The Effect of Combination Antiviral Therapy in the Treatment of Hepatitis C on the Occurrence of Depressive Disorder in Patients Treated for Hepatitis C in the Republic of Srpska.

PubMed

Banjac, Visnja; Zivlak-Radulovic, Nera; Miskovic, Mirjana

2016-04-01

The current standard treatment of chronic hepatitis C in Bosnia and Herzegovina consists of pegylated interferon alpha in combination with ribavirin. Interferon therapy has many psychiatric side effects, with depressive symptomatology being most prominent. The aim of the study was to establish the frequency and severity of depression in patients with chronic hepatitis C during two months of the aforementioned therapy. The overall sample consisted of 46 subjects, divided into three subgroups, aged 18 to 65. The study population consisted of subjects treated for chronic hepatitis C (n = 15), subjects infected but not treated for chronic hepatitis C (n = 15), and healthy controls (n = 16). The assessment and level of depression were based on the Structural clinical interview (SCID), Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale and Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale. The assessments were conducted before interferon therapy (on the day 0), after 4 and 8 weeks of therapy. Regarding its frequency, MADRS scoring showed that the number of depressed subjects receiving therapy increased after 8 weeks (46.7%). There was statistical significance between the subgroups after 4 and 8 weeks. Likewise, the ZUNG scale showed that the number of depressed subjects receiving therapy increased after 8 weeks (73.3%). There was statistical significance between the subgroups on the day 0, after 4 and 8 weeks. Depression was significantly more frequent in chronic hepatitis C subjects treated with interferon alpha in combination with ribavirin than in subjects in the group without therapy. Mild depression was most prevalent.

Effects of Choice and Social-Undesirability on Unprovoked Aggression.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sejwacz, Dorothy; Dion, Kenneth L.

Female subjects in this study were induced to harm another person in an alleged "learning" study by administering aversive noise to a confederate-victim as she performed a problem-solving task. The subjects consisted of forty-six female undergraduates enrolled in Introductory Psychology at the University of Toronto. They were randomly assigned to…

Effectiveness of Case-Based Learning Instruction on Epistemological Beliefs and Attitudes toward Chemistry

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cam, Aylin; Geban, Omer

2011-01-01

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of case-based learning instruction over traditionally designed chemistry instruction on eleventh grade students' epistemological beliefs and their attitudes toward chemistry as a school subject. The subjects of this study consisted of 63 eleventh grade students from two intact classes…

Effectiveness of Conceptual Change Instruction on Understanding of Heat and Temperature Concepts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baser, Mustafa; Geban, Omer

2007-01-01

This study investigated the differential effects of two modes of instructional program (conceptual change oriented and traditionally designed) and gender difference on students' understanding of heat and temperature concepts, and their attitudes toward science as a school subject. The subjects of this study consisted of 72 seventh grade students…

A Study of the Subject Headings Practices of Fifteen Small Liberal Arts College Libraries.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kissel, Laura J.

This research was conducted in order to examine whether libraries are maintaining consistent and complete subject authority control and creating syndetic reference structure for popular topics. A descriptive study of 15 private liberal arts college libraries was conducted to determine whether the Library of Congress (LC) prescribed "see"…

Identifying intrinsic constituents of focus through ``imitation via restoration.''

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Yi; Xu, Ching X.; Sun, Xuejing

2003-04-01

In this study we test the hypothesis that although certain parts of an observed intonation may seem dispensable in perception tests, they nevertheless are consistently produced by speakers. We refer to all consistently produced parts of an intonation as its ``intrinsic constituents.'' To identify the intrinsic constituents, we developed an experimental paradigm called ``imitation via restoration.'' In this paradigm, the intonation under scrutiny is first recorded by a native speaker. Then words carrying a potential constituent of the intonation are replaced by a loud noise. During the experiment, the sentence containing the replacement noise is presented to the subjects together with the text. The subjects' task is to repeat the sentence in exactly the same way as they hear it. The consistency with which subjects restore the missing parts of the target intonation would therefore provide a reasonable indication as to which of them are truly intrinsic to the intonation. Our first such experiment was conducted on determining whether focus consists of only on-focus pitch range expansion or it also involves obligatory post-focus pitch range suppression. Eight native speakers of Beijing Mandarin participated as subjects. Preliminary results have provided supporting evidence for the dual-component hypothesis.

The relationship between latent trigger points and depression levels in healthy subjects.

PubMed

Celik, Derya; Kaya Mutlu, Ebru

2012-06-01

Our purpose was to study the relationship between latent trigger points (LTrP) and levels of depression in healthy subjects. A total of 76 healthy subjects consisting of 40 men and 36 women (mean age, 25.4 ± 4.8 years; age range, 19-42 years) from the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation and the Orthopaedics and Traumatology Department of Istanbul University Medical Faculty were selected for the study. Latent trigger points on the scapular muscles of each subject were evaluated. The upper and middle trapezius, supraspinatus, serratus anterior, and rhomboideus muscles were examined respectively, by palpation with the thumb, to determine whether there was pain. The first group consisted of 30 subjects (20 men and 10 women; mean age, 24.2 ± 5.02 years) who had previously been diagnosed as negative after an LTrP examination (control group), while the second group consisted of 28 subjects (12 men and 16 women; mean age, 23.6 ± 2.24 years) who had been diagnosed with at least five LTrPs. The third group consisted of 18 subjects (8 men and 10 women; mean age, 26. 9 ± 7.23 years) who had been diagnosed with more than five LTrPs. All groups were assessed, using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The mean BDI value was found to be 8.0 ± 4.2 in the first group, 10.3 ± 3.4 in the second, and 28.5 ± 4.8 in the third. A significant difference was found between the mean BDI values of the first and second groups and also between the first and third groups. The mean BDI values of the second and third groups were also found to be statistically significant (p = 0.042). We observed a close relationship between the presence of LTrPs and depression levels in healthy people.

Characterization of the disposition of fostamatinib in Japanese subjects including pharmacokinetic assessment in dry blood spots: results from two phase I clinical studies.

PubMed

Martin, Paul; Cheung, S Y Amy; Yen, Mark; Han, David; Gillen, Michael

2016-01-01

The aims of the present study were to characterize the pharmacokinetics of fostamatinib in two phase I studies in healthy Japanese subjects after single- and multiple-dose administration, and to evaluate the utility of dried blood spot (DBS) sampling. In study A, 40 Japanese and 16 white subjects were randomized in a double-blind parallel group study consisting of seven cohorts, which received either placebo or a fostamatinib dose between 50 and 200 mg after single and multiple dosing. Pharmacokinetics of R406 (active metabolite of fostamatinib) in plasma and urine was assessed, and safety was intensively monitored. Study B was an open-label study that assessed fostamatinib 100 and 200 mg in 24 Japanese subjects. In addition to plasma and urine sampling (as for study A), pharmacokinetics was also assessed in blood. Mean maximum plasma concentration (C max) and area under total plasma concentration–time curve (AUC) increased with increasing dose in Japanese subjects. Steady state was achieved in 5–7 days for all doses. C max and AUC were both higher in Japanese subjects administered a 150-mg single dose than in white subjects. This difference was maintained for steady state exposure by day 10. Overall, R406 blood concentrations were consistent and ∼2.5-fold higher than in plasma. Minimal (<0.1 %) R406 was excreted in urine. Fostamatinib was well tolerated at all doses. Fostamatinib pharmacokinetics following single- and multiple-dose administration was approximately dose proportional at all doses ≤150 mg and greater than dose proportional at 200 mg in Japanese subjects. Japanese subjects administered fostamatinib 150 mg had higher exposure than white subjects. R406 could be measured in DBS samples and distributed into red blood cells, and DBS sampling was a useful method for assessing R406 pharmacokinetics.

Estimates of the Internal Consistency of a Factorially Complex Composite.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Benito, Juana Gomez

1989-01-01

This study of 852 subjects in Barcelona (Spain) between 4 and 9 years old estimated the degree of consistency among elements of the Borelli-Oleron Performance Scale by taking into account item clusters and subtest clusters. The internal consistency of the subtests rose when all ages were analyzed jointly. (SLD)

The Effect of Pilates Exercise on Trunk and Postural Stability and Throwing Velocity in College Baseball Pitchers: Single Subject Design

PubMed Central

Howe, Katherine

2007-01-01

Background Baseball pitchers need trunk strength to maximize performance. The Pilates method of exercise is gaining popularity throughout the country as a fitness and rehabilitation method of exercise. However, very few studies exist that examine the effects of the Pilates method of exercise on trunk strength or performance. Objectives Using a single subject, multiple baseline across subjects design, this study examines the effects of the Pilates method of exercise on performance of double leg lowering, star excursion balance test, and throwing velocity in college-aged baseball pitchers. Methods A convenience sample of three college baseball pitchers served as the subjects for this single subject design study. For each subject, double leg lowering, star excursion balance test, and throwing speed were measured prior to the introduction of the intervention. When baseline test values showed consistent performance, the intervention was introduced to one subject at a time. Intervention was introduced to the other subjects over a period of 4 weeks as they also demonstrated consistent performance on the baseline tests. Intervention was continued with periodic tests for the remainder of the 10 week trial. Results Each subject improved in performance on double leg lowering (increased 24.43-32.7%) and star excursion balance test (increased 4.63-17.84%) after introduction of the intervention. Throwing speed improved in two of the three subjects (up to 5.61%). Discussion and Conclusions The Pilates method of exercise may contribute to improved performance in double leg lowering, star excursion balance tests, and throwing speed in college baseball pitchers. PMID:21522199

A Comparison of Attitude toward School Subjects and Achievement in an Alternative and Traditional Elementary School.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rasberry, Sandra; Turner, James S.

The purpose of this study was to compare students enrolled in an alternative school with students in a traditional school on the bases of academic achievement and attitudes toward school subjects. The subjects were 33 sixth-grade students who attended an open education school modeled after the British infant school. The control group consisted of…

FastFeedback Questions: A New Teaching Method

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Elnashar, Magdy Mahmoud

2018-01-01

In Australian Universities, based on a study from 1992 to 2014, the Feedback item has been consistently poorly rated by students. In addition, Biochemistry is a complex STEM subject which many students find difficult and was considered the hardest subject according to a recent study by Antigua medical school in the United States. In this work, a…

Validating Computational Human Behavior Models: Consistency and Accuracy Issues

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-06-01

includes a discussion of SME demographics, content, and organization of the datasets . This research generalizes data from two pilot studies and two base...meet requirements for validating the varied and complex behavioral models. Through a series of empirical studies , this research identifies subject...meet requirements for validating the varied and complex behavioral models. Through a series of empirical studies , this research identifies subject

Clinical presentation of hypertensive crises in emergency medical services.

PubMed

Salkic, Sabina; Batic-Mujanovic, Olivera; Ljuca, Farid; Brkic, Selmira

2014-02-01

The objective of this study is to evaluate the incidence and clinical presentation of hypertensive crises in the Emergency medical services of the Community Health Centre "Dr. Mustafa Šehović" Tuzla in relation to age, sex, duration and severity of hypertension, as well as the prevalence of accompanying symptoms and clinical manifestations. The study was conducted between November 2009 and April 2010 and included 180 subjects of both sexes, aged 30-80 with a diagnosis of arterial hypertension. All subjects were divided into two groups: a control group, which consisted of subjects without hypertensive crisis (95 subjects) and an experimental group that consisted of subjects with hypertensive crisis (85 subjects). The study results indicate that female subjects were significantly over- represented compared to men (60% vs. 40 %, p=0.007). The average age of the male subjects was 55.83±11.06 years, while the female subjects' average age was 59.41±11.97 years. The incidence of hypertensive crisis was 47.22%, with hypertensive urgency significantly more represented than emergency (16.47% vs. 83.53%, p<0.0001). The majority of subjects in the experimental group (28.23%) belonged to the age group of 60-69 years of age: 26.76% urgency and 35.71% emergency. The most common accompanying symptoms in hypertensive subjects were headache (75%), chest pain (48.33%), vertigo (44.44%), shortness of breath (38.88%) and nausea (33.89%). The most common symptoms in subjects with hypertensive crisis were headache (74.11%), chest pain and shortness of breath (62.35%), vertigo (49.41%), and nausea and vomiting (41.17%). Chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting were significantly over-represented in subjects with hypertensive crisis (p<0.005). Clinical manifestations of hypertensive emergencies in almost all subjects included acute coronary syndrome, and only one subject had acute pulmonary edema.

Features of everyday life in psychiatric inpatient care for self-harming: an observational study of six women.

PubMed

Lindgren, Britt-Marie; Aminoff, Carina; Hällgren Graneheim, Ulla

2015-02-01

This study aimed to describe the features of everyday life in psychiatric inpatient care as experienced by women who self-harm. Participant observations and informal interviews were conducted with six women and were subjected to qualitative content analysis. The major feature of everyday life in psychiatric inpatient care was 'being surrounded by disorder', which consisted of 'living in a confusing environment, being subject to routines and rules that offer safety but lack consistency' and 'waiting both in loneliness and in togetherness'. The nursing staff spent minimal time with the patients and the women turned to each other for support, care and companionship.

Quality assessment of shoulder plyometric exercises: Examining the relationship to scapular muscle activity.

PubMed

Calé-Benzoor, Maya; Maenhout, Annelies; Arnon, Michal; Tenenbaum, Gershon; Werrin, Mia; Cools, Ann

2017-07-01

The purpose of the study was to evaluate performance quality of shoulder plyometric exercises, and examine the relationship to scapular muscle activation during an intense exercise bout. Observational study. University laboratory. 32 healthy university students (male/female: 14/18) volunteers. Subjects performed 10 plyometric exercises. Surface EMG of upper (UT), middle (MT) and lower (LT) trapezius and serratus anterior (SA) was registered. A quality assessment questionnaire was administered at the beginning and end of the exercise bout. Muscle activation at the beginning and end was evaluated by t-test. Mixed repeated measures ANOVA was conducted to test the effects of criterion-quality, time, muscles, exercises, and their interactions. Increased EMG activation was noted in 34/40 cases, (21/40 significant (p < 0.05) changes). Quality assessment revealed a decline in the ability to maintain initial position (43% of subjects), failure to keep a consistent and symmetrical arc of motion (62% of subjects), and performance with trick movements (48% of subjects). Inability to keep a consistent arc of motion was significant in 4 exercises. The novel questionnaire may aid quality assessment during plyometric exercises. Ability to keep a consistent arc of motion was the most sensitive marker of decline of performance quality. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A multi-subject evaluation of uncertainty in anatomical landmark location on shoulder kinematic description.

PubMed

Langenderfer, Joseph E; Rullkoetter, Paul J; Mell, Amy G; Laz, Peter J

2009-04-01

An accurate assessment of shoulder kinematics is useful for understanding healthy normal and pathological mechanics. Small variability in identifying and locating anatomical landmarks (ALs) has potential to affect reported shoulder kinematics. The objectives of this study were to quantify the effect of landmark location variability on scapular and humeral kinematic descriptions for multiple subjects using probabilistic analysis methods, and to evaluate the consistency in results across multiple subjects. Data from 11 healthy subjects performing humeral elevation in the scapular plane were used to calculate Euler angles describing humeral and scapular kinematics. Probabilistic analyses were performed for each subject to simulate uncertainty in the locations of 13 upper-extremity ALs. For standard deviations of 4 mm in landmark location, the analysis predicted Euler angle envelopes between the 1 and 99 percentile bounds of up to 16.6 degrees . While absolute kinematics varied with the subject, the average 1-99% kinematic ranges for the motion were consistent across subjects and sensitivity factors showed no statistically significant differences between subjects. The description of humeral kinematics was most sensitive to the location of landmarks on the thorax, while landmarks on the scapula had the greatest effect on the description of scapular elevation. The findings of this study can provide a better understanding of kinematic variability, which can aid in making accurate clinical diagnoses and refining kinematic measurement techniques.

Switching handedness: fMRI study of hand motor control in right-handers, left-handers and converted left-handers.

PubMed

Grabowska, Anna; Gut, Malgorzata; Binder, Marek; Forsberg, Lars; Rymarczyk, Krystyna; Urbanik, Andrzej

2012-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in the brain organization of motor control in left- and right-handers and to study whether early left-to-right handwriting switch changes the cortical representation of finger movements in the left and right hemispheres. Echo-planar MR imaging was performed in 52 subjects: consistent right-handers (RH), consistent left-handers (LH), and subjects who had been forced at an early age to switch their left-hand preferences toward the right side. The scanning was performed during simple (flexion/extension of the index finger) and complex (successive finger-thumb opposition) tasks. Subjects performed the tasks using both the preferred and non-preferred hand. In right-handers, there was a general predominance of left-hemisphere activation relative to right hemisphere activation. In lefthanders this pattern was reversed. The switched subjects showed no such volumetric asymmetry. Increasing levels of complexity of motor activity resulted in an increase in the volume of consistently activated areas and the involvement of the ipsilateral in addition to contralateral activations. In both right- and left-handers, movements of the preferred hand activated mainly the contralateral hemisphere, whereas movements of the non-preferred hand resulted in a more balanced pattern of activation in the two hemispheres, indicating greater involvement of the ipsilateral activations. Overall, this study shows that in both left- and right-handed subjects, the preferred hand is controlled mainly by the hemisphere contralateral to that hand, whereas the non-preferred hand is controlled by both hemispheres. The switched individuals share features of both lefthanders and right-handers regarding their motor control architectures.

Lactobacillus acidophilus CL1285, Lactobacillus casei LBC80R and Lactobacillus rhamnosus CLR2 improve quality-of-life and IBS symptoms: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study.

PubMed

Preston, K; Krumian, R; Hattner, J; de Montigny, D; Stewart, M; Gaddam, S

2018-06-11

A combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus CL1285, Lactobacillus casei LBC80R and Lactobacillus rhamnosus CLR2 was compared to placebo for relief of symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A total of 113 subjects at 3 clinical sites were randomised in a 2:1 ratio and followed for 12 weeks. Subjects ingested either 2 capsules of active study product, containing 50×10 9 cfu of live organisms, or 2 placebo capsules daily. Endpoints included improvement in abdominal pain, days of pain, distention, stool consistency and frequency, quality of life (QOL), and adequate relief (AR) of IBS symptoms. IBS subtypes constipation (IBS-C), diarrhoea (IBS-D), and mixed (IBS-M) were evaluated separately; the effect of gender was also examined. For all efficacy endpoints improvement of 30% or more vs placebo was considered clinically significant. With the exception of pain intensity and AR, the endpoints demonstrated a therapeutic advantage of active over placebo for IBS symptoms in at least some subject subgroups. The IBS-D and female subgroups showed the largest and most consistent effects. Stool frequency and consistency were evaluated in the IBS-C and IBS-D subgroups, and improvement of active vs placebo was noted in both. QOL improvement was seen overall and in specific domains. Adverse events (AEs) were limited to 7 subjects; all were of mild or moderate intensity except one, severe cramping. Four AEs in the same subject in the placebo group were judged to be related to study product; these resolved by the end of study. There were no serious AEs.

The distributional preferences of an elite.

PubMed

Fisman, Raymond; Jakiela, Pamela; Kariv, Shachar; Markovits, Daniel

2015-09-18

We studied the distributional preferences of an elite cadre of Yale Law School students, a group that will assume positions of power in U.S. society. Our experimental design allows us to test whether redistributive decisions are consistent with utility maximization and to decompose underlying preferences into two qualitatively different tradeoffs: fair-mindedness versus self-interest, and equality versus efficiency. Yale Law School subjects are more consistent than subjects drawn from the American Life Panel, a diverse sample of Americans. Relative to the American Life Panel, Yale Law School subjects are also less fair-minded and substantially more efficiency-focused. We further show that our measure of equality-efficiency tradeoffs predicts Yale Law School students' career choices: Equality-minded subjects are more likely to be employed at nonprofit organizations. Copyright © 2015, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Relationship between Culture and Youngsters' Formation of Equivalences in Urban and Rural Argentina and in New York City.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fischer, Sara I.

This study analyzed the relationship between urban and rural cultures and subjects' selection of attributes and groupings in a task of equivalence formation. Participants were 236 subjects, ages 6, 12, and 17, from rural and urban Argentina and from New York City. Subjects were administered an Equivalence Task consisting of two arrays of stimuli.…

Examination of Anomalous World Experience: A Report on Reliability.

