusser, Fabian; Linden, David E J; Rahm, Benjamin; Hampel, Harald; Haenschel, Corinna; Mayer, Jutta S

2011-01-01

One characteristic feature of visual working memory (WM) is its limited capacity, and selective attention has been implicated as limiting factor. A possible reason why attention constrains the number of items that can be encoded into WM is that the two processes share limited neural resources. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have indeed demonstrated commonalities between the neural substrates of WM and attention. Here we investigated whether such overlapping activations reflect interacting neural mechanisms that could result in capacity limitations. To independently manipulate the demands on attention and WM encoding within one single task, we combined visual search and delayed discrimination of spatial locations. Participants were presented with a search array and performed easy or difficult visual search in order to encode one, three or five positions of target items into WM. Our fMRI data revealed colocalised activation for attention-demanding visual search and WM encoding in distributed posterior and frontal regions. However, further analysis yielded two patterns of results. Activity in prefrontal regions increased additively with increased demands on WM and attention, indicating regional overlap without functional interaction. Conversely, the WM load-dependent activation in visual, parietal and premotor regions was severely reduced during high attentional demand. We interpret this interaction as indicating the sites of shared capacity-limited neural resources. Our findings point to differential contributions of prefrontal and posterior regions to the common neural mechanisms that support spatial WM encoding and attention, providing new imaging evidence for attention-based models of WM encoding. PMID:21781193

Density-functional theory for internal magnetic fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tellgren, Erik I.

2018-01-01

A density-functional theory is developed based on the Maxwell-Schrödinger equation with an internal magnetic field in addition to the external electromagnetic potentials. The basic variables of this theory are the electron density and the total magnetic field, which can equivalently be represented as a physical current density. Hence, the theory can be regarded as a physical current density-functional theory and an alternative to the paramagnetic current density-functional theory due to Vignale and Rasolt. The energy functional has strong enough convexity properties to allow a formulation that generalizes Lieb's convex analysis formulation of standard density-functional theory. Several variational principles as well as a Hohenberg-Kohn-like mapping between potentials and ground-state densities follow from the underlying convex structure. Moreover, the energy functional can be regarded as the result of a standard approximation technique (Moreau-Yosida regularization) applied to the conventional Schrödinger ground-state energy, which imposes limits on the maximum curvature of the energy (with respect to the magnetic field) and enables construction of a (Fréchet) differentiable universal density functional.

Calculating Solar Ultraviolet Irradiation Of The Human Cornea And Corresponding Required Sunglass Lens Transmittances

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoover, Herbert L.; Marsaud, Serge G.

1986-05-01

Tinted ophthalmic lenses are used primarily for eye comfort in a brightly lit environment. An ancillary benefit is the attenuation of ultraviolet radiation. Some national product standards specify quantitative limits for ultraviolet transmittances. Such limits ought to be founded on quantitative estimates of solar irradiances of ocular tissues, with actinic effectiveness taken into account. We use the equations of Green and coworkers for direct and diffuse solar irradiance at the earth's surface to calculate average sky and ground spectral radiances. We use the geometric factors derived by us for the coupling of radiation from these sources to the human cornea. Actinically weighted corneal spectral irradiances integrated over wavelength and time yield peak irradiances and accumulated exposure doses that are compared with recommended exposure limits. This provides the maximal effective ultraviolet transmittances of tinted ophthalmic lenses such that these exposure limits will not be exceeded in the selected exposure environment. The influences on corneal irradiation of such exposure parameters as solar zenith angle, altitude of the exposure site, characteristics of atmospheric aerosols, and ground reflectances are illustrated. The relationships between the effective transmittance (which is a function of the environmental radiation and any actinicweighting function) and readily determined characteristics of the lens itself, viz., its mean transmittance, and a selected spectral transmittance, are derived for three lens transmittance curves. Limits of lens transmittance for the UV-B and UV-A wavelength regions are presented for several representative exposure sites in Europe and the U.S.A.