PubMed

Conerty, Joseph; Skodlar, Borut; Pienkos, Elizabeth; Zadravek, Tina; Byrom, Greg; Sass, Louis

2017-01-01

The EAWE (Examination of Anomalous World Experience) is a newly developed, semi-structured interview that aims to capture anomalies of subjectivity, common in schizophrenia spectrum disorders, that pertain to experiences of the lived world, including space, time, people, language, atmosphere, and certain existential attitudes. By contrast, previous empirical studies of subjective experience in schizophrenia have focused largely on disturbances in self-experience. To assess the reliability of the EAWE, including internal consistency and interrater reliability. In the course of developing the EAWE, two distinct studies were conducted, one in the United States and the other in Slovenia. Thirteen patients diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum or mood disorders were recruited for the US study. Fifteen such patients were recruited for the Slovenian study. Two live interviewers conducted the EAWE in the US. The Slovenian interviews were completed by one live interviewer with a second rater reviewing audiorecordings of the interview. Internal consistency and interrater reliability were calculated independently for each study, utilizing Cronbach's α, Spearman's ρ, and Cohen's κ. Each study yielded high internal consistency (Cronbach's α >0.82) and high interrater reliability for total EAWE scores (ρ > 0.83; average κ values were at least 0.78 for each study, with EAWE domain-specific κ not lower than 0.73). The EAWE, containing world-oriented inquiries into anomalies in subjective experience, has adequate reliability for use in a clinical or research setting. © 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.

The validation of procedures to assess prevocational task preferences in retarded adults.

PubMed

Mithaug, D E; Hanawalt, D A

1978-01-01

Three severely retarded young adults between the ages of 19 and 21 years participated in a prevocational training program, and worked regularly on six different tasks during the scheduled six-hour day. The study attempted to assess each subject's preferences for the six tasks: collating, stuffing, sorting, pulley assembly, flour-sifter assembly, and circuit-board stuffing. In Phase I, the procedure consisted of randomly pairing each task with all other tasks in a two-choice situation that required the subjects to select one task from each pair combination to work for a seven-minute period. The selection procedure consisted of presenting two representative task objects on a tray and requesting the subject to pick up one object and place it on the work table. The object selected represented the task worked for that period. The 15 possible pair combinations were presented randomly every two days for a period of 34 days to determine the preferences. During the validation phase (Phase II), each subject's least- and most-preferred tasks were paired separately with moderately-preferred tasks. As expected, these manipulations confirmed the baseline data, as choices for the moderately-preferred tasks decreased when consistently paired with the preferred tasks and increased when consistently paired with the least-preferred tasks.

[Adaptation of the Hinting Task theory of the mind test to Spanish].

PubMed

Gil, David; Fernández-Modamio, Mar; Bengochea, Rosario; Arrieta, Marta

2012-01-01

Many studies have found that patients with schizophrenia have a deficit in theory of mind. Some authors associate this deficit with the presence of symptoms, while others maintain that it can also be observed in patients in the remission phase. There is no reference test to assess theory of mind in schizophrenia, although one of the most used is the Hinting Task. The aim of the present study consists of adapting and validating, in Spanish, the 10 histories that make up this test. The study was conducted on a sample of 39 control subjects and 40 patients with schizophrenia. The internal consistency and the between-observer reliability and test-retest were assessed in both sample groups. The performance of the patients and control subjects were also compared. Good reliability data was obtained in the inter-observer and test-retest in the two samples. On the other hand, the internal consistency was somewhat low for all of the 10 histories. For this reason, and starting from a previous study, a reduced version of 5 histories was prepared, which showed good internal consistency. The patients with schizophrenia obtained a significantly lower score than the control subjects in 8 out of the 10 histories. The reduced Spanish version of the Hinting Task demonstrated good psychometric properties. When compared to the control group, the patients with schizophrenia had a deficit in theory of mind. Copyright © 2011 SEP y SEPB. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

Clinical Presentation of Hypertensive Crises in Emergency Medical Services

PubMed Central

Salkic, Sabina; Batic-Mujanovic, Olivera; Ljuca, Farid; Brkic, Selmira

2014-01-01

Objectives: The objective of this study is to evaluate the incidence and clinical presentation of hypertensive crises in the Emergency medical services of the Community Health Centre “Dr. Mustafa Šehović” Tuzla in relation to age, sex, duration and severity of hypertension, as well as the prevalence of accompanying symptoms and clinical manifestations. Methods: The study was conducted between November 2009 and April 2010 and included 180 subjects of both sexes, aged 30-80 with a diagnosis of arterial hypertension. All subjects were divided into two groups: a control group, which consisted of subjects without hypertensive crisis (95 subjects) and an experimental group that consisted of subjects with hypertensive crisis (85 subjects). Results: The study results indicate that female subjects were significantly over- represented compared to men (60% vs. 40 %, p=0.007). The average age of the male subjects was 55.83±11.06 years, while the female subjects’ average age was 59.41±11.97 years. The incidence of hypertensive crisis was 47.22%, with hypertensive urgency significantly more represented than emergency (16.47% vs. 83.53%, p<0.0001). The majority of subjects in the experimental group (28.23%) belonged to the age group of 60-69 years of age: 26.76% urgency and 35.71% emergency. The most common accompanying symptoms in hypertensive subjects were headache (75%), chest pain (48.33%), vertigo (44.44%), shortness of breath (38.88%) and nausea (33.89%). The most common symptoms in subjects with hypertensive crisis were headache (74.11%), chest pain and shortness of breath (62.35%), vertigo (49.41%), and nausea and vomiting (41.17%). Conclusions: Chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting were significantly over-represented in subjects with hypertensive crisis (p<0.005). Clinical manifestations of hypertensive emergencies in almost all subjects included acute coronary syndrome, and only one subject had acute pulmonary edema. PMID:24757394

Modification and Evaluation of a Velopharyngeal Insufficiency Quality of Life Instrument

PubMed Central

Skirko, Jonathan R.; Weaver, Edward M; Perkins, Jonathan; Kinter, Sara; Sie, Kathleen C.Y.

2018-01-01

Objective Modify the existing 45-item velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) quality of life (QOL) instrument (VPIQL), assess the modified instrument for reliability and provide further validation. There are patient and parent versions of the instrument. Design Validation convenience sample from a previously conducted pilot study. Setting Two academic tertiary referral medical centers. Participants De-identified data were used from 29 subjects with VPI and 29 control subjects age 5–17 years, and parents. Outcome measures Subjects and parents completed VPIQL and a generic pediatric QOL instrument (PedsQL4-0). Data Analysis Twenty-two items were removed from the VPIQL for ceiling effects, floor effects, and redundancy, to produce the modified instrument, VPI Effects on Life Outcomes (VELO) instrument. VELO was tested for internal consistency (Chronbach’s alpha), discriminant validity (paired t-test with control subjects), and concurrent validity (Pearson correlation with the PedsQL4-0). These analyses were also completed for parents. Results The 45-item VPIQL instrument was reduced to the 23-item VELO instrument. The VELO had excellent internal consistency (Chronbach’s alpha 0.96 for parents and 0.95 for VPI subjects). The VELO discriminated well between VPI and control subjects, with mean score (SD) was significantly lower (worse) for VPI subjects (67.6 [23.9]) than for control subjects (97.0 [5.2]) (p<0.0001). The VELO total score was significantly correlated with the PedsQL4.0 (r=0.73) among subjects with VPI. Similar results were seen in parent responses. Conclusions The VELO is a 23-item QOL instrument that was designed to measure and follow QOL in subjects with VPI, with less burden than the original VPIQL. VELO demonstrates internal consistency, disciminant validty, and concurrent validity with the PedsQL4-0. PMID:23069823

The Quality of School Life and Burnout as Predictors of Subjective Well-Being among Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cenkseven-Onder, Fulya; Sari, Mediha

2009-01-01

The main purpose of this study is to determine the rate of how teachers' subjective wellbeing is predicted by their perceptions about the quality of school life and burnout levels. The participants of the study consisted of 161 teachers (93 females, 68 males) who were working in elementary schools in Adana central districts. The Positive-Negative…

Project F. A. S. T.: Facilitating Academic Study Techniques for Handicapped Children. Volume 2. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Martin, Clessen J.

Volume 2, the appendix to the final report of Project FAST, consists of prose selections used to study the effects of text reduction techniques on the comprehension and recall of written materials among visually handicapped and hearing impaired subjects. Each selection is presented in various versions such as 10 percent subjective deleted, 20…

Efficacy and safety of a natural mineral water rich in magnesium and sulphate for bowel function: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

PubMed

Bothe, Gordana; Coh, Aljaz; Auinger, Annegret

2017-03-01

The present placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial aimed to investigate whether a natural mineral water rich in magnesium sulphate and sodium sulphate (Donat Mg) may help to improve bowel function. A total of 106 otherwise healthy subjects with functional constipation were randomly assigned to consume 300 or 500 mL of a natural mineral water as compared to placebo water, over a course of 6 weeks. The 300-mL arms were terminated due to the results of a planned interim analysis. Subjects documented the complete spontaneous bowel movements, spontaneous and overall bowel movements/week, stool consistency, gastrointestinal symptoms and general well-being in a diary. Change in the number of complete spontaneous bowel movements was defined as the primary outcome. For the 75 subjects in the 500-mL arms, the change in the number of complete spontaneous bowel movements per week tended to be higher in the active group when compared to placebo after 6 weeks (T2 = 1.8; p value  = 0.036; one-sided). The mean number of spontaneous bowel movements significantly increased over the course of the study, with significant differences between study arms considering the whole study time (F test = 4.743; p time × group  = 0.010, 2-sided). Stool consistency of spontaneous bowel movements (p < 0.001) and the subjectively perceived symptoms concerning constipation (p = 0.005) improved significantly with the natural mineral water as compared to placebo. The daily consumption of a natural mineral water rich in magnesium sulphate and sodium sulphate improved bowel movement frequency and stool consistency in subjects with functional constipation. Moreover, the subjects' health-related quality of life improved. EudraCT No 2012-005130-11.

Acquiring Constraints on Morphosyntactic Variation: Children's Spanish Subject Pronoun Expression

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shin, Naomi Lapidus

2016-01-01

Constraints on linguistic variation are consistent across adult speakers, yielding probabilistic and systematic patterns. Yet, little is known about the development of such patterns during childhood. This study investigates Spanish subject pronoun expression in naturalistic data from 154 monolingual children in Mexico, divided into four age…

The Influence of Goals on People's Perceptions of a Competent Woman.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pines, Ayala

1979-01-01

Examined in this study are the attitudes of male and female subjects toward a competent woman who either planned to pursue her career or stay home with her family. The consistency between the subjects' perceptions of the stimulus person and their attitudes is considered. (Author/EB)

Effect Size Calculations and Single Subject Designs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Olive, Melissa L.; Smith, Benjamin W.

2005-01-01

This study compared visual analyses with five alternative methods for assessing the magnitude of effect with single subject designs. Each method was successful in detecting intervention effect. When rank ordered, each method was consistent in identifying the participants with the largest effect. We recommend the use of the standard mean difference…

SUBJECTIVE MEMORY IN OLDER AFRICAN AMERICANS

PubMed Central

Sims, Regina C.; Whitfield, Keith E.; Ayotte, Brian J.; Gamaldo, Alyssa A.; Edwards, Christopher L.; Allaire, Jason C.

2013-01-01

The current analysis examined (a) if measures of psychological well-being predict subjective memory, and (b) if subjective memory is consistent with actual memory. Five hundred seventy-nine older African Americans from the Baltimore Study of Black Aging completed measures assessing subjective memory, depressive symptomatology, perceived stress, locus of control, and verbal and working memory. Higher levels of perceived stress and greater externalized locus of control predicted poorer subjective memory, but subjective memory did not predict objective verbal or working memory. Results suggest that subjective memory is influenced by aspects of psychological well-being but is unrelated to objective memory in older African Americans. PMID:21424958

Wearable Wireless Sensor for Multi-Scale Physiological Monitoring

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-10-01

respectively from healthy subjects recruited from the student community of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). This study was approved by WPI’s IRB and...subjects recruited from the student community of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). This study was approved by WPI’s institutional review board and all...consisted of students and staff members from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, MA, USA. All volunteers were invited to participate in the study and each

The application of robotics to microlaryngeal laser surgery.

PubMed

Buckmire, Robert A; Wong, Yu-Tung; Deal, Allison M

2015-06-01

To evaluate the performance of human subjects, using a prototype robotic micromanipulator controller in a simulated, microlaryngeal operative setting. Observational cross-sectional study. Twenty-two human subjects with varying degrees of laser experience performed CO2 laser surgical tasks within a simulated microlaryngeal operative setting using an industry standard manual micromanipulator (MMM) and a prototype robotic micromanipulator controller (RMC). Accuracy, repeatability, and ablation consistency measures were obtained for each human subject across both conditions and for the preprogrammed RMC device. Using the standard MMM, surgeons with >10 previous laser cases performed superior to subjects with fewer cases on measures of error percentage and cumulative error (P = .045 and .03, respectively). No significant differences in performance were observed between subjects using the RMC device. In the programmed (P/A) mode, the RMC performed equivalently or superiorly to experienced human subjects on accuracy and repeatability measures, and nearly an order of magnitude better on measures of ablation consistency. The programmed RMC performed significantly better for repetition error when compared to human subjects with <100 previous laser cases (P = .04). Experienced laser surgeons perform better than novice surgeons on tasks of accuracy and repeatability using the MMM device but roughly equivalently using the novel RMC. Operated in the P/A mode, the RMC performs equivalently or superior to experienced laser surgeons using the industry standard MMM for all measured parameters, and delivers an ablation consistency nearly an order of magnitude better than human laser operators. NA. © 2014 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

Prosocial Behavior and Subjective Insecurity in Violent Contexts: Field Experiments.

PubMed

Vélez, María Alejandra; Trujillo, Carlos Andres; Moros, Lina; Forero, Clemente

2016-01-01

Subjective insecurity is a key determinant of different forms of prosocial behavior. In Study 1, we used field experiments with farmers in Colombian villages exposed to different levels of violence to investigate how individual perceptions of insecurity affect cooperation, trust, reciprocity and altruism. To do so, we developed a cognitive-affective measure of subjective insecurity. We found that subjective insecurity has a negative effect on cooperation but influences trust and altruism positively. In Study 2, carried out three years after Study 1, we repeated the initial design with additional measures of victimization. Our goal was to relate subjective insecurity with actual victimization. The findings of Study 2 support the initial results, and are robust and consistent for cooperative behavior and trust when including victimization as a mediator. Different indicators of victimization are positively correlated with subjective insecurity and an aggregate index of victimization has a negative effect on cooperation but exerts a positive influence on trust.

Decoding emotional valence from electroencephalographic rhythmic activity.

PubMed

Celikkanat, Hande; Moriya, Hiroki; Ogawa, Takeshi; Kauppi, Jukka-Pekka; Kawanabe, Motoaki; Hyvarinen, Aapo

2017-07-01

We attempt to decode emotional valence from electroencephalographic rhythmic activity in a naturalistic setting. We employ a data-driven method developed in a previous study, Spectral Linear Discriminant Analysis, to discover the relationships between the classification task and independent neuronal sources, optimally utilizing multiple frequency bands. A detailed investigation of the classifier provides insight into the neuronal sources related with emotional valence, and the individual differences of the subjects in processing emotions. Our findings show: (1) sources whose locations are similar across subjects are consistently involved in emotional responses, with the involvement of parietal sources being especially significant, and (2) even though the locations of the involved neuronal sources are consistent, subjects can display highly varying degrees of valence-related EEG activity in the sources.

Findings of the District English Program Evaluation Committee.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Price, A. Rae; And Others

In summer 1990, the English Department of the Metropolitan Community College District (MCCD) in Missouri conducted a self-study to determine whether the English program's subject matter, academic standards, and methods of instruction were consistent with objectives. An Evaluation Committee, consisting of three English instructors representing each…

Individual Differences in Response to Sleep Deprivation: Assessment of Fatigue Following Sleep Loss

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carskadon, Mary A.

1997-01-01

Previous work has indicated that a small but significant number of participants in sleep deprivation studies or in simulated shift work experiments manifests an exaggerated performance decrement when they reach a critical point in the experiment, usually near the trough of the circadian cycle or the middle of the night. Those who show this exaggerated response do not appear to differ from other non-nal volunteers in any substantial way according to usual screening criteria or baseline values. The present study aims to examine factors that may provide the basis for this extreme response. We propose that a preexisting sleep deficit-as manifested by low values on the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT)-may account for extreme responders. It has been shown that among normal volunteers screened for a variety of studies, approximately 20 to 25 percent show low (< 6 minutes) MSLT scores on a consistent basis, whereas a like proportion shows consistently high MSLT scores (> 13 minutes). Additionally, studies by this group have indicated that subjects with low MSLT scores may suffer from chronic insufficient sleep, as further substantiated by the finding that they have consistently higher nocturnal sleep efficiency and that their MSLT scores rise to normal values when sleep is extended. We hypothesize that the short MSLT subjects have a significant long-term sleep deficit that leads to a marked intolerance for sleep deprivation or shift work. We further suggest that this sleep debt may signify an increased sleep need in these individuals that is not met either due to personal preference or to societal pressures (or both). If this speculation is accurate, then we predict that the tolerance for sleep deprivation in such individuals can be increased by "pretreatment" with sleep extension. Thus, the present study is designed to test the following two hypotheses: (1) subjects with nominal sleep patterns who have low MSLT scores (e.g., Sleepy subjects) will show an exaggerated response (performance decrement) to sleep loss compared to subjects who have high MSLT scores (Alert subjects) on a nominal sleep schedule; (2) when permitted to extend sleep--thus discharging their sleep debt-the Sleepy subjects will show a sleep-loss response resembling that of the Alert subjects.

Individual Differences in Response to Sleep Deprivation: Assessment of Fatigue Following Sleep Loss

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carskadon, Mary A.

1997-01-01

Previous work has indicated that a small but significant number of participants in sleep deprivation studies or in simulated shift work experiments manifests an exaggerated performance decrement when they reach a critical point in the experiment, usually near the trough of the circadian cycle or the middle of the night. Those who show this exaggerated response do not appear to differ from other non-nal volunteers in any substantial way according to usual screening criteria or baseline values. The present study aims to examine factors that may provide the basis for this extreme response. We propose that a preexisting sleep deficit-as manifested by low values on the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT)-may account for extreme responders. Roth and colleagues (1993) have shown that among normal volunteers screened for a variety of studies, approximately 20 to 25 percent show low (< 6 minutes) MSLT scores on a consistent basis, whereas a like proportion shows consistently high MSLT scores (> 13 minutes). Additionally, studies by this group have indicated that subjects with low MSLT scores may suffer from chronic insufficient sleep (Roth et al., 1993), as further substantiated by the finding that they have consistently higher nocturnal sleep efficiency and that their MSLT scores rise to normal values when sleep is extended (Roehrs et al., 1996). We hypothesize that the short MSLT subjects have a significant long-term sleep deficit that leads to a marked intolerance for sleep deprivation or shift work. We further suggest that this sleep debt may signify an increased sleep need in these individuals that is not met either due to personal preference or to societal pressures (or both). If this speculation is accurate, then we predict that the tolerance for sleep deprivation in such individuals can be increased by "pretreatment" with sleep extension. Thus, the present study is designed to test the following two hypotheses: subjects with nominal sleep patterns who have low MSLT scores (e.g., Sleepy subjects) will show an exaggerated response (performance decrement) to sleep loss compared to subjects who have high MSLT scores (Alert subjects) on a nominal sleep schedule. when permitted to extend sleep-thus discharging their sleep debt-the Sleepy subjects will show a sleep-loss response resembling that of the Alert subjects.

Individual Differences in Response to Sleep Deprivation: Assessment of Fatigue Following Sleep Loss

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carskadon, Mary A.

1997-01-01

Previous work has indicated that a small but significant number of participants in sleep deprivation studies or in simulated shift work experiments manifests an exaggerated performance decrement when they reach a critical point in the experiment, usually near the trough of the circadian cycle or the middle of the night. Those who show this exaggerated response do not appear to differ from other normal volunteers in any substantial way according to usual screening criteria or baseline values. The present study aims to examine factors that may provide the basis for this extreme response. We propose that a preexisting sleep deficit-as manifested by low values on the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT)-may account for extreme responders. Roth and colleagues (1993) have shown that among normal volunteers screened for a variety of studies, approximately 20 to 25 percent show low (< or = 6 minutes) MSLT scores on a consistent basis, whereas a like proportion shows consistently high MSLT scores (> or = 13 minutes). Additionally, studies by this group have indicated that subjects with low MSLT scores may suffer from chronic insufficient sleep (Roth et al., 1993), as further substantiated by the finding that they have consistently higher nocturnal sleep efficiency and that their MSLT scores rise to normal values when sleep is extended (Roehrs et al., 1996). We hypothesize that the short MSLT subjects have a significant long-term sleep deficit that leads to a marked intolerance for sleep deprivation or shift work. We further suggest that this sleep debt may signify an increased sleep need in these individuals that is not met either due to personal preference or to societal pressures (or both). If this speculation is accurate, then we predict that the tolerance for sleep deprivation in such individuals can be increased by "pretreatment" with sleep extension. Thus, the present study is designed to test the following two hypotheses: subjects with nominal sleep patterns who have low MSLT scores (e.g., Sleepy subjects) will show an exaggerated response (performance decrement) to sleep loss compared to subjects who have high MSLT scores (Alert subjects) on a nominal sleep schedule. When permitted to extend sleep-thus discharging their sleep debt-the Sleepy subjects will show a sleep-loss response resembling that of the Alert subjects.

Vestibulosympathetic reflex during orthostatic challenge in aging humans

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Monahan, Kevin D.; Ray, Chester A.

2002-01-01

Aging attenuates the increase in muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and elicits hypotension during otolith organ engagement in humans. The purpose of the present study was to determine the neural and cardiovascular responses to otolithic engagement during orthostatic stress in older adults. We hypothesized that age-related impairments in the vestibulosympathetic reflex would persist during orthostatic challenge in older subjects and might compromise arterial blood pressure regulation. MSNA, arterial blood pressure, and heart rate responses to head-down rotation (HDR) performed with and without lower body negative pressure (LBNP) in prone subjects were measured. Ten young (27 +/- 1 yr) and 11 older subjects (64 +/- 1 yr) were studied prospectively. HDR performed alone elicited an attenuated increase in MSNA in older subjects (Delta106 +/- 28 vs. Delta20 +/- 7% for young and older subjects). HDR performed during simultaneous orthostatic stress increased total MSNA further in young (Delta53 +/- 15%; P < 0.05) but not older subjects (Delta-5 +/- 4%). Older subjects demonstrated consistent significant hypotension during HDR performed both alone (Delta-6 +/- 2 mmHg) and during LBNP (Delta-7 +/- 2 mmHg). These data provide experimental support for the concept that age-related impairments in the vestibulosympathetic reflex persist during orthostatic challenge in older adults. Furthermore, these findings are consistent with the concept that age-related alterations in vestibular function might contribute to altered orthostatic blood pressure regulation with age in humans.

How Prevalent Is Object-Based Attention?

PubMed Central

Pilz, Karin S.; Roggeveen, Alexa B.; Creighton, Sarah E.; Bennett, Patrick J.; Sekuler, Allison B.

2012-01-01

Previous research suggests that visual attention can be allocated to locations in space (space-based attention) and to objects (object-based attention). The cueing effects associated with space-based attention tend to be large and are found consistently across experiments. Object-based attention effects, however, are small and found less consistently across experiments. In three experiments we address the possibility that variability in object-based attention effects across studies reflects low incidence of such effects at the level of individual subjects. Experiment 1 measured space-based and object-based cueing effects for horizontal and vertical rectangles in 60 subjects comparing commonly used target detection and discrimination tasks. In Experiment 2 we ran another 120 subjects in a target discrimination task in which rectangle orientation varied between subjects. Using parametric statistical methods, we found object-based effects only for horizontal rectangles. Bootstrapping methods were used to measure effects in individual subjects. Significant space-based cueing effects were found in nearly all subjects in both experiments, across tasks and rectangle orientations. However, only a small number of subjects exhibited significant object-based cueing effects. Experiment 3 measured only object-based attention effects using another common paradigm and again, using bootstrapping, we found only a small number of subjects that exhibited significant object-based cueing effects. Our results show that object-based effects are more prevalent for horizontal rectangles, which is in accordance with the theory that attention may be allocated more easily along the horizontal meridian. The fact that so few individuals exhibit a significant object-based cueing effect presumably is why previous studies of this effect might have yielded inconsistent results. The results from the current study highlight the importance of considering individual subject data in addition to commonly used statistical methods. PMID:22348018

Effect of progressive resistance exercise with neuromuscular joint facilitation on the dynamic balance performance of junior soccer players.

PubMed

Wang, Hongzhao; Huo, Ming; Guan, Peipei; Onoda, Ko; Chen, Di; Huang, Qiuchen; Maruyama, Hitoshi

2015-11-01

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate the change in dynamic balance performance of junior soccer players after progressive resistance treatment with neuromuscular joint facilitation (NJF). [Subjects] The subjects were 14 healthy males who were divided into two groups, namely the NJF and control groups. The NJF group consisted of 8 subjects, and the control group consisted of 6 subjects. [Methods] The participants in the NJF group received NJF progressive resistance treatment. Dynamic balance performance was measured before and after 3 weeks of exercise. [Results] Significant improvement in dynamic balance performance was observed both in the NJF and control groups. In the NJF group, dynamic balance performance was significantly increased compared with that in the control group. [Conclusion] The NJF intervention shortened movement time, which implies that NJF is effective for dynamic balance performance.

The Muslim Brotherhood and the Perception of Democracy

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-12-01

transition within Egypt . Numerous studies have examined the Muslim Brotherhood’s political ideology to objectively assess its consistency with...within Egypt . This thesis will attempt to fill that gap by subjectively measuring the Muslim Brotherhood’s democratic intentions as perceived by... Egypt . Numerous studies have examined the Muslim Brotherhood’s political ideology to objectively assess its consistency with democracy. However

Subjective cognitive impairment of older adults: a comparison between the US and China.

PubMed

Wu, Qiong

2016-03-01

Subjective assessment may be incomparable across countries due to differences in reporting styles. Based on two nationally representative surveys from the US and China, this study used data from three anchoring vignettes to estimate to what extent the US and Chinese older adults aged 50 and above differed in their reporting styles of subjective cognitive impairment. Cross country differences of subjective cognitive impairment were then estimated, both before and after adjusting for reporting heterogeneity. Directly assessed word recall test scores were analyzed to evaluate whether findings based on subjective cognitive impairment was consistent with objective performance. The results revealed a discrepancy between self-reported subjective cognitive impairment and directly assessed memory function among older adults: while Chinese respondents reported lower severity levels of subjective cognitive impairment, the US respondents demonstrated better performance in immediate word recall tests. By accounting for differences in reporting styles using anchoring vignettes data, Chinese older adults showed higher levels of subjective cognitive impairment than the US older adults, which was consistent with results from direct assessment of memory function. Non-negligible differences are present in reporting styles of subjective cognitive impairment. Cross country comparison needs to take into account such reporting heterogeneity. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Teacher Related Factors Influencing Students' Enrollment in Biology Subject in Public Secondary Schools in Meru Central Sub County in Kenya

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kirima, Teresia Mugure; Kinyua, Susan Muthoni

2016-01-01

This study examined teacher related factors influencing students' enrollment in Biology subject in public secondary schools in Meru Central Sub County in Kenya. The study utilized the descriptive survey research design on a target population of 9,859 respondents consisting of 9,748 Biology students, 62 trained Biology teachers and 49 Heads of…

Self-harming in depressed patients: pattern analysis.

PubMed

Parker, G; Malhi, Gin; Mitchell, Philip; Kotze, Beth; Wilhelm, Kay; Parker, Kay

2005-10-01

As deliberate self-harm (DSH) is a common concomitant of depressive disorders, we undertook a study examining the relevance of possible determinants and correlates of DSH. Three separate samples of depressed outpatients were studied to determine consistency of identified factors across samples, with principal analyses involving gender, age and diagnosis-matched DSH and non-DSH subjects. Across the samples, some 20% of subjects admitted to episodes of DSH. Women reported higher rates and there was a consistent trend for higher rates in bipolar patients. Univariate analyses examined the relevance of several sociodemographic variables, illicit drug and alcohol use, past deprivational and abusive experiences, past suicidal attempts and disordered personality functioning. Multivariate analyses consistently identified previous suicide attempts and high 'acting out' behaviours across the three samples, suggesting the relevance of an externalizing response to stress and poor impulse control. Results assist the identification and management of depressed patients who are at greater risk of DSH behaviours.

Explaining Enhanced Logical Consistency during Decision Making in Autism

PubMed Central

De Martino, Benedetto; Harrison, Neil A.; Knafo, Steven; Bird, Geoff; Dolan, Raymond J.

2009-01-01

The emotional responses elicited by the way options are framed often results in lack of logical consistency in human decision making. In this study, we investigated subjects with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using a financial task in which the monetary prospects were presented as either loss or gain. We report both behavioral evidence that ASD subjects show a reduced susceptibility to the framing effect and psycho-physiological evidence that they fail to incorporate emotional context into the decision-making process. On this basis, we suggest that this insensitivity to contextual frame, although enhancing choice consistency in ASD, may also underpin core deficits in this disorder. These data highlight both benefits and costs arising from multiple decision processes in human cognition. PMID:18923049

Explaining enhanced logical consistency during decision making in autism.

PubMed

De Martino, Benedetto; Harrison, Neil A; Knafo, Steven; Bird, Geoff; Dolan, Raymond J

2008-10-15

The emotional responses elicited by the way options are framed often results in lack of logical consistency in human decision making. In this study, we investigated subjects with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using a financial task in which the monetary prospects were presented as either loss or gain. We report both behavioral evidence that ASD subjects show a reduced susceptibility to the framing effect and psycho-physiological evidence that they fail to incorporate emotional context into the decision-making process. On this basis, we suggest that this insensitivity to contextual frame, although enhancing choice consistency in ASD, may also underpin core deficits in this disorder. These data highlight both benefits and costs arising from multiple decision processes in human cognition.

Attenuated heart rate responses to public speaking in individuals with alcohol dependence.

PubMed

Panknin, Tera L; Dickensheets, Stacey L; Nixon, Sara J; Lovallo, William R

2002-06-01

Because individuals with alcohol dependence (AD) have shown blunted cortisol responses to psychological stress, we assessed whether they also show attenuated cardiovascular responses. This study examined the cardiovascular responses of people meeting DSM-IV criteria for AD to orthostasis and public speaking. Heart rate (HR), stroke volume, cardiac output, total peripheral resistance, mean arterial pressure, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure during orthostasis and public speaking were assessed by use of impedance cardiography and Dinamap blood pressure monitoring in 20 AD subjects abstinent for 21 to 28 days and in 10 age-matched controls. Orthostasis consisted of standing, whereas public speaking involved preparing and presenting two speeches. Self-reported mood state was also assessed during the tasks. AD subjects had significantly lower resting BP compared with controls. Cardiovascular responses to orthostasis were similar between groups. AD subjects had attenuated HR during public speaking but reported similar anxiety responses to controls. Comparable cardiovascular responses to orthostasis in controls and AD subjects suggest intact reflex control of circulation. AD subjects had blunted HR responses to public speaking; this is consistent with the attenuated cortisol responses observed in this sample and in previous studies. This suggests a possible alteration in limbic system regulation of hypothalamic and brainstem responses to psychological stress. Cardiovascular responses of AD subjects that are inconsistent with subjective accounts of tension and anxiety suggest a disconnection between perception of threat and resulting physiologic responses in AD subjects.

The Function Biomedical Informatics Research Network Data Repository

PubMed Central

Keator, David B.; van Erp, Theo G.M.; Turner, Jessica A.; Glover, Gary H.; Mueller, Bryon A.; Liu, Thomas T.; Voyvodic, James T.; Rasmussen, Jerod; Calhoun, Vince D.; Lee, Hyo Jong; Toga, Arthur W.; McEwen, Sarah; Ford, Judith M.; Mathalon, Daniel H.; Diaz, Michele; O’Leary, Daniel S.; Bockholt, H. Jeremy; Gadde, Syam; Preda, Adrian; Wible, Cynthia G.; Stern, Hal S.; Belger, Aysenil; McCarthy, Gregory; Ozyurt, Burak; Potkin, Steven G.

2015-01-01

The Function Biomedical Informatics Research Network (FBIRN) developed methods and tools for conducting multi-scanner functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies. Method and tool development were based on two major goals: 1) to assess the major sources of variation in fMRI studies conducted across scanners, including instrumentation, acquisition protocols, challenge tasks, and analysis methods, and 2) to provide a distributed network infrastructure and an associated federated database to host and query large, multi-site, fMRI and clinical datasets. In the process of achieving these goals the FBIRN test bed generated several multi-scanner brain imaging data sets to be shared with the wider scientific community via the BIRN Data Repository (BDR). The FBIRN Phase 1 dataset consists of a traveling subject study of 5 healthy subjects, each scanned on 10 different 1.5 to 4 Tesla scanners. The FBIRN Phase 2 and Phase 3 datasets consist of subjects with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder along with healthy comparison subjects scanned at multiple sites. In this paper, we provide concise descriptions of FBIRN’s multi-scanner brain imaging data sets and details about the BIRN Data Repository instance of the Human Imaging Database (HID) used to publicly share the data. PMID:26364863

Gender difference of ankle stability in the sagittal and frontal planes.

PubMed

Hanzlick, Harrison; Hyunglae Lee

2017-07-01

This paper offers quantification of ankle stability in relation to simulated haptic environments of varying stiffness. This study analyzes the stability trends of male and female subjects independently over a wide range of simulated environments after subjects were exposed to vigorous position perturbation. Ankle stability was quantified for both degrees-of-freedom of the ankle in the sagittal and frontal planes. Subjects' stability consistently decreased when exposed to environments of negative simulated stiffness. In the frontal plane, male and female subjects exhibited nearly identical stability levels. In the sagittal plane, however, male subjects demonstrated marginally more stability than female subjects in environments with negative stiffness. Results of this study are beneficial to understanding situations in which the ankle is likely to lose stability, potentially resulting in injury.

Optimism and hope as predictors of subjective health in post-myocardial infarction patients: A comparison of the role of coping strategies.

PubMed

Wlodarczyk, Dorota

2017-03-01

This study explored the effects intervening in the linkages of optimism and hope with subjective health in the short term after myocardial infarction. A two-wave study design was used. The sample consisted of 222 myocardial infarction survivors. When adopting a cross-sectional design, optimism and hope predicted subjective health at Time 1 and Time 2. After controlling for baseline subjective health, they were no longer significant predictors of subjective health at Time 2. Parallel indirect effects of seeking social support and problem solving were significant for both optimism and hope. After controlling for the shared variance between optimism and hope, these effects remained significant only for optimism.

Screening for erectile dysfunction in men with lifelong premature ejaculation--Is the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) reliable?

PubMed

McMahon, Chris G

2009-02-01

Some men with premature ejaculation (PE) and normal erectile function record contradictory response/s to The Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) and may be incorrectly categorized as suffering from erectile dysfunction (ED). The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of false positive SHIM diagnosis of ED in men with lifelong PE. SHIM, stopwatch intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT). A prospective observational study of men with normal erectile function and lifelong PE, diagnosed using the ISSM definition of lifelong PE, was conducted. The SHIM was self-administered at Visit 1. Mean per subject stopwatch IELT was determined from four subsequent intercourse attempts. Seventy-eight subjects with a mean age of 33.2 +/- 8.3 years and a geometric mean IELT of 15.9 +/- 2.3 seconds were enrolled. The mean SHIM score for all subjects was 20.4 +/- 6.0. Fifty-two subjects (66.7%) have SHIM scores of >21 (mean 24.3 +/- 1.1), consistent with normal erectile function, and a geometric mean IELT of 18.3 +/- 2.2 seconds. Twenty-six subjects (33.3%) had SHIM scores <22 (mean 12.7 +/- 3.7), consistent with a false positive diagnosis of ED, and a geometric mean IELT of 10.5 +/- 2.3 seconds. The incidence of false positive SHIM diagnosis of ED (SHIM < 22) was inversely related to the IELT. Although the geometric mean IELT for subjects with SHIM scores <22 was significantly less than that of all subjects and subjects with SHIM scores >21, there were no significant differences between the geometric mean IELT or the IELT distribution of all subjects vs. the normal erectile function IELT (SHIM > 21) cohort. This study demonstrates a 33.3% false positive SHIM diagnosis of ED in men with PE. This is likely to limit subject recruitment in clinical trials by exclusion of subjects with low-range IELTs but is unlikely to result in significantly different baseline IELTs or IELT distributions.

Consistency and malleability of manipulation performance in experienced clinicians: a pre-post experimental design.

PubMed

Triano, John J; Giuliano, Dominic; Kanga, Ismat; Starmer, David; Brazeau, Jennifer; Screaton, C Elaine; Semple, Curtis

2015-01-01

The purpose of this study was to sample the stability of spinal manipulation performance in peak impulse force development over time and the ability of clinicians to adapt to arbitrary target levels with short-duration training. A pre-post experimental design was used. Human analog mannequins provided standardized simulation for performance measures. A convenience sample was recruited consisting of 41 local doctors of chiropractic with 5 years of active clinical practice experience. Thoracic impulse force was measured among clinicians at baseline, after 4 months at pretraining, and again posttraining. Intraclass correlation coefficient values and within-subject variability defined consistency. Malleability was measured by reduction of error (paired t tests) in achieving arbitrary targeted levels of force development normalized to the individual's typical performance. No difference was observed in subgroup vs baseline group characteristics. Good consistency was observed in force-time profiles (0.55 ≤ intraclass correlation coefficient ≤ 0.75) for force parameters over the 4-month interval. With short intervals of focused training, error rates in force delivery were reduced by 23% to 45%, depending on target. Within-subject variability was 1/3 to 1/2 that of between-subject variability. Load increases were directly related to rate of loading. The findings of this study show that recalibration of spinal manipulation performance of experienced clinicians toward arbitrary target values in the thoracic spine is feasible. This study found that experienced clinicians are internally consistent in performance of procedures under standardized conditions and that focused training may help clinicians learn to modulate procedure characteristics. Copyright © 2015 National University of Health Sciences. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Macular pigment optical density spatial distribution measured in a subject with oculocutaneous albinism.

PubMed

Putnam, Christopher M; Bland, Pauline J

2014-01-01

Previous studies of macular pigment optical density (MPOD) distribution in individuals with oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) have primarily used objective measurement techniques including fundus reflectometry and autofluorescence. We report here on a subject with OCA and their corresponding MPOD distribution assessed through heterochromatic flicker photometry (HFP). A subject with a history of OCA presented with an ocular history including strabismus surgery of the LE with persistent amblyopia and mild, latent nystagmus. Best corrected visual acuity was 20/25- RE and 20/40- LE. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and fundus photography were also obtained. Evaluation of MPOD spatial distribution up to 8 degrees eccentricity from the fovea was performed using HFP. SD-OCT indicated a persistence of multiple inner retinal layers within the foveal region in the RE and LE including symmetric foveal thickening consistent with foveal hypoplasia. Fundus photography showed mild retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) hypopigmentation and a poorly demarcated macula. OriginPro 9 was used to plot MPOD spatial distribution of the subject and a 33-subject sample. The OCA subject demonstrated a foveal MPOD of 0.10 with undetectable levels at 6 degrees eccentricity. The study sample showed a mean foveal MPOD of 0.34 and mean 6 degree eccentricity values of 0.03. Consistent with previous macular pigment (MP) studies of OCA, overall MPOD is reduced in our subject. Mild phenotypic expression of OCA with high functional visual acuity may represent a Henle fiber layer amenable to additional MP deposition. Further study of MP supplementation in OCA patients is warranted. Copyright © 2014 Spanish General Council of Optometry. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

Structural covariance networks across healthy young adults and their consistency.