Ergonomic practices within patient care units are associated with musculoskeletal pain and limitations

PubMed Central

Dennerlein, Jack T.; Hopcia, Karen; Sembajwe, Grace; Kenwood, Christopher; Stoddard, Anne M.; Tveito, T. Helene; Hashimoto, Dean M.; Sorensen, Glorian

2013-01-01

Background With the high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) for patient care unit workers, prevention efforts through ergonomic practices within units may be related to symptoms associated with typical work-related MSDs. Methods We completed a cross-sectional survey of patient care workers (n=1572) in two large academic hospitals in order to evaluate relationships between self-reported musculoskeletal pain, work interference due to this pain, and limitations during activities of daily living (functional limitations) and with ergonomic practices and other organizational policy and practices metrics within the unit. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses tested the significance of these associations. Results Prevalence of self-reported musculoskeletal symptoms in the past 3-months was 74% with 53% reporting pain in the low back. 32.8% reported that this pain interfered with their work duties and 17.7% reported functional limitations in the prior week. Decreased ergonomic practices were significantly associated with reporting pain in four body areas (low back, neck/shoulder, arms, and lower extremity) in the previous 3-months, interference with work caused by this pain, symptom severity and limitations in completing activities of daily living in the past week. Except for low back pain and work interference, these associations remained significant when psychosocial covariates such as psychological demands were included in multiple logistic regressions, Conclusions Ergonomic practices appear to be associated with many of the musculoskeletal symptoms denoting their importance for prevention efforts in acute health care settings. PMID:22113975

[Study of the clinical phenotype of symptomatic chronic airways disease by hierarchical cluster analysis and two-step cluster analyses].

PubMed

Ning, P; Guo, Y F; Sun, T Y; Zhang, H S; Chai, D; Li, X M

2016-09-01

To study the distinct clinical phenotype of chronic airway diseases by hierarchical cluster analysis and two-step cluster analysis. A population sample of adult patients in Donghuamen community, Dongcheng district and Qinghe community, Haidian district, Beijing from April 2012 to January 2015, who had wheeze within the last 12 months, underwent detailed investigation, including a clinical questionnaire, pulmonary function tests, total serum IgE levels, blood eosinophil level and a peak flow diary. Nine variables were chosen as evaluating parameters, including pre-salbutamol forced expired volume in one second(FEV1)/forced vital capacity(FVC) ratio, pre-salbutamol FEV1, percentage of post-salbutamol change in FEV1, residual capacity, diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide/alveolar volume adjusted for haemoglobin level, peak expiratory flow(PEF) variability, serum IgE level, cumulative tobacco cigarette consumption (pack-years) and respiratory symptoms (cough and expectoration). Subjects' different clinical phenotype by hierarchical cluster analysis and two-step cluster analysis was identified. (1) Four clusters were identified by hierarchical cluster analysis. Cluster 1 was chronic bronchitis in smokers with normal pulmonary function. Cluster 2 was chronic bronchitis or mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with mild airflow limitation. Cluster 3 included COPD patients with heavy smoking, poor quality of life and severe airflow limitation. Cluster 4 recognized atopic patients with mild airflow limitation, elevated serum IgE and clinical features of asthma. Significant differences were revealed regarding pre-salbutamol FEV1/FVC%, pre-salbutamol FEV1% pred, post-salbutamol change in FEV1%, maximal mid-expiratory flow curve(MMEF)% pred, carbon monoxide diffusing capacity per liter of alveolar(DLCO)/(VA)% pred, residual volume(RV)% pred, total serum IgE level, smoking history (pack-years), St.George's respiratory questionnaire(SGRQ) score, acute exacerbation in the past one year, PEF variability and allergic dermatitis (P<0.05). (2) Four clusters were also identified by two-step cluster analysis as followings, cluster 1, COPD patients with moderate to severe airflow limitation; cluster 2, asthma and COPD patients with heavy smoking, airflow limitation and increased airways reversibility; cluster 3, patients having less smoking and normal pulmonary function with wheezing but no chronic cough; cluster 4, chronic bronchitis patients with normal pulmonary function and chronic cough. Significant differences were revealed regarding gender distribution, respiratory symptoms, pre-salbutamol FEV1/FVC%, pre-salbutamol FEV1% pred, post-salbutamol change in FEV1%, MMEF% pred, DLCO/VA% pred, RV% pred, PEF variability, total serum IgE level, cumulative tobacco cigarette consumption (pack-years), and SGRQ score (P<0.05). By different cluster analyses, distinct clinical phenotypes of chronic airway diseases are identified. Thus, individualized treatments may guide doctors to provide based on different phenotypes.