PubMed

Guo, Xiaojuan; Wang, Yan; Guo, Taomei; Chen, Kewei; Zhang, Jiacai; Li, Ke; Jin, Zhen; Yao, Li

2015-08-01

To investigate structural covariance networks (SCNs) as measured by regional gray matter volumes with structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) from healthy young adults, and to examine their consistency and stability. Two independent cohorts were included in this study: Group 1 (82 healthy subjects aged 18-28 years) and Group 2 (109 healthy subjects aged 20-28 years). Structural MRI data were acquired at 3.0T and 1.5T using a magnetization prepared rapid-acquisition gradient echo sequence for these two groups, respectively. We applied independent component analysis (ICA) to construct SCNs and further applied the spatial overlap ratio and correlation coefficient to evaluate the spatial consistency of the SCNs between these two datasets. Seven and six independent components were identified for Group 1 and Group 2, respectively. Moreover, six SCNs including the posterior default mode network, the visual and auditory networks consistently existed across the two datasets. The overlap ratios and correlation coefficients of the visual network reached the maximums of 72% and 0.71. This study demonstrates the existence of consistent SCNs corresponding to general functional networks. These structural covariance findings may provide insight into the underlying organizational principles of brain anatomy. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Parallels between Objective Indicators and Subjective Perceptions of Quality of Life: A Study of Metropolitan and County Areas in Taiwan

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liao, Pei-shan

2009-01-01

This study explores the consistency between objective indicators and subjective perceptions of quality of life in a ranking of survey data for cities and counties in Taiwan. Data used for analysis included the Statistical Yearbook of Hsiens and Municipalities and the Survey on Living Conditions of Citizens in Taiwan, both given for the year 2000.…

Directionality of the relationship between social well-being and subjective well-being: evidence from a 20-year longitudinal study.

PubMed

Joshanloo, Mohsen; Sirgy, M Joseph; Park, Joonha

2018-04-30

Self-determination theory suggests that psycho-social well-being prospectively predicts subjective well-being. In contrast, the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions suggests that subjective well-being has a positive impact on subsequent levels of psycho-social well-being. The present study sought to empirically disentangle the directionality of the relationship between subjective well-being and social well-being over time. The study used three waves of survey data, with intervals of 10 years, from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) project, a representative longitudinal panel study of American adults (N = 2732). Cross-lagged panel modeling was used for data analysis. The results revealed that social well-being predicted increases in subsequent subjective well-being, whereas subjective well-being did not prospectively predict social well-being. Social well-being also demonstrated more stability over time than did subjective well-being. These findings suggest that optimal social functioning is more likely to be an antecedent to subjective well-being, not the other way around. The results are consistent with predictions guided by self-determination theory.

Greater left cerebral hemispheric metabolism in bulimia assessed by positron emission tomography

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

Wu, J.C.; Hagman, J.; Buchsbaum, M.S.

1990-03-01

Eight women with bulimia and eight age- and sex-matched normal control subjects were studied with positron emission tomography using (18F)-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) as a tracer of brain metabolic rate. Subjects performed a visual vigilance task during FDG uptake. In control subjects, the metabolic rate was higher in the right hemisphere than in the left, but patients with bulimia did not have this normal asymmetry. Lower metabolic rates in the basal ganglia, found in studies of depressed subjects, and higher rates in the basal ganglia, reported in a study of anorexia nervosa, were not found. This is consistent with the suggestion thatmore » bulimia is a diagnostic grouping distinct from these disorders.« less

Associations Among Individuals’ Perceptions of Future Time, Individual Resources, and Subjective Well-Being in Old Age

PubMed Central

Hoppmann, Christiane A.; Infurna, Frank J.; Ram, Nilam; Gerstorf, Denis

2015-01-01

Objectives Perceptions of future time are of key interest to aging research because of their implications for subjective well-being. Interestingly, perceptions about future time are only moderately associated with age, pointing to a vast heterogeneity in future time perceptions among older adults. We examine associations between future time perceptions, age, and subjective well-being across two studies, including moderations by individual resources. Method Using data from the Berlin Aging Study (N = 516; Mage = 85 years), we link one operationalization (subjective nearness to death) and age to subjective well-being. Using Health and Retirement Study data (N = 2,596; Mage = 77 years), we examine associations of another future time perception indicator (subjective future life expectancy) and age with subjective well-being. Results Consistent across studies, perceptions of limited time left were associated with poorer subjective well-being (lower life satisfaction and positive affect; more negative affect and depressive symptoms). Importantly, individual resources moderated future time perception–subjective well-being associations with those of better health exhibiting reduced future time perception–subjective well-being associations. Discussion We discuss our findings in the context of the Model of Strength and Vulnerability Integration. PMID:26437862

In adults with Prader-Willi syndrome, elevated ghrelin levels are more consistent with hyperphagia than high PYY and GLP-1 levels.

PubMed

Purtell, Louise; Sze, Lisa; Loughnan, Georgina; Smith, Ellie; Herzog, Herbert; Sainsbury, Amanda; Steinbeck, Katharine; Campbell, Lesley V; Viardot, Alexander

2011-08-01

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a leading genetic cause of obesity, characterized by hyperphagia, endocrine and developmental disorders. It is suggested that the intense hyperphagia could stem, in part, from impaired gut hormone signaling. Previous studies produced conflicting results, being confounded by differences in body composition between PWS and control subjects. Fasting and postprandial gut hormone responses were investigated in a cross-sectional cohort study including 10 adult PWS, 12 obese subjects matched for percentage body fat and central abdominal fat, and 10 healthy normal weight subjects. PYY[total], PYY[3-36], GLP-1[active] and ghrelin[total] were measured by ELISA or radioimmunoassay. Body composition was assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Visual analog scales were used to assess hunger and satiety. In contrast to lean subjects (p<0.05), PWS and obese subjects were similarly insulin resistant and had similar insulin levels. Ghrelin[total] levels were significantly higher in PWS compared to obese subjects before and during the meal (p<0.05). PYY[3-36] meal responses were higher in PWS than in lean subjects (p=0.01), but not significantly different to obese (p=0.08), with an additional non-significant trend in PYY[total] levels. There were no significant differences in self-reported satiety between groups, however PWS subjects reported more hunger throughout (p=0.003), and exhibited a markedly reduced meal-induced suppression of hunger (p=0.01) compared to lean or obese subjects. Compared to adiposity-matched control subjects, hyperphagia in PWS is not related to a lower postprandial GLP-1 or PYY response. Elevated ghrelin levels in PWS are consistent with increased hunger and are unrelated to insulin levels. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Right Visual Field Advantage for Perceived Contrast: Correlation with an Auditory Bias and Handedness

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Railo, H.; Tallus, J.; Hamalainen, H.

2011-01-01

Studies have suggested that supramodal attentional resources are biased rightward due to asymmetric spatial fields of the two hemispheres. This bias has been observed especially in right-handed subjects. We presented left and right-handed subjects with brief uniform grey visual stimuli in either the left or right visual hemifield. Consistent with…

Analysis of the Raven CPM Subtest Scores for a Sample of Gifted Children.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kluever, Raymond C.; Green, Kathy E.

The inter-subject/intra-subject subtest patterns (profiles) of the same sample of gifted children were examined based on factors found in a previous study of the Raven Coloured Progressive Matrices Test (CPM) that investigated structural properties with specific application to a sample of gifted children. The sample consisted of 166 children (78…

Who Gets More Attention When an Adult Plays with Two 7-Month-Old Infants?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hildebrandt, Katherine A.

Focusing on infants' physical attractiveness and behavior, this study explores reasons some infants receive greater amounts and different types of attention from adults than do others. Subjects were observed in 21 groups of three, consisting of one adult and two same-sex infants. Adult subjects were unmarried, childless undergraduate women…

Using Capstones to Develop Research Skills and Graduate Capabilities: A Case Study from Physiology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Julien, Brianna L.; Lexis, Louise; Schuijers, Johannes; Samiric, Tom; McDonald, Stuart

2012-01-01

In 2011, the Department of Human Biosciences introduced two physiology capstone subjects as part of the Design for Learning Project at La Trobe University. Consistent with the project, the aims of these subjects were to provide an effective culmination point for the Bachelor of Health Science course and to offer students orientation to…

The Effectiveness of a Peer-Helping Programme That Increases Subjective Well-Being

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eryilmaz, Ali

2017-01-01

The present study aims to investigate the effectiveness of a peer-helping programme in increasing the subjective well-being of a group of university students compared with a control group with the same characteristics who did not receive the intervention. The intervention recipients consisted of 13 male and 17 female participants. The peer helpers…

Subject Relative Clauses Are Not Universally Easier to Process: Evidence from Basque

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carreiras, Manuel; Dunabeitia, Jon Andoni; Vergara, Marta; de la Cruz-Pavia, Irene; Laka, Itziar

2010-01-01

Studies from many languages consistently report that subject relative clauses (SR) are easier to process than object relatives (OR). However, Hsiao and Gibson (2003) report an OR preference for Chinese, a finding that has been contested. Here we report faster OR versus SR processing in Basque, an ergative, head-final language with pre-nominal…

Commitment Contingencies in the Behavioral Treatment of Obesity.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Norton, Richard S.; Powers, Richard B.

Commitment is a self-control technique to induce weight loss. Tow targets of commitment contingencies, completion of the study and behavior change, were examined among 42 female and 3 male subjects who made a monetary deposit to enroll in the 10-week program. The treatment consisted of self-monitoring of eating and exercise behavior. Subjects were…

Prosocial Behavior and Subjective Insecurity in Violent Contexts: Field Experiments

PubMed Central

Vélez, María Alejandra; Trujillo, Carlos Andres; Moros, Lina; Forero, Clemente

2016-01-01

Subjective insecurity is a key determinant of different forms of prosocial behavior. In Study 1, we used field experiments with farmers in Colombian villages exposed to different levels of violence to investigate how individual perceptions of insecurity affect cooperation, trust, reciprocity and altruism. To do so, we developed a cognitive-affective measure of subjective insecurity. We found that subjective insecurity has a negative effect on cooperation but influences trust and altruism positively. In Study 2, carried out three years after Study 1, we repeated the initial design with additional measures of victimization. Our goal was to relate subjective insecurity with actual victimization. The findings of Study 2 support the initial results, and are robust and consistent for cooperative behavior and trust when including victimization as a mediator. Different indicators of victimization are positively correlated with subjective insecurity and an aggregate index of victimization has a negative effect on cooperation but exerts a positive influence on trust. PMID:27472437

Computed tomography demonstrates abnormalities of contralateral ear in subjects with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss.

PubMed

Marcus, Sonya; Whitlow, Christopher T; Koonce, James; Zapadka, Michael E; Chen, Michael Y; Williams, Daniel W; Lewis, Meagan; Evans, Adele K

2014-02-01

Prior studies have associated gross inner ear abnormalities with pediatric sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) using computed tomography (CT). No studies to date have specifically investigated morphologic inner ear abnormalities involving the contralateral unaffected ear in patients with unilateral SNHL. The purpose of this study is to evaluate contralateral inner ear structures of subjects with unilateral SNHL but no grossly abnormal findings on CT. IRB-approved retrospective analysis of pediatric temporal bone CT scans. 97 temporal bone CT scans, previously interpreted as "normal" based upon previously accepted guidelines by board certified neuroradiologists, were assessed using 12 measurements of the semicircular canals, cochlea and vestibule. The control-group consisted of 72 "normal" temporal bone CTs with underlying SNHL in the subject excluded. The study-group consisted of 25 normal-hearing contralateral temporal bones in subjects with unilateral SNHL. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was then conducted to evaluate for differences between the study and control group. Cochlea basal turn lumen width was significantly greater in magnitude and central lucency of the lateral semicircular canal bony island was significantly lower in density for audiometrically normal ears of subjects with unilateral SNHL compared to controls. Abnormalities of the inner ear were present in the contralateral audiometrically normal ears of subjects with unilateral SNHL. These data suggest that patients with unilateral SNHL may have a more pervasive disease process that results in abnormalities of both ears. The findings of a cochlea basal turn lumen width disparity >5% from "normal" and/or a lateral semicircular canal bony island central lucency disparity of >5% from "normal" may indicate inherent risk to the contralateral unaffected ear in pediatric patients with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparison of Subjective Wellbeing and Positive Future Expectations in Between Working and Nonworking Adolescents in Turkey.

PubMed

Karaca, Semra; Karakoc, Ayse; Bingol, Fadime; Eren, Nurhan; Andsoy, Isil Isik

2016-02-01

Wellbeing is one's evaluation and judgment of one's life. It consists of 3 dimensions: positive affectivity, negative affectivity, and life satisfaction. This study aimed to compare the subjective wellbeing and positive future expectations between working and nonworking adolescents. The study was designed as descriptive and comparative. The study sample consisted of 420 working and 482 nonworking adolescents (n = 902) aged 15 - 20 years, who were randomly recruited from two occupational education centers in Istanbul, Turkey and two high schools (formal educations) in the same district. Adolescent subjective wellbeing scale (ASWS) total mean (SD) scores for working adolescents and nonworking adolescents were 48.76 (9.50) and 49.72 (8.01), respectively. In addition, positive future expectations scale (PFES) total mean (SD) scores for working adolescents and nonworking adolescents were 18.71 (4.50) and 19.06 (3.49), respectively. In this study, no significant difference was found between the general wellbeing (scale total median score) scores of the working and nonworking adolescent groups (Z = 1.01, P = 0.315). However, significant differences were found in the family relations satisfaction (Z = 3.23, P = 0.002) and relations with significant others (Z = 2.85, P = 0.004) subscales of the ASWS. A positive relationship was found between adolescent subjective wellbeing and positive future expectations. It was found that nonworking adolescents scored higher on the dimensions of "family relations" and "relations with significant others" of subjective wellbeing compared to those dimensions in working adolescents.

Parallel group independent component analysis for massive fMRI data sets.

PubMed

Chen, Shaojie; Huang, Lei; Qiu, Huitong; Nebel, Mary Beth; Mostofsky, Stewart H; Pekar, James J; Lindquist, Martin A; Eloyan, Ani; Caffo, Brian S

2017-01-01

Independent component analysis (ICA) is widely used in the field of functional neuroimaging to decompose data into spatio-temporal patterns of co-activation. In particular, ICA has found wide usage in the analysis of resting state fMRI (rs-fMRI) data. Recently, a number of large-scale data sets have become publicly available that consist of rs-fMRI scans from thousands of subjects. As a result, efficient ICA algorithms that scale well to the increased number of subjects are required. To address this problem, we propose a two-stage likelihood-based algorithm for performing group ICA, which we denote Parallel Group Independent Component Analysis (PGICA). By utilizing the sequential nature of the algorithm and parallel computing techniques, we are able to efficiently analyze data sets from large numbers of subjects. We illustrate the efficacy of PGICA, which has been implemented in R and is freely available through the Comprehensive R Archive Network, through simulation studies and application to rs-fMRI data from two large multi-subject data sets, consisting of 301 and 779 subjects respectively.

Pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of varenicline in healthy adolescent smokers: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study.

PubMed

Faessel, Helene; Ravva, Patanjali; Williams, Kathryn

2009-01-01

Varenicline is approved as an aid to smoking cessation in adults aged > or =18 years. The goal of this study was to characterize the multiple-dose pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of varenicline in adolescent smokers. This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study enrolled healthy 12- to 16-year-old smokers (> or =3 cigarettes daily) into high-body-weight (>55 kg) and low-body-weight (< or =55 kg) groups. Subjects were randomized to receive 14 days of treatment with a high dose of varenicline, a low dose of varenicline, or placebo. The varenicline doses in the high-body-weight group were 1 mg BID and 0.5 mg BID; the varenicline doses in the low-body-weight group were 0.5 mg BID and 0.5 mg once daily. The apparent renal clearance (CL/F) and volume of distribution (V/F) of varenicline and the effect of body weight on these parameters were estimated using nonlinear mixed-effects modeling. The high-body-weight group consisted of 35 subjects (65.7% male; 77.1% white; mean age, 15.2 years). The low-body-weight group consisted of 37 subjects (37.8% male; 48.6% white; mean age, 14.3 years). The pharmacokinetic parameters of varenicline were dose proportional over the dose range from 0.5 to 2 mg/d. The CL/F for a 70-kg adolescent was 10.4 L/h, comparable to that in a 70-kg adult. The estimated varenicline V/F was decreased in individuals of small body size, thus predicting a varenicline C(max) approximately 30% greater in low-body-weight subjects than in high-body-weight subjects. In high-body-weight subjects, steady-state varenicline exposure, as represented by the AUC(0-24), was 197.0 ng . h/mL for varenicline 1 mg BID and 95.7 ng . h/mL for varenicline 0.5 mg BID, consistent with values reported previously in adult smokers at the equivalent doses. In low-body-weight subjects, varenicline exposure was 126.3 ng . h/mL for varenicline 0.5 mg BID and 60.1 ng . h/mL for varenicline 0.5 mg once daily, values at the lower end of the range observed previously in adults at doses of 1 mg BID and 0.5 mg BID, respectively. Among high-body-weight subjects, adverse events (AEs) were reported by 57.1% of subjects in both the high- and low-dose varenicline groups and by 14.3% of subjects in the placebo group; among low-body-weight subjects, AEs were reported by 64.3%, 73.3%, and 12.5% of subjects in the high-dose varenicline, low-dose varenicline, and placebo groups, respectively. The most common AEs were nausea, headache, vomiting, and dizziness. Psychiatric AEs that were considered treatment related included abnormal dreams in 2 subjects and mild, transient anger in 1 subject. Of the AEs reported by > or =1 subject in any treatment group, > or =92% were mild in intensity. No subject discontinued the study because of an AE. Varenicline steady-state exposure in study subjects weighing >55 kg was similar to that observed previously in adults. The body-weight effect on varenicline pharmacokinetics, which resulted in higher exposure in individuals of smaller body size (< or =55 kg), was adequately offset by administration of half the varenicline dose recommended in adults. Varenicline was generally well tolerated during the 14-day treatment period. Clinical Trials Identification Number: NCT00463918.

The structural neural substrate of subjective happiness

PubMed Central

Sato, Wataru; Kochiyama, Takanori; Uono, Shota; Kubota, Yasutaka; Sawada, Reiko; Yoshimura, Sayaka; Toichi, Motomi

2015-01-01

Happiness is a subjective experience that is an ultimate goal for humans. Psychological studies have shown that subjective happiness can be measured reliably and consists of emotional and cognitive components. However, the neural substrates of subjective happiness remain unclear. To investigate this issue, we used structural magnetic resonance imaging and questionnaires that assessed subjective happiness, the intensity of positive and negative emotional experiences, and purpose in life. We found a positive relationship between the subjective happiness score and gray matter volume in the right precuneus. Moreover, the same region showed an association with the combined positive and negative emotional intensity and purpose in life scores. Our findings suggest that the precuneus mediates subjective happiness by integrating the emotional and cognitive components of happiness. PMID:26586449

The structural neural substrate of subjective happiness.

PubMed

Sato, Wataru; Kochiyama, Takanori; Uono, Shota; Kubota, Yasutaka; Sawada, Reiko; Yoshimura, Sayaka; Toichi, Motomi

2015-11-20

Happiness is a subjective experience that is an ultimate goal for humans. Psychological studies have shown that subjective happiness can be measured reliably and consists of emotional and cognitive components. However, the neural substrates of subjective happiness remain unclear. To investigate this issue, we used structural magnetic resonance imaging and questionnaires that assessed subjective happiness, the intensity of positive and negative emotional experiences, and purpose in life. We found a positive relationship between the subjective happiness score and gray matter volume in the right precuneus. Moreover, the same region showed an association with the combined positive and negative emotional intensity and purpose in life scores. Our findings suggest that the precuneus mediates subjective happiness by integrating the emotional and cognitive components of happiness.

A work-family conflict/subjective well-being process model: a test of competing theories of longitudinal effects.

PubMed

Matthews, Russell A; Wayne, Julie Holliday; Ford, Michael T

2014-11-01

In the present study, we examine competing predictions of stress reaction models and adaptation theories regarding the longitudinal relationship between work-family conflict and subjective well-being. Based on data from 432 participants over 3 time points with 2 lags of varying lengths (i.e., 1 month, 6 months), our findings suggest that in the short term, consistent with prior theory and research, work-family conflict is associated with poorer subjective well-being. Counter to traditional work-family predictions but consistent with adaptation theories, after accounting for concurrent levels of work-family conflict as well as past levels of subjective well-being, past exposure to work-family conflict was associated with higher levels of subjective well-being over time. Moreover, evidence was found for reverse causation in that greater subjective well-being at 1 point in time was associated with reduced work-family conflict at a subsequent point in time. Finally, the pattern of results did not vary as a function of using different temporal lags. We discuss the theoretical, research, and practical implications of our findings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved).

Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 3 detection in the serum of persons exposed to asbestos: A patient-based study

PubMed Central

Xu, Jiegou; Alexander, David B; Iigo, Masaaki; Hamano, Hirokazu; Takahashi, Satoru; Yokoyama, Takako; Kato, Munehiro; Usami, Ikuji; Tokuyama, Takeshi; Tsutsumi, Masahiro; Tamura, Mouka; Oguri, Tetsuya; Niimi, Akio; Hayashi, Yoshimitsu; Yokoyama, Yoshifumi; Tonegawa, Ken; Fukamachi, Katsumi; Futakuchi, Mitsuru; Sakai, Yuto; Suzui, Masumi; Kamijima, Michihiro; Hisanaga, Naomi; Omori, Toyonori; Nakae, Dai; Hirose, Akihiko; Kanno, Jun; Tsuda, Hiroyuki

2015-01-01

Exposure to asbestos results in serious risk of developing lung and mesothelial diseases. Currently, there are no biomarkers that can be used to diagnose asbestos exposure. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the levels or detection rate of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 3 (CCL3) in the serum are elevated in persons exposed to asbestos. The primary study group consisted of 76 healthy subjects not exposed to asbestos and 172 healthy subjects possibly exposed to asbestos. The secondary study group consisted of 535 subjects possibly exposed to asbestos and diagnosed with pleural plaque (412), benign hydrothorax (10), asbestosis (86), lung cancer (17), and malignant mesothelioma (10). All study subjects who were possibly exposed to asbestos had a certificate of asbestos exposure issued by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. For the primary study group, levels of serum CCL3 did not differ between the two groups. However, the detection rate of CCL3 in the serum of healthy subjects possibly exposed to asbestos (30.2%) was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than for the control group (6.6%). The pleural plaque, benign hydrothorax, asbestosis, and lung cancer groups had serum CCL3 levels and detection rates similar to that of healthy subjects possibly exposed to asbestos. The CCL3 chemokine was detected in the serum of 9 of the 10 patients diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma. Three of the patients with malignant mesothelioma had exceptionally high CCL3 levels. Malignant mesothelioma cells from four biopsy cases and an autopsy case were positive for CCL3, possibly identifying the source of the CCL3 in the three malignant mesothelioma patients with exceptionally high serum CCL3 levels. In conclusion, a significantly higher percentage of healthy persons possibly exposed to asbestos had detectable levels of serum CCL3 compared to healthy unexposed control subjects. PMID:25940505

Perception of male drinkers as a function of their alcoholic beverage preference.

PubMed

Curtin, L; Fisher, R D

1993-05-01

The present study examined perception of a man's likelihood of driving after drinking and his ability to do so as a function of his choice of beverage. Perceptions of his social characteristics were also examined. The sample was composed of 200 volunteer undergraduate psychology students. Equal numbers of male and female subjects read one of four vignettes which varied only in the male protagonist's choice of beverage: beer, wine, shots of distilled spirits, or cola. After reading the story, subjects answered multiple-choice questions about the character, tapping social judgments, situational judgments and drinking and driving judgments. Subject drinking habits were also assessed. The most notable result was the consistently positive perception of the protagonist portrayed as an abstainer. The lack of a consistent alcoholic beverage distinction implies that the beer-spirits double standard is far from a clear-cut discrimination. Possible explanations for results are discussed. This study questions the robustness of the alcoholic beverage type bias and reflects the need for future research.

The relationship between appetite scores and subsequent energy intake: an analysis based on 23 randomized controlled studies.

PubMed

Sadoul, Bastien C; Schuring, Ewoud A H; Mela, David J; Peters, Harry P F

2014-12-01

Several studies have assessed relationships of self-reported appetite (eating motivations, mainly by Visual Analogue Scales, VAS) with subsequent energy intake (EI), though usually in small data sets with limited power and variable designs. The objectives were therefore to better quantify the relationships of self-reports (incorporating subject characteristics) to subsequent EI, and to estimate the quantitative differences in VAS corresponding to consistent, significant differences in EI. Data were derived from an opportunity sample of 23 randomized controlled studies involving 549 subjects, testing the effects of various food ingredients in meal replacers or 100-150 ml mini-drinks. In all studies, scores on several VAS were recorded for 30 min to 5 h post-meal, when EI was assessed by ad libitum meal consumption. The relationships between pre-meal VAS scores and EI were examined using correlation, linear models (including subject characteristics) and a cross-validation procedure. VAS correlations with subsequent EI were statistically significant, but of low magnitude, up to r = 0.26. Hunger, age, gender, body weight and estimated basal metabolic rate explained 25% of the total variance in EI. Without hunger the prediction of EI was modestly but significantly lower (19%, P < 0.001). A change of ≥15-25 mm on a 100 mm VAS was the minimum effect consistently corresponding to a significant change in subsequent EI, depending on the starting VAS level. Eating motivations add in a small but consistently significant way to other known predictors of acute EI. Differences of about 15 mm on a 100 mm VAS appear to be the minimum effect expected to result in consistent, significant differences in subsequent EI. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Subjective age and personality development: a 10-year study.

PubMed

Stephan, Yannick; Sutin, Angelina R; Terracciano, Antonio

2015-04-01

Personality theory and research typically focus on chronological age as a key indicator of personality development. This study examines whether the subjective experience of age is an alternative marker of the biomedical and psychosocial factors that contribute to individual differences in personality development. The present study uses data from the Midlife in the United States longitudinal survey (N = 3,617) to examine how subjective age is associated with stability and change in personality and the dynamic associations between subjective age and personality traits over a 10-year period. Regression analyses indicated that a younger subjective age at baseline was associated with increases in Openness, Conscientiousness, and Agreeableness; correlated changes were also found. The rank-order stability of Extraversion and Openness and overall profile consistency were higher among those with a younger subjective age at baseline and were also associated with the rate of subjective aging over time. The present study reveals that beyond chronological age, the age an individual feels is related to changes in characteristic ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving over time. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Using popular films to enhance classroom learning: the good, the bad, and the interesting.

PubMed

Butler, Andrew C; Zaromb, Franklin M; Lyle, Keith B; Roediger, Henry L

2009-09-01

Popular history films sometimes contain major historical inaccuracies. Two experiments investigated how watching such films influences people's ability to remember associated texts. Subjects watched film clips and studied texts about various historical topics. Whereas the texts contained only correct information, the film clips contained both correct information (consistent with the text) and misinformation (contradicted by the text). Before watching each clip, subjects received a specific warning, a general warning, or no warning about the misinformation. One week later, they returned for a cued-recall test about the texts. Watching a film clip increased correct recall of consistent information relative to recall of the same information when subjects did not see the clip. However, when the information in the film contradicted the text, subjects often (falsely) recalled misinformation from the film. The specific warning substantially reduced this misinformation effect. Teachers should use popular history films with caution and should warn students about major inaccuracies in the films.

The Immediate Effect of Neuromuscular Joint Facilitation (NJF) Treatment on Electromechanical Reaction Times of Hip Flexion.

PubMed

Huo, Ming; Wang, Hongzhao; Ge, Meng; Huang, Qiuchen; Li, Desheng; Maruyama, Hitoshi

2013-11-01

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate the change in electromechanical reaction times (EMG-RT) of hip flexion of younger persons after neuromuscular joint facilitation (NJF) treatment. [Subjects] The subjects were 39 healthy young people, who were divided into two groups: a NJF group and a proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) group. The NJF group consisted of 16 subjects (7 males, 9 females), and the PNF group consisted of 23 subjects (10 males, 13 females). [Methods] Participants in the NJF group received NJF treatment. We measured the EMG-RT, the premotor time (PMT) and the motor time (MT) during hip flexion movement before and after the intervention in both groups. [Results] There were no significant differences among the results of the PNF group. For the NJF group, there were significant differences in PMT and EMG-RT after NJF treatment. [Conclusion] These results suggest that there is an immediate effect of NJF intervention on electromechanical reaction times of hip flexion.

The Immediate Effect of Neuromuscular Joint Facilitation (NJF) Treatment on Electromechanical Reaction Times of Hip Flexion

PubMed Central

Huo, Ming; Wang, Hongzhao; Ge, Meng; Huang, Qiuchen; Li, Desheng; Maruyama, Hitoshi

2013-01-01

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate the change in electromechanical reaction times (EMG-RT) of hip flexion of younger persons after neuromuscular joint facilitation (NJF) treatment. [Subjects] The subjects were 39 healthy young people, who were divided into two groups: a NJF group and a proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) group. The NJF group consisted of 16 subjects (7 males, 9 females), and the PNF group consisted of 23 subjects (10 males, 13 females). [Methods] Participants in the NJF group received NJF treatment. We measured the EMG-RT, the premotor time (PMT) and the motor time (MT) during hip flexion movement before and after the intervention in both groups. [Results] There were no significant differences among the results of the PNF group. For the NJF group, there were significant differences in PMT and EMG-RT after NJF treatment. [Conclusion] These results suggest that there is an immediate effect of NJF intervention on electromechanical reaction times of hip flexion. PMID:24396211

Instructional multimedia: An investigation of student and instructor attitudes and student study behavior

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Educators in allied health and medical education programs utilize instructional multimedia to facilitate psychomotor skill acquisition in students. This study examines the effects of instructional multimedia on student and instructor attitudes and student study behavior. Methods Subjects consisted of 45 student physical therapists from two universities. Two skill sets were taught during the course of the study. Skill set one consisted of knee examination techniques and skill set two consisted of ankle/foot examination techniques. For each skill set, subjects were randomly assigned to either a control group or an experimental group. The control group was taught with live demonstration of the examination skills, while the experimental group was taught using multimedia. A cross-over design was utilized so that subjects in the control group for skill set one served as the experimental group for skill set two, and vice versa. During the last week of the study, students and instructors completed written questionnaires to assess attitude toward teaching methods, and students answered questions regarding study behavior. Results There were no differences between the two instructional groups in attitudes, but students in the experimental group for skill set two reported greater study time alone compared to other groups. Conclusions Multimedia provides an efficient method to teach psychomotor skills to students entering the health professions. Both students and instructors identified advantages and disadvantages for both instructional techniques. Reponses relative to instructional multimedia emphasized efficiency, processing level, autonomy, and detail of instruction compared to live presentation. Students and instructors identified conflicting views of instructional detail and control of the content. PMID:21693058

Instructional multimedia: an investigation of student and instructor attitudes and student study behavior.

PubMed

Smith, A Russell; Cavanaugh, Cathy; Moore, W Allen

2011-06-21

Educators in allied health and medical education programs utilize instructional multimedia to facilitate psychomotor skill acquisition in students. This study examines the effects of instructional multimedia on student and instructor attitudes and student study behavior. Subjects consisted of 45 student physical therapists from two universities. Two skill sets were taught during the course of the study. Skill set one consisted of knee examination techniques and skill set two consisted of ankle/foot examination techniques. For each skill set, subjects were randomly assigned to either a control group or an experimental group. The control group was taught with live demonstration of the examination skills, while the experimental group was taught using multimedia. A cross-over design was utilized so that subjects in the control group for skill set one served as the experimental group for skill set two, and vice versa. During the last week of the study, students and instructors completed written questionnaires to assess attitude toward teaching methods, and students answered questions regarding study behavior. There were no differences between the two instructional groups in attitudes, but students in the experimental group for skill set two reported greater study time alone compared to other groups. Multimedia provides an efficient method to teach psychomotor skills to students entering the health professions. Both students and instructors identified advantages and disadvantages for both instructional techniques. Reponses relative to instructional multimedia emphasized efficiency, processing level, autonomy, and detail of instruction compared to live presentation. Students and instructors identified conflicting views of instructional detail and control of the content.

The Function Biomedical Informatics Research Network Data Repository.

PubMed

Keator, David B; van Erp, Theo G M; Turner, Jessica A; Glover, Gary H; Mueller, Bryon A; Liu, Thomas T; Voyvodic, James T; Rasmussen, Jerod; Calhoun, Vince D; Lee, Hyo Jong; Toga, Arthur W; McEwen, Sarah; Ford, Judith M; Mathalon, Daniel H; Diaz, Michele; O'Leary, Daniel S; Jeremy Bockholt, H; Gadde, Syam; Preda, Adrian; Wible, Cynthia G; Stern, Hal S; Belger, Aysenil; McCarthy, Gregory; Ozyurt, Burak; Potkin, Steven G

2016-01-01

The Function Biomedical Informatics Research Network (FBIRN) developed methods and tools for conducting multi-scanner functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies. Method and tool development were based on two major goals: 1) to assess the major sources of variation in fMRI studies conducted across scanners, including instrumentation, acquisition protocols, challenge tasks, and analysis methods, and 2) to provide a distributed network infrastructure and an associated federated database to host and query large, multi-site, fMRI and clinical data sets. In the process of achieving these goals the FBIRN test bed generated several multi-scanner brain imaging data sets to be shared with the wider scientific community via the BIRN Data Repository (BDR). The FBIRN Phase 1 data set consists of a traveling subject study of 5 healthy subjects, each scanned on 10 different 1.5 to 4 T scanners. The FBIRN Phase 2 and Phase 3 data sets consist of subjects with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder along with healthy comparison subjects scanned at multiple sites. In this paper, we provide concise descriptions of FBIRN's multi-scanner brain imaging data sets and details about the BIRN Data Repository instance of the Human Imaging Database (HID) used to publicly share the data. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A Wireless Lingual Feedback Device to Reduce Overpressures in Seated Posture: A Feasibility Study

PubMed Central

Chenu, Olivier; Vuillerme, Nicolas; Demongeot, Jacques; Payan, Yohan

2009-01-01

Background Pressure sores are localized injuries to the skin and underlying tissues and are mainly resulting from overpressure. Paraplegic peoples are particularly subjects to pressure sores because of long-time seated postures and sensory deprivation at the lower limbs. Methodology/Principal Findings Here we report outcomes of a feasibility trial involving a biofeedback system aimed at reducing buttock overpressure whilst an individual is seated. The system consists of (1) pressure sensors, (2) a laptop coupling sensors and actuator (3) a wireless Tongue Display Unit (TDU) consisting of a circuit embedded in a dental retainer with electrodes put in contact with the tongue. The principle consists in (1) detecting overpressures in people who are seated over long periods of time, (2) estimating a postural change that could reduce these overpressures and (3) communicating this change through directional information transmitted by the TDU.Twenty-four healthy subjects voluntarily participated in this study. Twelve healthy subjects initially formed the experimental group (EG) and were seated on a chair with the wireless TDU inside their mouth. They were asked to follow TDU orders that were randomly spread throughout the session. They were evaluated during two experimental sessions during which 20 electro-stimulations were sent. Twelve other subjects, added retrospectively, formed the control group (CG). These subjects participated in one session of the same experiment without any biofeedback.Three dependent variables were computed: (1) the ability of subjects to reach target posture (EG versus CG), (2) high pressure reductions after a biofeedback (EG versus CG) and (3) the level of these reductions relative to their initial values (EG only). Results show (1) that EG reached target postures in 90.2% of the trials, against 5,3% in the CG, (2) a significant reduction in overpressures in the EG compared to the CG and (3), for the EG, that the higher the initial pressures were, the more they were decreased. Conclusions/Significance The findings suggest that, in this trial, subjects were able to use a tongue tactile feedback system to reduce buttock overpressure while seated. Further evaluation of this system on paraplegic subjects remains to be done. PMID:19888336

Lipid peroxidative damage in the erythrocytes and elevation of serum LDL-cholesterol, apolipoprotein-B, ferritin and uric acid with age and in coronary heart disease patients.

PubMed

El-Gebali, H H; Tahir, S A; Haider, S S; El-Fakhri, M M

2000-02-01

To determine the normal serum levels of LDL-cholesterol, apolipoprotein-B, ferritin, uric acid, and the extent of erythrocytes lipid peroxidation in healthy control group subjects and to compare them with coronary heart disease patients. Secondly, to study the effects of age and sex on these parameters. The blood samples from 150 healthy Libyan control group subjects (110 men and 40 women) were classified into 3 groups according to their age. Group I consisted of 76 subjects with an age range from 20 to 35 years. Group II consisted of 45 subjects with an age range from 36 to 50 years. Group III consisted of 29 subjects with an age range from 51 to 74 years. The blood samples from these groups were analyzed for LDL-cholesterol, apolipoprotein-B, ferritin and uric acid levels. Lipid peroxidation was compared in the erythrocytes of 56 selected healthy control group subjects (31 men and 11 women) of the aforementioned age groups. These parameters have shown age-dependent elevation in their levels. Meanwhile, LDL-cholesterol and Apolipoprotein-B levels in female subjects were higher than those of males. However, lipid peroxidation in the erythrocytes has revealed a statistically significant increase with increasing age. The comparison between 93 selected, sex and age matched, healthy control group subjects with 87 selected coronary heart disease patients (55 men and 45 women) with an age range from 30 to 74 years (49.6+13.25) has demonstrated significantly higher concentration of LDL-cholesterol, Apolipoprotein-B, ferritin and uric acid in coronary heart disease patients than those of healthy control group subjects. Meanwhile, lipid peroxidation was also significantly enhanced in coronary heart disease patients compared with healthy control group subjects. Our study has revealed that an increase in the lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes with age and during coronary heart disease, makes red cell membranes more vulnerable to free radical damage via formation of reactive oxygen species. It is thus likely that peroxidative damage may be contributing to an increase in serum LDL-cholesterol, Apolipoprotein-B, probably after its oxidative modification, increase in ferritin and hyperuricemia in coronary heart disease patients.

In vivo determination of total knee arthroplasty kinematics

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

Komistek, Richard D; Mahfouz, Mohamed R; Bertin, Kim

2008-01-01

The objective of this study was to determine if consistent posterior femoral rollback of an asymmetrical posterior cruciate retaining (PCR) total knee arthroplasty was mostly influenced by the implant design, surgical technique, or presence of a well-functioning posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). Three-dimensional femorotibial kinematics was determined for 80 subjects implanted by 3 surgeons, and each subject was evaluated under fluoroscopic surveillance during a deep knee bend. All subjects in this present study having an intact PCL had a well-functioning PCR knee and experienced normal kinematic patterns, although less in magnitude than the normal knee. In addition, a surprising finding wasmore » that, on average, subjects without a PCL still achieved posterior femoral rollback from full extension to maximum knee flexion. The findings in this study revealed that implant design did contribute to the normal kinematics demonstrated by subjects having this asymmetrical PCR total knee arthroplasty.« less

What Does It Take to Be an Adult in Austria? Views of Adulthood in Austrian Adolescents, Emerging Adults, and Adults

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sirsch, Ulrike; Dreher, Eva; Mayr, Eva; Willinger, Ulrike

2009-01-01

The present study examined the defining features of emerging adulthood, subjects' conceptions of the transition to adulthood, and the perceived adult status in Austria. The sample consisted of 775 subjects (226 adolescents, 317 emerging adults, 232 adults). Results showed that most Austrian emerging adults feel themselves to be between adolescence…

The National Curriculum--Moving into Focus? Papers from the LEAU National Conference (Liverpool, England, April 14-15, 1989).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thomas, David, Ed.

The University of Liverpool's Evaluation and Assessment Unit (LEAU) organized a national conference on the growth, development, and potential of the National Curriculum. The National Curriculum consists of 10 subjects, each defined by attainment targets, programs of study, and attainment levels. These subjects are to be drawn up by working groups…

The Use of Consciousness-Raising Tasks in Learning and Teaching of Subject-Verb Agreement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Idek, Sirhajwan; Fong, Lee Lai; Sidhu, Gurnam Kaur

2013-01-01

This study investigates the use of two types of Consciousness-Raising (CR) tasks in learning Subject-Verb Agreement (SVA). The sample consisted of 28 Form 2 students who were divided into two groups. Group 1 was assigned with Grammaticality Judgment (GJ) tasks and Group 2 received Sentence Production (SP) tasks for eight weeks. Learners were given…

The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem: The Effects of Social Support and Subjective Well-Being on Adolescents' Risky Behaviors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Savi Çakar, Firdevs; Tagay, Özlem

2017-01-01

This research is a descriptive study based on the testing of a structural model developed by considering the effects of perceived social support and subjective well-being on adolescents' risky behaviors, and the possible mediating role of self-esteem. Participants consisted of 676 high school students attending formal education institutions,…

Gender, Family Composition and Sex-Role Stereotyping by Young Children.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Logan, Landace

The purpose of this study was to determine whether relationships exist among: (1) the sex and family composition patterns of children 3.5 to 5 years of age; and (2) sex-role stereotyping, as measured by the Sex Role Learning Index (SERLI). Subjects were grouped into eight family composition patterns consisting of female and male subjects from one-…

Multiple imputation for cure rate quantile regression with censored data.