Limitations in the Activity of Mobility at Age 6 Years After Difficult Birth at Term: Prospective Cohort Study.

PubMed

van Iersel, Patricia A M; Algra, Annechien M; Bakker, Saskia C M; Jonker, Arnold J H; Hadders-Algra, Mijna

2016-08-01

A difficult birth at term (DBAT) may manifest as fetal acidosis and low Apgar scores and is often referred to as "perinatal asphyxia," especially when infants show signs of neonatal encephalopathy (NE). In contrast to DBAT resulting in moderate-to-severe NE, which is associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, little is known about the prognosis of less severe forms of DBAT, with or without NE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, Children & Youth Version activity "mobility" and other neurodevelopmental sequelae in infants with DBAT at age 6 years. The index cohort (n=62; 35 boys, 27 girls) consisted of consecutive term infants with DBAT based on clinical criteria in a Dutch nonacademic hospital from 1999 to 2005. Neonatal encephalopathy was assessed according to the Sarnat grading system and excluded infants with severe NE. The matched reference cohort (n=81; 49 boys, 32 girls) consisted of healthy term infants. The primary outcome at 6 years was limited mobility (Movement Assessment Battery for Children score ≤15th percentile). Secondary outcomes included learning and behavioral problems and the presence of minor neurological dysfunction. Three children developed cerebral palsy and were excluded from analyses. Children with DBAT more often had limited mobility than children without DBAT (risk ratio [RR]=2.44; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]=1.16, 5.14). The risk of limited mobility rose with increasing severity of NE (mild NE: RR=3.38; 95% CI=1.40, 8.16; moderate NE: RR=4.00; 95% CI=1.54, 10.40), and manual abilities especially were affected (RR=4.12; 95% CI=1.40, 12.14). Learning problems, need for physical therapy, and complex minor neurological dysfunction were more common in children with DBAT than in children without DBAT. Term infants who develop mild or moderate NE following DBAT are at increased risk for limited mobility at age 6 years. Routine monitoring of neuromotor development in these children is warranted. © 2016 American Physical Therapy Association.

Multimodal Neuroimaging: Basic Concepts and Classification of Neuropsychiatric Diseases.

PubMed

Tulay, Emine Elif; Metin, Barış; Tarhan, Nevzat; Arıkan, Mehmet Kemal

2018-06-01

Neuroimaging techniques are widely used in neuroscience to visualize neural activity, to improve our understanding of brain mechanisms, and to identify biomarkers-especially for psychiatric diseases; however, each neuroimaging technique has several limitations. These limitations led to the development of multimodal neuroimaging (MN), which combines data obtained from multiple neuroimaging techniques, such as electroencephalography, functional magnetic resonance imaging, and yields more detailed information about brain dynamics. There are several types of MN, including visual inspection, data integration, and data fusion. This literature review aimed to provide a brief summary and basic information about MN techniques (data fusion approaches in particular) and classification approaches. Data fusion approaches are generally categorized as asymmetric and symmetric. The present review focused exclusively on studies based on symmetric data fusion methods (data-driven methods), such as independent component analysis and principal component analysis. Machine learning techniques have recently been introduced for use in identifying diseases and biomarkers of disease. The machine learning technique most widely used by neuroscientists is classification-especially support vector machine classification. Several studies differentiated patients with psychiatric diseases and healthy controls with using combined datasets. The common conclusion among these studies is that the prediction of diseases increases when combining data via MN techniques; however, there remain a few challenges associated with MN, such as sample size. Perhaps in the future N-way fusion can be used to combine multiple neuroimaging techniques or nonimaging predictors (eg, cognitive ability) to overcome the limitations of MN.