PubMed

Wu, Yuanshan; Yin, Guosheng

2017-03-01

The main challenge in the context of cure rate analysis is that one never knows whether censored subjects are cured or uncured, or whether they are susceptible or insusceptible to the event of interest. Considering the susceptible indicator as missing data, we propose a multiple imputation approach to cure rate quantile regression for censored data with a survival fraction. We develop an iterative algorithm to estimate the conditionally uncured probability for each subject. By utilizing this estimated probability and Bernoulli sample imputation, we can classify each subject as cured or uncured, and then employ the locally weighted method to estimate the quantile regression coefficients with only the uncured subjects. Repeating the imputation procedure multiple times and taking an average over the resultant estimators, we obtain consistent estimators for the quantile regression coefficients. Our approach relaxes the usual global linearity assumption, so that we can apply quantile regression to any particular quantile of interest. We establish asymptotic properties for the proposed estimators, including both consistency and asymptotic normality. We conduct simulation studies to assess the finite-sample performance of the proposed multiple imputation method and apply it to a lung cancer study as an illustration. © 2016, The International Biometric Society.

Going off script: Effects of awe on memory for script-typical and -irrelevant narrative detail.

PubMed

Danvers, Alexander F; Shiota, Michelle N

2017-09-01

People often filter their experience of new events through knowledge they already have; for example, encoding new events by relying on prototypical event "scripts" at the expense of actual details. Previous research suggests that positive affect often increases this tendency. Three studies assessed whether awe-an emotion elicited by perceived vastness, and thought to promote cognitive accommodation-has the opposite effect, reducing rather than increasing reliance on event scripts. True/false questions on details of a short story about a romantic dinner were used to determine whether awe (a) reduces the tendency to impute script-consistent but false details into memory, and/or (b) promotes memory of unexpected details. Across studies we consistently found support for the first effect; evidence for the second was less consistent. Effects were partially mediated by subjective awe, and independent of other aspects of subjective affect. Results suggest that awe reduces reliance on internal knowledge in processing new events. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

Strengthening transversus abdominis in pregnancy related pelvic pain: the pressure biofeedback stabilization training.

PubMed

Rajalakshmi, Dharmarajan; Senthil Kumar, N Sundaramurthy

2012-05-28

Pregnancy related pelvic pain (PRPP) refers to musculoskeletal type of persistent posterior pelvic pain during and after pregnancy with feature of reduced endurance capacity for standing, walking and sitting which leads to severe discomfort and considerable impairment of daily activities. To test the effect of pressure biofeedback stabilizer training, on the pain and dysfunction of a thirty year old subject who presented with PRPP. Single case design. Oswestry pain and disability index, TrA efficacy. An initial assessment was followed by treatment sessions which consist of 2 phases (Phase A & Phase B). The baseline phase (A) consists of conventional therapeutic exercises while the intervention phase (B) consists of pressure biofeedback training in conjunction with the conventional therapeutic exercises. The study data demonstrated that the subject showed minimal improvement in pain, disability and TrA efficacy during the baseline phase and shown a steady improvement in all these variables during the intervention phase. Core muscle performance (TrA) can be retrained with pressure biofeedback stabilization training program in subject with PRPP thereby reducing pain and disability.

Subjective daytime functioning assessment in people with insomnia.

PubMed

Grabowski, Karol; Nowicka-Sauer, Katarzyna; Zdrojewski, Tomasz; Rutkowski, Marcin; Bandosz, Piotr; Nowicki, Zbigniew

2017-10-29

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and severity of subjective daytime functioning impairment among people with insomnia complaints. Another goal was to establish its relationships with age, gender, type and duration of subjective insomnia. Study group consisted of NATPOL study participants - 2,413 people (1,245 women and 1,168 men) aged 18-79. We extracted group with declared insomnia complaints, consisting of 1,221 people (736 women and 485 men) aged 18-79. Data on insomnia symptoms characteristics, their duration and subjective functioning impairment were further analyzed. Functioning impairment was declared by 825 people (67.7% of those who declared subjective insomnia) and it was more common in women. It was most common among people with insomnia complaints lasting over two weeks - 72.4%. In people with symptoms lasting less than two weeks or for a few days it was 70.7% and 64.9% respectively. People with insomnia symptoms lasting over two weeks accounted for 20% of group with severe functioning impairment. For shorter duration of symptoms it was 8.6% and 6.9% respectively. Among people with mild functioning impairment, persons with symptoms lasting for a few days and less than two weeks were predominant - 32.5% and 35.3% respectively. In people aged 18-24 years mild functioning impairment was predominant (66.66%). Subjective daytime functioning impairment is common in people declaring insomnia symptoms. It is more common in women and its prevalence and intensity are greater in people with longer duration of sleep problems. Its prevalence is not correlated with age and it is the mildest in people aged 18-24.

[A Model for Predicting Career Satisfaction of Nurses Experiencing Rotation].

PubMed

Shin, Sook; Yu, Mi

2017-08-01

This study aimed to present and test a structural model for describing and predicting the factors affecting subjective career satisfaction of nurses experiencing rotation and to develop human resources management strategies for promoting their career satisfaction related to rotation. In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 233 nurses by convenience sampling who had over 1 year of career experience and who had experienced rotation at least once at G university hospital. Data were collected from August to September in 2016 using self-reported questionnaires. The exogenous variables consisted of rotation perception and rotation stress. Endogenous variables consisted of career growth opportunity, work engagement, and subjective career satisfaction. A hypothetical model was tested by asymptotically distribution-free estimates, and model goodness of fit was examined using absolute fit, incremental fit measures. The final model was approved and had suitable fit. We found that subjective career satisfaction was directly affected by rotation stress (β=.20, p=.019) and work engagement (β=.58, p<.001), indirectly affected by rotation perception (β=.43, p<.001) through career growth opportunity and work engagement. However, there was no total effect of rotation stress on subjective career satisfaction (β=-.09, p=.270). Career growth opportunity directly and indirectly affected subjective career satisfaction (β=.29, p<.001; β=.28, p<.001). These variables accounted for 65% of subjective career satisfaction. The results of this study suggest that it is necessary to establish systematic and planned criteria for rotation so that nurses can grow and develop through sustained work and become satisfied with their career. © 2017 Korean Society of Nursing Science

Use of Elaborative Interrogation to Help Students Acquire Information Consistent with Prior Knowledge and Information Inconsistent with Prior Knowledge.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Woloshyn, Vera E.; And Others

1994-01-01

Thirty-two factual statements, half consistent and half not consistent with subjects' prior knowledge, were processed by 140 sixth and seventh graders. Half were directed to use elaborative interrogation (using prior knowledge) to answer why each statement was true. Across all memory measures, elaborative interrogation subjects performed better…

Anxiety and subjective quality of life preoperatively and 4 months after reduction mammaplasty.

PubMed

Chahraoui, Khadija; Danino, Alain; Bénony, Hervé; Frachebois, Cécile; Clerc, Anne Sophie; Malka, Gabriel

2006-12-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the development of anxiety, psychological distress, and subjective quality of life on the basis of the criteria of satisfaction and expectations in a group of women who had undergone reduction mammaplasty for cosmetic reasons. The population consisted of 20 women who had requested breast reduction treatment [mean age, 34.70 (+/-10.94)] for cosmetic reasons. After being informed of the purpose of the study and after giving their written consent, the subjects took part in a psychological examination conducted at two different times (T1, initial medical consultation; T2, 4 months after surgery). At each of these stages, the psychological evaluation consisted of a clinical interview and questionnaires: the Subjective Quality of Life Profile, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the General Health Questionnaire. The results showed that the subjects improved significantly between T1 and T2 in terms of state anxiety (P=.04), trait anxiety (P=.002), sleeping disorders (P=.003), difficulty in enjoying their activities (P=.008), and a number of dimensions of subjective life quality: pain (P=.009), physical appearance (P=.003), social life (P=.03), and inner life (P=.03). The study showed that satisfaction with treatment was correlated with satisfaction with medical relations (P=.05) and medical information (P=.05) at T1 and with greater satisfaction with friendship relations (P=.05), sexual relations (P=.05), and inner life (P=.05) after the operation (P=.01). Conversely, a greater level of anxiety at T3 was correlated with reduced satisfaction with the surgical treatment (P=.05). This study demonstrates the importance of evaluating surgical and cosmetic treatment in terms of psychological dimensions and emphasizes the improvement in psychological well-being during the postoperative phase.

Behavioral modulation by mutilation pictures in women.

PubMed

Pereira, M G; Volchan, E; Oliveira, L; Machado-Pinheiro, W; Rodrigues, J A; Nepomuceno, F V P; Pessoa, L

2004-03-01

Previous studies have shown that women are more emotionally expressive than men. It is unclear, however, if women are also more susceptible to the emotional modulation of behavior imposed by an affective stimulus. To investigate this issue, we devised a task in which female subjects performed six sequential trials of visual target detection following the presentation of emotional (mutilation and erotic) or neutral pictures (domestic utensils and objects) and compared the data obtained in the present study with those described in a previous study with male subjects. The experiment consisted of three blocks of 24 pictures and each block had an approximate duration of 4 min. Our sample consisted of 36 subjects (age range: 18 to 26 years) and each subject performed all blocks. Trials following the presentation of mutilation pictures (283 ms) had significantly slower reaction times than those following neutral (270 ms) pictures. None of the trials in the "pleasant block" (271 ms) was significantly different from those in the "neutral block". The increase in reaction time observed in the unpleasant block may be related in part to the activation of motivational systems leading to an avoidance behavior. The interference effect observed in this study was similar to the pattern previously described for men. Thus, although women may be more emotionally expressive, they were not more reactive to aversive stimuli than men, as measured by emotional interference in a simple reaction time task.

The theory of reasoned action in prediction of breast self-examination: a comparison of two studies.

PubMed

Powell-Cope, G M; Lierman, L M; Kasprzyk, D; Young, H M; Benoliel, J Q

1991-01-01

The purpose of this article is to report the application of the theory of reasoned action (TRA) to predict breast self-examination (BSE) intention and frequency in two studies with middle-aged and older women. The sample in Study 1 consisted of 93 volunteers from church groups; the second sample consisted of 175 randomly selected subscribers to a large health maintenance organization. Questionnaires to measure attitudinal and subjective normative influences relevant to BSE were developed using guidelines specified by Ajzen and Fishbein (1980). The attitudinal components predicted BSE intention in both studies and BSE frequency in Study 1. In contrast, the subjective norm contributed significantly only to the prediction of frequency in Study 1. Findings demonstrate varying degrees of success for the TRA in predicting BSE intention and behavior. Explanations for the inconsistency in the predictive ability of the TRA can be related to differences between the two studies regarding sample and design characteristics.

Effect of fermented milk containing Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota on constipation-related symptoms and haemorrhoids in women during puerperium.

PubMed

Sakai, T; Kubota, H; Gawad, A; Gheyle, L; Ramael, S; Oishi, K

2015-01-01

Constipation and haemorrhoids are common complaints after childbirth. The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate impact of fermented milk containing Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (LcS) on stool consistency and frequency, constipation-related symptoms and quality of life, and incidence of haemorrhoids in women during puerperium. Forty women who had natural childbirth were randomised to group consuming either one bottle/day of fermented milk containing at least 6.5×109 cfu of LcS, or placebo, for 6 weeks after childbirth. Subjects filled in a diary on their bowel habits including number of bowel movement, stool consistency and incidence of haemorrhoids, and answered questionnaires on constipation-related symptoms (PAC-SYM) and quality of life (PAC-QOL) during the study period. The probiotic group showed the better scores on overall PAC-SYM (P=0.013), PAC-SYM subscales of abdominal symptoms (P=0.043) and rectal symptoms (P=0.031), and PAC-QOL satisfaction subscale (P=0.037) in comparison with the placebo group. In the probiotic group, two to four subjects experienced haemorrhoids during the first 3 weeks of treatment. The number decreased in week 4 and no one had haemorrhoids on most days in week 5-6. In the placebo group, on average four subjects had haemorrhoids from the beginning, and no obvious change was observed until week 6. No statistically significant effect was observed on stool consistency and frequency. The study products did not cause any adverse event in the subjects. Results of this study indicate that continuous consumption of fermented milk containing LcS might alleviate constipation-related symptoms, provide satisfactory bowel habit and result in earlier recovery from haemorrhoids in women during puerperium. Nonetheless, there are several limitations in interpretation of the results attributed to the study design, including lack of baseline data. Further study is required in order to confirm the efficacy.

Novel integrative virtual rehabilitation reduces symptomatology of primary progressive aphasia--a case report.

PubMed

Burdea, Grigore C; Polistico, Kevin; House, Gregory P; Liu, Richard R; Muñiz, Roberto; Macaro, Natalie A; Slater, Lisa M

2015-01-01

BrightBrainer™ integrative cognitive rehabilitation system evaluation in an Adult Day Program by a subject with Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) assumed to be of the mixed nonfluent/logopenic variant, and for determination of potential benefits. The subject was a 51-year-old Caucasian male diagnosed with PPA who had attended an Adult Day Program for 18 months prior to BrightBrainer training. The subject interacted with therapeutic games using a controller that measured 3D hand movements and flexion of both index fingers. The computer simulations adapted difficulty level based on task performance; results were stored on a remote server. The clinical trial consisted of 16 sessions, twice/week for 8 weeks. The subject was evaluated through neuropsychological measures, therapy notes and caregiver feedback forms. Neuropsychological testing indicated no depression (BDI 0) and severe dementia (BIMS 1 and MMSE 3). The 6.5 h of therapy consisted of games targeting Language comprehension; Executive functions; Focusing; Short-term memory; and Immediate/working memory. The subject attained the highest difficulty level in all-but-one game, while averaging 1300-arm task-oriented active movement repetitions and 320 index finger flexion movements per session. While neuropsychological testing showed no benefits, the caregiver reported strong improvements in verbal responses, vocabulary use, speaking in complete sentences, following one-step directions and participating in daily activities. This corroborated well with therapy notes. Preliminary findings demonstrate a meaningful reduction of PPA symptoms for the subject, suggesting follow-up imaging studies to detail neuronal changes induced by BrightBrainer system and controlled studies with a sufficiently large number of PPA subjects.

Psychometric evaluation of a motor control test battery of the craniofacial region.

PubMed

von Piekartz, H; Stotz, E; Both, A; Bahn, G; Armijo-Olivo, S; Ballenberger, N

2017-12-01

The primary objective of this study was to determine the structural and known-group validity as well as the inter-rater reliability of a test battery to evaluate the motor control of the craniofacial region. Seventy volunteers without TMD and 25 subjects with TMD (Axes I) per the DC/TMD were asked to execute a test battery consisting of eight tests. The tests were video-taped in the same sequence in a standardised manner. Two experienced physical therapists participated in this study as blinded assessors. We used exploratory factor analysis to identify the underlying component structure of the eight tests. Internal consistency (Cronbach's α), inter-rater reliability (intra-class correlation coefficient) and construct validity (ie, hypothesis testing-known-group validity) (receiver operating curves) were also explored for the test battery. The structural validity showed the presence of one factor underlying the construct of the test battery. The internal consistency was excellent (0.90) as well as the inter-rater reliability. All values of reliability were close to 0.9 or above indicating very high inter-rater reliability. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.93 for rater 1 and 0.94 for rater two, respectively, indicating excellent discrimination between subjects with TMD and healthy controls. The results of the present study support the psychometric properties of test battery to measure motor control of the craniofacial region when evaluated through videotaping. This test battery could be used to differentiate between healthy subjects and subjects with musculoskeletal impairments in the cervical and oro-facial regions. In addition, this test battery could be used to assess the effectiveness of management strategies in the craniofacial region. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Comparison of Subjective Wellbeing and Positive Future Expectations in Between Working and Nonworking Adolescents in Turkey

PubMed Central

Karaca, Semra; Karakoc, Ayse; Bingol, Fadime; Eren, Nurhan; Andsoy, Isil Isik

2016-01-01

Background: Wellbeing is one’s evaluation and judgment of one’s life. It consists of 3 dimensions: positive affectivity, negative affectivity, and life satisfaction. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the subjective wellbeing and positive future expectations between working and nonworking adolescents. Patients and Methods: The study was designed as descriptive and comparative. The study sample consisted of 420 working and 482 nonworking adolescents (n = 902) aged 15 - 20 years, who were randomly recruited from two occupational education centers in Istanbul, Turkey and two high schools (formal educations) in the same district. Results: Adolescent subjective wellbeing scale (ASWS) total mean (SD) scores for working adolescents and nonworking adolescents were 48.76 (9.50) and 49.72 (8.01), respectively. In addition, positive future expectations scale (PFES) total mean (SD) scores for working adolescents and nonworking adolescents were 18.71 (4.50) and 19.06 (3.49), respectively. In this study, no significant difference was found between the general wellbeing (scale total median score) scores of the working and nonworking adolescent groups (Z = 1.01, P = 0.315). However, significant differences were found in the family relations satisfaction (Z = 3.23, P = 0.002) and relations with significant others (Z = 2.85, P = 0.004) subscales of the ASWS. Conclusions: A positive relationship was found between adolescent subjective wellbeing and positive future expectations. It was found that nonworking adolescents scored higher on the dimensions of “family relations” and “relations with significant others” of subjective wellbeing compared to those dimensions in working adolescents. PMID:27195141

Review of Aircraft Crash Structural Response Research.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-08-01

structures consisting of conventional built-up metallic construction and those consisting of advanced composite materials were of interest. The latter...increasing importance. Some recent theoretical and experimental studies of the behavior of composite - material structures subjected to severe static...dynamic, and/or impact conditions are noted. Such topics as crashworthiness testing ot composite fuselage structures, the impact resistance of graphite and

Impact of Father Absence During Childhood on College Age Females' Psychological Adjustment.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Young, E. R.; Parish, T. S.

This study was carried out with a group of 98 female volunteers. The control group consisted of 27 who had not lost their fathers; the experimental group consisted of 71 who had lost their fathers due to death or divorce. All subjects were administered two checklists to measure personal adjustment and security. Results revealed that fatherless…

The Effects of Automated Prompting and Self-Monitoring on Homework Completion for a Student with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blicha, Amy; Belfiore, Phillip J.

2013-01-01

This study examined the effects of an intervention consisting of automated prompting and self-monitoring on the level of independent homework task completion for an elementary-age student with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Instituting a single subject, within series ABAB design, the results showed a consistent increase and…

An Examination of the Perceptions of Older Females in Relation to Dress and Cosmetic Use.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Portnoy, Enid J.; Stobbe, Barbara

To examine older women's appearance self-perceptions, a study surveyed two groups of older and younger subjects. The control group consisted of 93 female undergraduate students at a state university in West Virginia. The test group consisted of 85 non-institutionalized females aged 55 to 93, from senior centers, craft groups, church groups, and…

Compatibility and consistency in display-control systems - Implications for aircraft decision aid design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Andre, Anthony D.; Wickens, Christopher D.

1992-01-01

In this study we contrast display-control movement relations defined in terms of stimulus-response (physical) compatibility with those defined by stimulus-cognitive compatibility, and we relate these findings to the issue of command versus status levels of decision aid support. A second issue addressed is the cost of inconsistency across multiple display-control mappings. Subjects performed a flight control task while responding to one to four analog indicators, formatted as either command or status displays. The results suggest that there is an advantage for the status format when subjects are required to verbally report the state of the indicator(s), but no advantage was found for either format when subjects were required to manually correct the indicated state. The data point to the importance of display-control consistency and suggest that it may even outweigh that of compatibility.

The relationship between suggestibility and anxiety among suspects detained at police stations.

PubMed

Gudjonsson, G H; Rutter, S C; Clare, I C

1995-07-01

The present study investigated the relationship between anxiety, as measured by the State-Trait Inventory (Spielberger, 1983) and interrogative suggestibility, as measured by the Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scale (GSS 2, Gudjonsson, 1987). One hundred and sixty-one suspects detained at two English police stations for questioning were assessed prior to being interviewed by the police. Unexpectedly, trait anxiety correlated more consistently with suggestibility than did state anxiety. The correlations were consistently higher among the Caucasian than the Afro-Caribbean subjects and the Afro-Caribbean subjects were significantly more suggestible than the Caucasian subjects even after their GSS 2 memory and IQ scores had been controlled for. The main practical implications of the findings are that interrogative suggestibility cannot be easily evaluated from the person's self-reported anxiety and the situation in which people are assessed may influence the relationship between these psychological variables.