Optical aperture synthesis: limitations and interest for the earth observation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brouard, Laurent; Safa, Frederic; Crombez, Vincent; Laubier, David

2017-11-01

For very large telescope diameters, typically above 4 meters, monolithic telescopes can hardly be envisaged for space applications. Optical aperture synthesis can be envisaged in the future for improving the image resolution from high altitude orbits by co-phasing several individual telescopes of smaller size and reconstituting an aperture of large surface. The telescopes can be deployed on a single spacecraft or distributed on several spacecrafts in free flying formation. Several future projects are based on optical aperture synthesis for science or earth observation. This paper specifically discusses the limitations and interest of aperture synthesis technique for Earth observation from high altitude orbits, in particular geostationary orbit. Classical Fizeau and Michelson configurations are recalled, and system design aspects are investigated: synthesis of the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF), integration time and imaging procedure are first discussed then co-phasing strategies and instrument metrology are developed. The discussion is supported by specific designs made at EADS Astrium. As example, a telescope design is presented with a surface of only 6.6 m2 for the primary mirror for an external diameter of 10.6 m allowing a theoretical resolution of 1.2 m from geostationary orbit with a surface lower than 10% of the overall surface. The impact is that the integration time is increasing leading to stringent satellite attitude requirements. Image simulation results are presented. The practical implementation of the concept is evaluated in terms of system impacts in particular spacecraft attitude control, spacecraft operations and imaging capability limitations.

Patterns in workplace accommodations for people with multiple sclerosis to overcome cognitive and other disease-related limitations.

PubMed

Leslie, Mykal; Kinyanjui, Benson; Bishop, Malachy; Rumrill, Phillip D; Roessler, Richard T

2015-01-01

Cognitive symptoms and other functional limitations associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) have a significant negative impact on employment status. Work accommodations positively impact the ability of a person with MS to obtain and retain employment, however, current understanding of the role of accommodations in the careers of adults with MS is limited. To analyze the percentage of American workers with MS who utilize workplace accommodations as per Title I of the ADA, the types of accommodations most frequently required, and differences in disease variables, job-related factors, and quality of life between workers using and not using work accommodations. Data from 746 employed adult members of the National MS Society surveyed about career concerns were analyzed. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used as appropriate to address the research questions. Approximately 25% reported having requested accommodations, and 87.7% reported receiving the requested accommodation. Participants with progressive MS, cognitive impairment, higher number of MS symptoms and greater symptom severity were more likely to use work accommodations. Participants with accommodations reported poorer job match and career optimism than those using no accommodations. This large-scale analysis addresses several outstanding questions concerning work accommodations among workers with MS. Cognitive symptoms and disease severity are strongly associated with need for accommodations, however accommodations do not appear to promote job satisfaction or longevity. The accommodation request process and the impact of accommodations on employment retention remain important research foci.

Limitation of life-sustaining treatment in patients with prolonged admission to the ICU. Current situation in Spain as seen from the EPIPUSE Study.

PubMed

Hernández-Tejedor, A; Martín Delgado, M C; Cabré Pericas, L; Algora Weber, A

2015-10-01

Limitation of life-sustaining treatment (LLST) is a recommended practice in certain circumstances. Limitation practices are varied, and their application differs from one center to another. The present study evaluates the current situation of LLST practices in patients with prolonged admission to the ICU who suffer worsening of their condition. A prospective, observational cohort study was carried out. Seventy-five Spanish ICUs. A total of 589 patients suffering 777 complications or adverse events with organ function impairment after day 7 of admission, during a three-month recruitment period. The timing of limitation, the subject proposing LLST, the degree of agreement within the team, the influence of LLST upon the doctor-patient-family relationship, and the way in which LLST is implemented. LLST was proposed in 34.3% of the patients presenting prolonged admission to the ICU with severe complications. The incidence was higher in patients with moderate to severe lung disease, cancer, immunosuppressive treatment or dependence for basic activities of daily living. LLST was finally implemented in 97% of the cases in which it was proposed. The decision within the medical team was unanimous in 87.9% of the cases. The doctor-patient-family relationship usually does not change or even improves in this situation. LLST in ICUs is usually carried out under unanimous decision of the medical team, is performed more frequently in patients with severe comorbidity, and usually does not have a negative impact upon the relationship with the patients and their families. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier España, S.L.U. and SEMICYUC. All rights reserved.

High-resolution scanning Hall probe microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hallen, Hans D.; Hess, H. F.; Chang, A. M.; Pfeiffer, Loren N.; West, Kenneth W.; Mitzi, David B.

1993-06-01

A high resolution scanning Hall probe microscope is used to spatially resolve vortices in high temperature superconducting Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+(delta) crystals. We observe a partially ordered vortex lattice at several different applied magnetic fields and temperatures. At higher temperatures, a limited amount of vortex re-arrangement is observed, but most vortices remain fixed for periods long compared to the imaging time of several hours even at temperatures as high as 75 degree(s)K (the superconducting transition temperature for these crystals is approximately 84 degree(s)K). A measure of these local magnetic penetration depth can be obtained from a fit to the surface field of several neighboring vortices, and has been measured as a function of temperature. In particular, we have measured the zero temperature penetration depth and found it to be 275 +/- 40 nm.

Decentralized Online Social Networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Datta, Anwitaman; Buchegger, Sonja; Vu, Le-Hung; Strufe, Thorsten; Rzadca, Krzysztof

Current Online social networks (OSN) are web services run on logically centralized infrastructure. Large OSN sites use content distribution networks and thus distribute some of the load by caching for performance reasons, nevertheless there is a central repository for user and application data. This centralized nature of OSNs has several drawbacks including scalability, privacy, dependence on a provider, need for being online for every transaction, and a lack of locality. There have thus been several efforts toward decentralizing OSNs while retaining the functionalities offered by centralized OSNs. A decentralized online social network (DOSN) is a distributed system for social networking with no or limited dependency on any dedicated central infrastructure. In this chapter we explore the various motivations of a decentralized approach to online social networking, discuss several concrete proposals and types of DOSN as well as challenges and opportunities associated with decentralization.

Protein Assembly and Building Blocks: Beyond the Limits of the LEGO Brick Metaphor.

PubMed

Levy, Yaakov

2017-09-26

Proteins, like other biomolecules, have a modular and hierarchical structure. Various building blocks are used to construct proteins of high structural complexity and diverse functionality. In multidomain proteins, for example, domains are fused to each other in different combinations to achieve different functions. Although the LEGO brick metaphor is justified as a means of simplifying the complexity of three-dimensional protein structures, several fundamental properties (such as allostery or the induced-fit mechanism) make deviation from it necessary to respect the plasticity, softness, and cross-talk that are essential to protein function. In this work, we illustrate recently reported protein behavior in multidomain proteins that deviates from the LEGO brick analogy. While earlier studies showed that a protein domain is often unaffected by being fused to another domain or becomes more stable following the formation of a new interface between the tethered domains, destabilization due to tethering has been reported for several systems. We illustrate that tethering may sometimes result in a multidomain protein behaving as "less than the sum of its parts". We survey these cases for which structure additivity does not guarantee thermodynamic additivity. Protein destabilization due to fusion to other domains may be linked in some cases to biological function and should be taken into account when designing large assemblies.

Differential network analysis reveals the genome-wide landscape of estrogen receptor modulation in hormonal cancers

PubMed Central

Hsiao, Tzu-Hung; Chiu, Yu-Chiao; Hsu, Pei-Yin; Lu, Tzu-Pin; Lai, Liang-Chuan; Tsai, Mong-Hsun; Huang, Tim H.-M.; Chuang, Eric Y.; Chen, Yidong

2016-01-01

Several mutual information (MI)-based algorithms have been developed to identify dynamic gene-gene and function-function interactions governed by key modulators (genes, proteins, etc.). Due to intensive computation, however, these methods rely heavily on prior knowledge and are limited in genome-wide analysis. We present the modulated gene/gene set interaction (MAGIC) analysis to systematically identify genome-wide modulation of interaction networks. Based on a novel statistical test employing conjugate Fisher transformations of correlation coefficients, MAGIC features fast computation and adaption to variations of clinical cohorts. In simulated datasets MAGIC achieved greatly improved computation efficiency and overall superior performance than the MI-based method. We applied MAGIC to construct the estrogen receptor (ER) modulated gene and gene set (representing biological function) interaction networks in breast cancer. Several novel interaction hubs and functional interactions were discovered. ER+ dependent interaction between TGFβ and NFκB was further shown to be associated with patient survival. The findings were verified in independent datasets. Using MAGIC, we also assessed the essential roles of ER modulation in another hormonal cancer, ovarian cancer. Overall, MAGIC is a systematic framework for comprehensively identifying and constructing the modulated interaction networks in a whole-genome landscape. MATLAB implementation of MAGIC is available for academic uses at https://github.com/chiuyc/MAGIC. PMID:26972162

Acute effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic field emitted by mobile phone on brain function.