Perceptions of Student-Teacher Relationships, Self-Efficacy, and Subject Matter Retention in a Secondary Chemistry Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bechtel, Michael Dean

2012-01-01

This was a study of students who had completed a chemistry course taught by one instructor in a large urban high school during 2009-2010. It was conducted in two phases: Phase One assessed self-efficacy, teaching practices, and subject matter retention taken 16 months after course completion. Phase Two consisted of a multiple-choice final exam…

Effects of Arm Ergometry Exercise on the Reaction, Movement and Response Times of the Lower Extremities.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Israel, Richard G.

A study determined the effects of fatigue produced in the upper extremities on the reaction time, movement time, and response time of the lower extremities in 30 male subjects, 19-25 years old. Each subject participated in a 10 trial practice session one day prior to the experiment and immediately preceding the pre-test. The pre-test consisted of…

The Mistakes and the Misconceptions of the Eighth Grade Students on the Subject of Angles

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Biber, Çagri; Tuna, Abdulkadir; Korkmaz, Samet

2013-01-01

The purpose of this study was to determine the learning levels, mistakes, and misconceptions of the 8th grade students on the subject of "angles in geometry" as well as the possible reasons for these situations. Research sample consisted of 30 students attending the 8th grade of a middle school located in the central district of a…

Flexible Modeling of Survival Data with Covariates Subject to Detection Limits via Multiple Imputation.

PubMed

Bernhardt, Paul W; Wang, Huixia Judy; Zhang, Daowen

2014-01-01

Models for survival data generally assume that covariates are fully observed. However, in medical studies it is not uncommon for biomarkers to be censored at known detection limits. A computationally-efficient multiple imputation procedure for modeling survival data with covariates subject to detection limits is proposed. This procedure is developed in the context of an accelerated failure time model with a flexible seminonparametric error distribution. The consistency and asymptotic normality of the multiple imputation estimator are established and a consistent variance estimator is provided. An iterative version of the proposed multiple imputation algorithm that approximates the EM algorithm for maximum likelihood is also suggested. Simulation studies demonstrate that the proposed multiple imputation methods work well while alternative methods lead to estimates that are either biased or more variable. The proposed methods are applied to analyze the dataset from a recently-conducted GenIMS study.

How do language-specific characteristics affect the acquisition of different relative clause types? Evidence from Finnish.

PubMed

Kirjavainen, Minna; Kidd, Evan; Lieven, Elena

2017-01-01

We report three studies (one corpus, two experimental) that investigated the acquisition of relative clauses (RCs) in Finnish-speaking children. Study 1 found that Finnish children's naturalistic exposure to RCs predominantly consists of non-subject relatives (i.e. oblique, object) which typically have inanimate head nouns. Study 2 tested children's comprehension of subject, object, and two types of oblique relatives. No difference was found in the children's performance on different structures, including a lack of previously widely reported asymmetry between subject and object relatives. However, children's comprehension was modulated by animacy of the head referent. Study 3 tested children's production of the same RC structures using sentence repetition. Again we found no subject-object asymmetry. The pattern of results suggested that distributional frequency patterns and the relative complexity of the relativizer contribute to the difficulty associated with particular RC structures.

Predictive Modeling of Human Perception Subjectivity: Feasibility Study of Mammographic Lesion Similarity

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

Xu, Songhua; Tourassi, Georgia

2012-01-01

The majority of clinical content-based image retrieval (CBIR) studies disregard human perception subjectivity, aiming to duplicate the consensus expert assessment of the visual similarity on example cases. The purpose of our study is twofold: (i) discern better the extent of human perception subjectivity when assessing the visual similarity of two images with similar semantic content, and (ii) explore the feasibility of personalized predictive modeling of visual similarity. We conducted a human observer study in which five observers of various expertise were shown ninety-nine triplets of mammographic masses with similar BI-RADS descriptors and were asked to select the two masses withmore » the highest visual relevance. Pairwise agreement ranged between poor and fair among the five observers, as assessed by the kappa statistic. The observers' self-consistency rate was remarkably low, based on repeated questions where either the orientation or the presentation order of a mass was changed. Various machine learning algorithms were explored to determine whether they can predict each observer's personalized selection using textural features. Many algorithms performed with accuracy that exceeded each observer's self-consistency rate, as determined using a cross-validation scheme. This accuracy was statistically significantly higher than would be expected by chance alone (two-tailed p-value ranged between 0.001 and 0.01 for all five personalized models). The study confirmed that human perception subjectivity should be taken into account when developing CBIR-based medical applications.« less

MMPI subtypes for cocaine abusers.

PubMed

Craig, R J; Olson, R

1992-01-01

The MMPIs of 104 cocaine abusers in treatment were subjected to a hierarchical cluster analysis and two basic profile types emerged. Type I consisted of a spike on Pd and a subspike on Hyp, reflecting a rebellious, acting out character-disordered style with narcissistic traits. Type II consisted of a high-ranging, floating profile consisting of marked elevations on F, Sc, Dep, Pt, Pd, and Pa, reflecting a psychiatric patient who concurrently abused cocaine. These findings were contrasted to other MMPI typological studies, and the similarities and differences were discussed.

Within- and between-session replicability of cognitive brain processes: An MEG study with an N-back task.

PubMed

Ahonen, L; Huotilainen, M; Brattico, E

2016-05-01

In the vast majority of electrophysiological studies on cognition, participants are only measured once during a single experimental session. The dearth of studies on test-retest reliability in magnetoencephalography (MEG) within and across experimental sessions is a preventing factor for longitudinal designs, imaging genetics studies, and clinical applications. From the recorded signals, it is not straightforward to draw robust and steady indices of brain activity that could directly be used in exploring behavioral effects or genetic associations. To study the variations in markers associated with cognitive functions, we extracted three event-related field (ERF) features from time-locked global field power (GFP) epochs using MEG while participants were performing a numerical N-back task in four consecutive measurements conducted during two different days separated by two weeks. We demonstrate that the latency of the M170, a neural correlate associated with cognitive functions such as working memory, was a stable parameter and did not show significant variations over time. In addition, the M170 peak amplitude and the mean amplitude of late positive component (LPP) also expressed moderate-to-strong reliability across multiple measures over time over many sensor spaces and between participants. The M170 amplitude varied more significantly between the measurements in some conditions but showed consistency over the participants over time. In addition we demonstrated significant correlation with the M170 and LPP parameters and cognitive load. The results are in line with the literature showing less within-subject fluctuation for the latency parameters and more consistency in between-subject comparisons for amplitude based features. The within-subject consistency was apparent also with longer delays between the measurements. We suggest that with a few limitations the ERF features show sufficient reliability and stability for longitudinal research designs and clinical applications for cognitive functions in single as well as cross-subject designs. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Investigation of relation between visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat volumes and calcified aortic plaques via multislice computed tomography.

PubMed

Efe, Duran; Aygün, Fatih; Acar, Türker; Yildiz, Melda; Gemici, Kazım

2015-08-01

The present study investigated effect of subcutaneous fat volume and abdominal visceral fat volume on aortic atherosclerosis via multislice computed tomography. The present study comprised 424 subjects who underwent non-contrast-enhanced abdominal CT in our clinic between June 2012 and June 2013. Using dedicated software visceral fat volume was calculated for each individual and then subcutaneous fat volume was calculated by subtracting visceral fat volume from total fat volume. By dividing visceral fat volume/subcutaneous fat volume participants were assigned to three groups according to their mean visceral fat volume/subcutaneous fat volume: Group 1 consisted of subjects with visceral fat volume/subcutaneous fat volume lower than 0.48 (Group 1 < 0.48); Group 2 consisted of subjects with visceral fat volume/subcutaneous fat volume equal to or higher than 0.48 and lower than 0.69 (0.48 ≤ Group 2 < 0.69); and Group 3 consisted of subjects with visceral fat volume/subcutaneous fat volume equal to or higher than 0.69 (Group 3 ≥ 0.69). The mean abdominal aortic calcium scores according to Agatston scoring (au) were 136.8 ± 418.7 au in Group 1, 179.9 ± 463 au in Group 2 and 212.2 ± 486.9 in Group 3, respectively. We have demonstrated a significant correlation between visceral fat volume and abdominal aorta atherosclerosis, while there was absence of significant correlation between subcutaneous fat volume and abdominal atherosclerosis. © The Author(s) 2014.

Students’ conceptual understanding consistency of heat and temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Slamet Budiarti, Indah; Suparmi; Sarwanto; Harjana

2017-01-01

The aims of the research were to explore and to describe the consistency of students’ understanding of heat and temperature concept. The sample that was taken using purposive random sampling technique consisted of 99 high school students from 3 senior high schools in Jayapura city. The descriptive qualitative method was employed in this study. The data were collected using tests and interviews regarding the subject matters of Heat and Temperature. Based on the results of data analysis, it was concluded that 3.03% of the students was the consistency of right answer, 79.80% of the students was consistency but wrong answer and 17.17% of the students was inconsistency.

Amygdala reactivity is inversely related to level of cannabis use in individuals with comorbid cannabis dependence and major depression.

PubMed

Cornelius, Jack R; Aizenstein, Howard J; Hariri, Ahmad R

2010-06-01

Phan et al. (2008) recently reported that an acute dose of oral THC is associated with a decrease in threat-related amygdala reactivity during a social threat stimulus task. However, to date, those findings have not been replicated, and have not been extended to clinical studies involving smoked rather than oral cannabis. In this study, we hypothesized that level of cannabis smoked by participants in our treatment study would be inversely related to the level of threat-related amygdala reactivity. Subjects were recruited from among participants in our double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of fluoxetine in comorbid youth with cannabis dependence/major depression. The threat-related amygdala reactivity task used by Hariri et al. (2009) was completed during BOLD fMRI scans at study baseline and then again 12 weeks later at the end of the trial. Data are available from six subjects with pre-and post-treatment fMRI data. During the course of the study, five of the six subjects demonstrated a decrease in their level of cannabis use, with a mean decrease of 64%, and those persons all demonstrated an increase in their level of amygdala reactivity. One subject demonstrated an increase in their level of cannabis use (a 79% increase) during the treatment trial, and that person demonstrated a decrease in their level of amygdala reactivity. Thus, a higher level of cannabis use was consistently associated with a lower level of amygdala reactivity across all subjects (matched pairs t = 2.70, df = 5, p < 0.05, two-tailed). These findings are consistent with the reports by Phan et al. (2008) and Hariri et al. (2009) suggesting that cannabinoids have an inhibitory effect on threat-related amygdala reactivity. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Subjective memory loss--a sign of cognitive impairment in the elderly? An overview of the status of research].

PubMed

Riedel-Heller, S G; Schork, A; Matschinger, H; Angermeyer, M C

2000-02-01

According to the growing clinical interest in early indicators of dementia, numerous studies have examined the association between subjective memory complaints and cognitive performance in old age. Their results are contradictory. In this paper, studies carried out over the last 10 years are compared with regard to the study design and the assessment instruments used. The results are discussed with particular reference to the diagnostic validity of subjective memory complaints. The majority of case-control studies and cross-sectional studies of non-representative samples could not demonstrate an association between subjective memory complaints and cognitive performance. Most field studies of larger representative population samples, however, have come to the opposite conclusion. A consistent assessment of these statistically significant associations against the background of diagnostic validity showed that memory complaints cannot be taken as a clear clinical indicator for cognitive impairment. Subjective memory complaints may reflect depressive disorders and a multitude of other processes, of which an objective impairment of cognitive performance is just one aspect. As a consequence, an inclusion of subjective memory complaints as a diagnostic criterion for the diagnosis of "mild cognitive disorder" according to ICD-10 is not justified.

Coronary heart disease index based on longitudinal electrocardiography

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Townsend, J. C.; Cronin, J. P.

1977-01-01

A coronary heart disease index was developed from longitudinal ECG (LCG) tracings to serve as a cardiac health measure in studies of working and, essentially, asymptomatic populations, such as pilots and executives. For a given subject, the index consisted of a composite score based on the presence of LCG aberrations and weighted values previously assigned to them. The index was validated by correlating it with the known presence or absence of CHD as determined by a complete physical examination, including treadmill, resting ECG, and risk factor information. The validating sample consisted of 111 subjects drawn by a stratified-random procedure from 5000 available case histories. The CHD index was found to be significantly more valid as a sole indicator of CHD than the LCG without the use of the index. The index consistently produced higher validity coefficients in identifying CHD than did treadmill testing, resting ECG, or risk factor analysis.

Generalization of Dynamics Learning Across Changes in Movement Amplitude

PubMed Central

Mattar, Andrew A. G.

2010-01-01

Studies on generalization show the nature of how learning is encoded in the brain. Previous studies have shown rather limited generalization of dynamics learning across changes in movement direction, a finding that is consistent with the idea that learning is primarily local. In contrast, studies show a broader pattern of generalization across changes in movement amplitude, suggesting a more general form of learning. To understand this difference, we performed an experiment in which subjects held a robotic manipulandum and made movements to targets along the body midline. Subjects were trained in a velocity-dependent force field while moving to a 15 cm target. After training, subjects were tested for generalization using movements to a 30 cm target. We used force channels in conjunction with movements to the 30 cm target to assess the extent of generalization. Force channels restricted lateral movements and allowed us to measure force production during generalization. We compared actual lateral forces to the forces expected if dynamics learning generalized fully. We found that, during the test for generalization, subjects produced reliably less force than expected. Force production was appropriate for the portion of the transfer movement in which velocities corresponded to those experienced with the 15 cm target. Subjects failed to produce the expected forces when velocities exceeded those experienced in the training task. This suggests that dynamics learning generalizes little beyond the range of one's experience. Consistent with this result, subjects who trained on the 30 cm target showed full generalization to the 15 cm target. We performed two additional experiments that show that interleaved trials to the 30 cm target during training on the 15 cm target can resolve the difference between the current results and those reported previously. PMID:20463200

Circadian and Wake-Dependent Influences on Subjective Sleepiness, Cognitive Throughput, and Reaction Time Performance in Older and Young Adults

PubMed Central

Silva, Edward J.; Wang, Wei; Ronda, Joseph M.; Wyatt, James K.; Duffy, Jeanne F.

2010-01-01

Study Objectives: To assess circadian and homeostatic influences on subjective sleepiness and cognitive performance in older adults when sleep and waking are scheduled at different times of day; to assess changes in subjective sleepiness and cognitive performance across several weeks of an inpatient study; and to compare these findings with results from younger adults. Design: Three 24-h baseline days consisting of 16 h of wakefulness and an 8-h sleep opportunity followed by 3-beat cycles of a 20-h forced desynchrony (FD) condition; 18 20-h “days,” each consisting of 13.33 h of scheduled wakefulness and 6.67 h of scheduled sleep opportunity. Setting: Intensive Physiological Monitoring Unit of the Brigham and Women's Hospital General Clinical Research Center. Participants: 10 healthy older adults (age 64.00 ± 5.98 y, 5 females) and 10 healthy younger adults (age 24.50 ± 3.54 y, 5 females). Interventions: Wake episodes during FD scheduled to begin 4 h earlier each day allowing for data collection at a full range of circadian phases. Measurements and Results: Subjective sleepiness, cognitive throughput, and psychomotor vigilance assessed every 2 h throughout the study. Core body temperature (CBT) data collected throughout to assess circadian phase. Older subjects were less sleepy and performed significantly better on reaction time (RT) measures than younger subjects. Decrements among younger subjects increased in magnitude further into the experiment, while the performance of older subjects remained stable. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that the waking performance and alertness of healthy older subjects are less impacted by the cumulative effects of repeated exposure to adverse circadian phase than that of young adults. This suggests that there are age-related changes in the circadian promotion of alertness, in the wake-dependent decline of alertness, and/or in how these 2 regulatory systems interact in healthy aging. Citation: Silva EJ; Wang W; Ronda JM; Wyatt JK; Duffy JF. Circadian and wake-dependent influences on subjective sleepiness, cognitive throughput, and reaction time performance in older and young adults. SLEEP 2010;33(4):481-490. PMID:20394317

A subjective study and an objective metric to quantify the granularity level of textures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Subedar, Mahesh M.; Karam, Lina J.

2015-03-01

Texture granularity is an important visual characteristic that is useful in a variety of applications, including analysis, recognition, and compression, to name a few. A texture granularity measure can be used to quantify the perceived level of texture granularity. The granularity level of the textures is influenced by the size of the texture primitives. A primitive is defined as the smallest recognizable repetitive object in the texture. If the texture has large primitives then the perceived granularity level tends to be lower as compared to a texture with smaller primitives. In this work we are presenting a texture granularity database referred as GranTEX which consists of 30 textures with varying levels of primitive sizes and granularity levels. The GranTEX database consists of both natural and man-made textures. A subjective study is conducted to measure the perceived granularity level of textures present in the GranTEX database. An objective metric that automatically measures the perceived granularity level of textures is also presented as part of this work. It is shown that the proposed granularity metric correlates well with the subjective granularity scores.

Associations Among Individuals' Perceptions of Future Time, Individual Resources, and Subjective Well-Being in Old Age.

PubMed

Hoppmann, Christiane A; Infurna, Frank J; Ram, Nilam; Gerstorf, Denis

2017-05-01

Perceptions of future time are of key interest to aging research because of their implications for subjective well-being. Interestingly, perceptions about future time are only moderately associated with age when looking at the second half of life, pointing to a vast heterogeneity in future time perceptions among older adults. We examine associations between future time perceptions, age, and subjective well-being across two studies, including moderations by individual resources. Using data from the Berlin Aging Study (N = 516; Mage = 85 years), we link one operationalization (subjective nearness to death) and age to subjective well-being. Using Health and Retirement Study data (N = 2,596; Mage = 77 years), we examine associations of another future time perception indicator (subjective future life expectancy) and age with subjective well-being. Consistent across studies, perceptions of limited time left were associated with poorer subjective well-being (lower life satisfaction and positive affect; more negative affect and depressive symptoms). Importantly, individual resources moderated future time perception-subjective well-being associations with those of better health exhibiting reduced future time perception-subjective well-being associations. We discuss our findings in the context of the Model of Strength and Vulnerability Integration. © 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.

Generalization of cross-modal stimulus equivalence classes: operant processes as components in human category formation.

PubMed Central

Lane, S D; Clow, J K; Innis, A; Critchfield, T S

1998-01-01

This study employed a stimulus-class rating procedure to explore whether stimulus equivalence and stimulus generalization can combine to promote the formation of open-ended categories incorporating cross-modal stimuli. A pretest of simple auditory discrimination indicated that subjects (college students) could discriminate among a range of tones used in the main study. Before beginning the main study, 10 subjects learned to use a rating procedure for categorizing sets of stimuli as class consistent or class inconsistent. After completing conditional discrimination training with new stimuli (shapes and tones), the subjects demonstrated the formation of cross-modal equivalence classes. Subsequently, the class-inclusion rating procedure was reinstituted, this time with cross-modal sets of stimuli drawn from the equivalence classes. On some occasions, the tones of the equivalence classes were replaced by novel tones. The probability that these novel sets would be rated as class consistent was generally a function of the auditory distance between the novel tone and the tone that was explicitly included in the equivalence class. These data extend prior work on generalization of equivalence classes, and support the role of operant processes in human category formation. PMID:9821680

Subjective field study of response to impulsive helicopter noise

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Powell, C. A.

1981-01-01

Subjects, located outdoors and indoors, judged the noisiness and other subjective noise characteristics of flyovers of two helicopters and a propeller driven airplane as part of a study of the effects of impulsiveness on the subjective response to helicopter noise. In the first experiment, the impulsive characteristics of one helicopter was controlled by varying the main rotor speed while maintaining a constant airspeed in level flight. The second experiment which utilized only the helicopters, included descent and level flight operations. The more impulsive helicopter was consistently judged less noisy than the less impulsive helicopter at equal effective perceived noise levels (EPNL). The ability of EPNL to predict noisiness was not improved by the addition of either of two proposed impulse corrections. A subjective measure of impulsiveness, however, which was not significantly related to the proposed impulse corrections, was found to improve the predictive ability of EPNL.

The Immediate Effect of Neuromuscular Joint Facilitation (NJF) Treatment on Hip Muscle Strength.