PubMed

Zhang, Jun; Sumich, Alexander; Wang, Grace Y

2017-07-01

Due to its attributes, characteristics, and technological resources, the mobile phone (MP) has become one of the most commonly used communication devices. Historically, ample evidence has ruled out the substantial short-term impact of radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) emitted by MP on human cognitive performance. However, more recent evidence suggests potential harmful effects associated with MP EMF exposure. The aim of this review is to readdress the question of whether the effect of MP EMF exposure on brain function should be reopened. We strengthen our argument focusing on recent neuroimaging and electroencephalography studies, in order to present a more specific analysis of effects of MP EMF exposure on neurocognitive function. Several studies indicate an increase in cortical excitability and/or efficiency with EMF exposure, which appears to be more prominent in fronto-temporal regions and has been associated with faster reaction time. Cortical excitability might also underpin disruption to sleep. However, several inconsistent findings exist, and conclusions regarding adverse effects of EMF exposure are currently limited. It also should be noted that the crucial scientific question of the effect of longer-term MP EMF exposure on brain function remains unanswered and essentially unaddressed. Bioelectromagnetics. 38:329-338, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Modulation of Intestinal Functions Following Mycotoxin Ingestion: Meta-Analysis of Published Experiments in Animals

PubMed Central

Grenier, Bertrand; Applegate, Todd J.

2013-01-01

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of fungi that can cause serious health problems in animals, and may result in severe economic losses. Deleterious effects of these feed contaminants in animals are well documented, ranging from growth impairment, decreased resistance to pathogens, hepato- and nephrotoxicity to death. By contrast, data with regard to their impact on intestinal functions are more limited. However, intestinal cells are the first cells to be exposed to mycotoxins, and often at higher concentrations than other tissues. In addition, mycotoxins specifically target high protein turnover- and activated-cells, which are predominant in gut epithelium. Therefore, intestinal investigations have gained significant interest over the last decade, and some publications have demonstrated that mycotoxins are able to compromise several key functions of the gastrointestinal tract, including decreased surface area available for nutrient absorption, modulation of nutrient transporters, or loss of barrier function. In addition some mycotoxins facilitate persistence of intestinal pathogens and potentiate intestinal inflammation. By contrast, the effect of these fungal metabolites on the intestinal microbiota is largely unknown. This review focuses on mycotoxins which are of concern in terms of occurrence and toxicity, namely: aflatoxins, ochratoxin A and Fusarium toxins. Results from nearly 100 published experiments (in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo) were analyzed with a special attention to the doses used. PMID:23430606

The recovery of factors associated with decision-making capacity in individuals with psychosis

PubMed Central

Fernandez, Colin; Kennedy, Miriam

2017-01-01

Background There is limited data on the recovery of factors associated with decisional capacity in patients with psychosis. Aims To study the relationship between changes in mental capacity, symptoms and global functioning using structured measures during treatment for psychosis. Method Fifty-six patients with psychosis were assessed for capacity to consent to treatment on admission and at 6 and 12 weeks following treatment. The MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool – Treatment, the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale and the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale were used to measure mental capacities, symptom severity and global functioning respectively. Treating consultants rated capacity to consent, masked to these measures. Results Greater impairments on all measures were found in patients assessed as lacking capacity. These improved with treatment over 12 weeks with significant effect sizes (0.5 to 0.6). Stronger correlations between mental capacities, positive symptoms (−0.47) and global functioning (0.56) were noted in the first 6 weeks. Conclusions Impairments in capacity in acute stages of psychosis are related to symptom severity and functional impairment. They improve during treatment, particularly in the first 6 weeks. Declaration of interest None. Copyright and usage © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2017. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Non-Commercial, No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) license. PMID:28507770