PubMed

Wang, Hongdan; Huo, Ming; Huang, Qiuchen; Li, Desheng; Maruyama, Hitoshi

2013-11-01

[Purpose] This study investigated the change in hip muscle strength of younger persons after neuromuscular joint facilitation (NJF) treatment. [Subjects] The subjects were 45 healthy young people, who were divided into two groups: a NJF group and a proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) group. The NJF group consisted of 21 subjects (11 males, 10 females), and the PNF group consisted of 24 subjects (11 males, 13 females). [Methods] Participants in the NJF group received NJF treatment. We measured the maximal flexor strength and the maximal extensor strength during isokinetic movement of the hip joint before and after intervention in both groups. The angular velocities used were 60°/sec and 180°/sec. [Results] The NJF group showed significant increases in the maximal flexor strength and the maximal extensor strength after the intervention at each angular velocity. In the PNF group, the maximal flexor strength of 60°/sec and the maximal extensor strength of 180°/sec were significant increases. [Conclusion] These results suggest that there is an immediate effect of NJF intervention on hip muscle strength.

Obstructive sleep apnea screening by NIRS imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kashefi, Feraydune; Watenpaugh, Donald E.; Liu, Hanli

2007-02-01

This study aimed at determining cerebral hemodynamic parameters in human subjects during breath holding using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Breath holding serves as a method of simulation OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea). Data was acquired non-invasively from 40 subjects, twenty OSA sufferers (10 females, 10 males, age 20-70 years), and twenty normal volunteers (10 females, 10 males, age 20-65 years). Measurements were conducted using a LED Imager (LEDI) during breath holding. In comparing OSA subjects with controls during breath holding, a consistent increase or even a decrease in oxy- ([O IIHb]), deoxy- ([HHb]), total hemoglobin ([tHb]) concentrations, and tissue hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SO II) in the regional brain tissue were observed. The LEDI probe consists of 4 sources and 10 detectors serving as 4 sets of 1 source and 4 detectors each. A three wavelength (730, 805, and 850 nm) LED was used and the wavelengths were switched sequentially. The distance between sources and the source-detector separation were 2.5 cm. Data acquisition consisted of three segments, baseline for one minute, followed by a period of breath holding, and then 2 minutes of recovery time. The duration of the breath holding was subject-dependent. Our investigation proves that NIR spectroscopy could be used as a tool for detecting cerebral hemodynamics and also serves as a method of screening patients with OSA.

Efficacy of Adjunct Sleep Interventions for PTSD

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-03-01

untreated severe PTSD, depression, of alcohol / substance use (n = 8), or sleep apnea (n = 4). Of the remaining 18 participants, all completed the...recommendations for further evaluation. Participants who endorsed symptoms consistent with sleep apnea (e.g., snoring, recalled or witnessed apneas , subjective...reported symptoms consistent with sleep apnea , screening sleep studies were conducted; 3 participants were excluded due to sig- nificant sleep apnea (AHI

Does Subjective Rating Reflect Behavioural Coding? Personality in 2 Month-Old Dog Puppies: An Open-Field Test and Adjective-Based Questionnaire.

PubMed

Barnard, Shanis; Marshall-Pescini, Sarah; Passalacqua, Chiara; Beghelli, Valentina; Capra, Alexa; Normando, Simona; Pelosi, Annalisa; Valsecchi, Paola

2016-01-01

A number of studies have recently investigated personality traits in non-human species, with the dog gaining popularity as a subject species for research in this area. Recent research has shown the consistency of personality traits across both context and time for adult dogs, both when using questionnaire based methods of investigation and behavioural analyses of the dogs' behaviour. However, only a few studies have assessed the correspondence between these two methods, with results varying considerably across studies. Furthermore, most studies have focused on adult dogs, despite the fact that an understanding of personality traits in young puppies may be important for research focusing on the genetic basis of personality traits. In the current study, we sought to evaluate the correspondence between a questionnaire based method and the in depth analyses of the behaviour of 2-month old puppies in an open-field test in which a number of both social and non-social stimuli were presented to the subjects. We further evaluated consistency of traits over time by re-testing a subset of puppies. The correspondence between methods was high and test- retest consistency (for the main trait) was also good using both evaluation methods. Results showed clear factors referring to the two main personality traits 'extroversion,' (i.e. the enthusiastic, exuberant approach to the stimuli) and 'neuroticism,' (i.e. the more cautious and fearful approach to the stimuli), potentially similar to the shyness-boldness dimension found in previous studies. Furthermore, both methods identified an 'amicability' dimension, expressing the positive interactions the pups directed at the humans stranger, and a 'reservedness' dimension which identified pups who largely chose not to interact with the stimuli, and were defined as quiet and not nosey in the questionnaire.

15 CFR 930.154 - Listing activities subject to routine interstate consistency review.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... Commerce and Foreign Trade (Continued) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF... subject to routine interstate consistency review. (a) Geographic location of listed activities. Each... the geographic location for each type of listed activity. (b) In establishing the geographic location...

15 CFR 930.154 - Listing activities subject to routine interstate consistency review.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... Commerce and Foreign Trade (Continued) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF... subject to routine interstate consistency review. (a) Geographic location of listed activities. Each... the geographic location for each type of listed activity. (b) In establishing the geographic location...

15 CFR 930.154 - Listing activities subject to routine interstate consistency review.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... Commerce and Foreign Trade (Continued) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF... subject to routine interstate consistency review. (a) Geographic location of listed activities. Each... the geographic location for each type of listed activity. (b) In establishing the geographic location...

15 CFR 930.154 - Listing activities subject to routine interstate consistency review.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... Commerce and Foreign Trade (Continued) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF... subject to routine interstate consistency review. (a) Geographic location of listed activities. Each... the geographic location for each type of listed activity. (b) In establishing the geographic location...

Subjective Well-Being: The Constructionist Point of View. A Longitudinal Study to Verify the Predictive Power of Top-Down Effects and Bottom-Up Processes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leonardi, Fabio; Spazzafumo, Liana; Marcellini, Fiorella

2005-01-01

Based on the constructionist point of view applied to Subjective Well-Being (SWB), five hypotheses were advanced about the predictive power of the top-down effects and bottom-up processes over a five years period. The sample consisted of 297 respondents, which represent the Italian sample of a European longitudinal survey; the first phase was…

The cardiovascular response to the AGS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cardus, David; Mctaggart, Wesley G.

1993-01-01

This paper reports the preliminary results of experiments on human subjects conducted to study the cardiovascular response to various g-levels and exposure times using an artificial gravity simulator (AGS). The AGS is a short arm centrifuge consisting of a turntable, a traction system, a platform and four beds. Data collection hardware is part of the communication system. The AGS provides a steep acceleration gradient in subjects in the supine position.

Comparison of Subjective Well-Being and Personality Assessments in the Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia), and African Lion (Panthera leo).

PubMed

Gartner, Marieke Cassia; Powell, David M; Weiss, Alexander

2016-01-01

The study of subjective well-being in nonhuman animals is growing in the field of psychology, but there are still only a few published studies and the focus is on primates. To consider whether the construct of subjective well-being could be found in another mammal, this study aimed to assess subjective well-being in felids and to examine its association with personality. Personality is one of the strongest and most consistent predictors of well-being in humans. This relationship could have important implications for other species, because personality has also been shown to affect health outcomes including stress, morbidity, and mortality. As in previous studies in nonhuman animals, the study results revealed that subjective well-being was related to agreeableness/openness and neuroticism in clouded leopards, neuroticism in snow leopards, and impulsiveness and neuroticism in African lions. The implications of these results for health outcomes and the welfare of animals in captivity are discussed. More research on any direct links among personality, subjective well-being, and these outcomes is important to advancing this field and adding another tool for improving captive animals' lives.

The efficacy and safety of a low-dose, 91-day, extended-regimen oral contraceptive with continuous ethinyl estradiol.

PubMed

Kroll, Robin; Reape, Kathleen Z; Margolis, Marya

2010-01-01

This clinical trial was conducted to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of a 91-day extended-regimen, low-dose combination oral contraceptive (OC) consisting of 84 days of ethinyl estradiol (EE) 20 mcg/levonorgestrel (LNG) 100 mcg, followed by 7 days of 10 mcg EE in place of placebo. A multicenter open-label, single-treatment, Phase 3 study evaluated women aged 18 through 40 years over a treatment period of up to 1 year (four 91-day extended cycles). All subjects completed daily paper diaries to monitor compliance, bleeding and additional forms of contraception used during the course of the study. A total of 1249 subjects completed the study. The Pearl Index was 2.74 (95% confidence interval, 1.92-3.78), based on 36 pregnancies that occurred after the onset of treatment and within 14 days after the last combination tablet in women aged 18-35 years. Among compliant-use subjects 18-35 years old, the Pearl Index was 1.73 based on 22 on-treatment pregnancies. The life table pregnancy rate for subjects 18-35 years of age was 2.39%. Cycle control and adverse events reported with this regimen were similar to those reported with other low-dose OCs. This study demonstrated effective prevention of pregnancy with a 20-mcg EE, 91-day extended-regimen OC. In addition, the regimen was well tolerated and incidence of adverse events were consistent with what has been reported with other low-dose OCs.

Functional correlates of the anterolateral processing hierarchy in human auditory cortex.

PubMed

Chevillet, Mark; Riesenhuber, Maximilian; Rauschecker, Josef P

2011-06-22

Converging evidence supports the hypothesis that an anterolateral processing pathway mediates sound identification in auditory cortex, analogous to the role of the ventral cortical pathway in visual object recognition. Studies in nonhuman primates have characterized the anterolateral auditory pathway as a processing hierarchy, composed of three anatomically and physiologically distinct initial stages: core, belt, and parabelt. In humans, potential homologs of these regions have been identified anatomically, but reliable and complete functional distinctions between them have yet to be established. Because the anatomical locations of these fields vary across subjects, investigations of potential homologs between monkeys and humans require these fields to be defined in single subjects. Using functional MRI, we presented three classes of sounds (tones, band-passed noise bursts, and conspecific vocalizations), equivalent to those used in previous monkey studies. In each individual subject, three regions showing functional similarities to macaque core, belt, and parabelt were readily identified. Furthermore, the relative sizes and locations of these regions were consistent with those reported in human anatomical studies. Our results demonstrate that the functional organization of the anterolateral processing pathway in humans is largely consistent with that of nonhuman primates. Because our scanning sessions last only 15 min/subject, they can be run in conjunction with other scans. This will enable future studies to characterize functional modules in human auditory cortex at a level of detail previously possible only in visual cortex. Furthermore, the approach of using identical schemes in both humans and monkeys will aid with establishing potential homologies between them.

Correlation between hypertension and cognitive function in elderly

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fitri, F. I.; Rambe, A. S.

2018-03-01

Hypertension and cognitive impairment are common disorders among elderly adults, and their prevalences tend to rise as the population ages. This study aimed to determine the correlation between hypertension and cognitive function in elderly. It was a cross-sectional study involving 62 elderly subjects. All subjects underwent physical and neurologic examination and Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Indonesian Version (MoCA-INA) to assess cognitive function. This study included 62 subjects consisted of 26 males (41.9%) and 36 females (58.1%). There were 24 subjects (38.2%) with hypertension and 38 (61.3%) normal elderly subjects. The mean age was 65.71±4.49 years old. There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics, total MoCA-INA scores, and scores based on cognitive domains between two groups, except for visuospatial and executive function (p=0.026). There was a significant correlation between hypertension and visuospatial and executive function (r=0.301, p=0.017). Hypertension is correlated with cognitive impairment mainly on visuospatial and executive function in elderly.

Single- and multiple-dose pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of apixaban in healthy Chinese subjects

PubMed Central

Cui, Yimin; Song, Yan; Wang, Jessie; Yu, Zhigang; Schuster, Alan; Barrett, Yu Chen; Frost, Charles

2013-01-01

Background The pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), and safety of apixaban were assessed in healthy Chinese subjects in this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, single-sequence, single- and multiple-dose study. Subjects and methods Eighteen subjects 18–45 years of age were randomly assigned (2:1 ratio) to receive apixaban or matched placebo. Subjects received a single 10 mg dose of apixaban or placebo on day 1, followed by 10 mg apixaban or placebo twice daily for 6 days (days 4–9). The PK and PD of apixaban were assessed by collecting plasma samples for 72 hours following the dose on day 1 and the morning dose on day 9, and measuring apixaban concentration and anti-Xa activity. Safety was assessed via physical examinations, vital sign measurements, electrocardiograms, and clinical laboratory evaluations. Results PK analysis showed similar characteristics of apixaban after single and multiple doses, including a median time to maximum concentration of ~3 hours, mean elimination half-life of ~11 hours, and renal clearance of ~1.2 L/hour. The accumulation index was 1.7, consistent with twice-daily dosing and the observed elimination half-life. Single-dose data predict multiple-dose PK, therefore apixaban PK are time-independent. The relationship between anti-Xa activity and plasma apixaban concentrations appears to be linear. Apixaban was safe and well tolerated, with no bleeding-related adverse events reported. Conclusion Apixaban was safe and well tolerated in healthy Chinese subjects. Apixaban PK and PD were predictable and consistent with findings from previous studies in Asian and non-Asian subjects. The administration of apixaban does not require any dose modification based on race. PMID:24353445

Development of a self-administrated quality of life questionnaire for sarcopenia in elderly subjects: the SarQoL.

PubMed

Beaudart, Charlotte; Biver, Emmanuel; Reginster, Jean-Yves; Rizzoli, René; Rolland, Yves; Bautmans, Ivan; Petermans, Jean; Gillain, Sophie; Buckinx, Fanny; Van Beveren, Julien; Jacquemain, Marc; Italiano, Patrick; Dardenne, Nadia; Bruyere, Olivier

2015-11-01

The impact of sarcopenia on quality of life is currently assessed by generic tools. However, these tools may not detect subtle effects of this specific condition on quality of life. The aim of this study was to develop a sarcopenia-specific quality of life questionnaire (SarQoL, Sarcopenia Quality of Life) designed for community-dwelling elderly subjects aged 65 years and older. Participants were recruited in an outpatient clinic in Liège, Belgium. Sarcopenic subjects aged 65 years or older. The study was articulated in the following four stages: (i) Item generation-based on literature review, sarcopenic subjects' opinion, experts' opinion, focus groups; (ii) Item reduction-based on sarcopenic subjects' and experts' preferences; (iii) Questionnaire generation-developed during an expert meeting; (iv) Pretest of the questionnaire-based on sarcopenic subjects' opinion. The final version of the questionnaire consists of 55 items translated into 22 questions rated on a 4-point Likert scale. These items are organised into seven domains of dysfunction: Physical and mental health, Locomotion, Body composition, Functionality, Activities of daily living, Leisure activities and Fears. In view of the pretest, the SarQoL is easy to complete, independently, in ∼10 min. The first version of the SarQoL, a specific quality of life questionnaire for sarcopenic subjects, has been developed and has been shown to be comprehensible by the target population. Investigations are now required to test the psychometric properties (internal consistency, test-retest reliability, divergent and convergent validity, discriminant validity, floor and ceiling effects) of this questionnaire. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Geriatrics Society.

Within- and between- subject variability in methadone pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in methadone maintenance subjects

PubMed Central

Hanna, Julia; Foster, David JR; Salter, Amy; Somogyi, Andrew A; White, Jason M; Bochner, Felix

2005-01-01

Aims To investigate within- and between-subject variability of the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of (R)- and (S)-methadone in methadone maintenance subjects at steady-state. Methods Six non-holder subjects were studied on three occasions at 7–16 day intervals; doses (20–170 mg/day) remained unchanged. Blood samples and pharmacodynamic data were collected 10–12 times over a 24-h inter-dosing interval. All pharmacodynamic data were expressed as the area under the end-point versus time curve. Using analyses of variance with mixed effects, best estimates were made of the ratio of between- to within-subject variation, with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) for within-subject variation at the average value. Results Subjects were relatively consistent between occasions, whereas there was much greater between-subject variability (P < 0.02) for all measures. Estimates of the ratio of between- to within-subject variation ranged from 2.2–12.8 for pharmacodynamic measures, and 1.3–7.9 for pharmacokinetic parameters. For pain, total mood disturbance, withdrawal, pupil size and respiration rate, 95% CI for within-subject measures ranged ≤2-fold, while this was greater for subjective direct opioid effects (4.2-fold). For CL/F of the active (R)-methadone, the variance ratio was 4.9 (P < 0.0003), with 95% CI for within-subject measures ranging ≤2-fold. (S)-methadone CL/F demonstrated greater within-subject variability (3.4-fold), possibly contributing to a smaller (2.7; P < 0.0003) ratio of between- to within-subject variance. Conclusions Non-holder methadone maintenance treatment participants appear to respond consistently with respect to pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics over a 1–2 month period. Such knowledge may help prescribers to determine whether alternative dosing regimens or treatments might be more appropriate in this population. PMID:16187972

Latanoprostene Bunod 0.024% versus Timolol Maleate 0.5% in Subjects with Open-Angle Glaucoma or Ocular Hypertension: The APOLLO Study.

PubMed

Weinreb, Robert N; Scassellati Sforzolini, Baldo; Vittitow, Jason; Liebmann, Jeffrey

2016-05-01

To compare the diurnal intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering effect of latanoprostene bunod (LBN) ophthalmic solution 0.024% every evening (qpm) with timolol maleate 0.5% twice daily (BID) in subjects with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) or ocular hypertension (OHT). Phase 3, randomized, controlled, multicenter, double-masked, parallel-group clinical study. Subjects aged ≥18 years with a diagnosis of OAG or OHT in 1 or both eyes. Subjects were randomized (2:1) to a 3-month regimen of LBN 0.024% qpm or timolol 0.5% 1 drop BID. Intraocular pressure was measured at 8 am, 12 pm, and 4 pm of each postrandomization visit (week 2, week 6, and month 3). Adverse events were recorded throughout the study. The primary efficacy end point was IOP in the study eye measured at each of the 9 assessment time points. Secondary efficacy end points included the proportion of subjects with IOP ≤18 mmHg consistently at all 9 time points and the proportion of subjects with IOP reduction ≥25% consistently at all 9 time points. Of 420 subjects randomized, 387 completed the study (LBN 0.024%, n = 264; timolol 0.5%, n = 123). At all 9 time points, the mean IOP in the study eye was significantly lower in the LBN 0.024% group than in the timolol 0.5% group (P ≤ 0.002). At all 9 time points, the percentage of subjects with mean IOP ≤18 mmHg and the percentage with IOP reduction ≥25% were significantly higher in the LBN 0.024% group versus the timolol 0.5% group (mean IOP ≤18 mmHg: 22.9% vs. 11.3%, P = 0.005; IOP reduction ≥25%: 34.9% vs. 19.5%, P = 0.001). Adverse events were similar in both treatment groups. In this phase 3 study, LBN 0.024% qpm demonstrated significantly greater IOP lowering than timolol 0.5% BID throughout the day over 3 months of treatment. Latanoprostene bunod 0.024% was effective and safe in these adults with OAG or OHT. Copyright © 2016 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Preservice Teachers and Self-Assessing Digital Competence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maderick, Joseph A.; Zhang, Shaoan; Hartley, Kendall; Marchand, Gwen

2016-01-01

This study compares matched surveys of subjective self-assessment and objective assessment on seven domains of digital competence for preservice teachers at a large Southwest public university. The results, consistent with earlier studies, confirm that the participating preservice teachers inaccurately self-assessed their digital competence. The…

Negligible Sex Differences in General Intelligence.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Colom, Roberto; Juan-Espinosa, Manuel; Abad, Francisco; Garcia, Luis F.

2000-01-01

Studied sex differences in general intelligence in 10,475 adults taking cognitive test batteries. Results suggest a negligible difference in general intelligence, a finding consistent with findings from quite different test batteries and subject samples. (SLD)

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Persian version of the Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain Measure for the knee.

PubMed

Panah, Sara Hojat; Baharlouie, Hamze; Rezaeian, Zahra Sadat; Hawker, Gilian

2016-01-01

The present study aimed to translate and evaluate the reliability and validity of the Persian version of the 11-item Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain (ICOAP) measure in Iranian subjects with Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA). The ICOAP questionnaire was translated according to the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI) protocol. The procedure consisted of forward and backward translation, as well as the assessment of the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the questionnaire. A sample of 230 subjects with KOA was asked to complete the Persian versions of ICOAP and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). The ICOAP was readministered to forty subjects five days after the first visit. Test-retest reliability was assessed using Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), and internal consistency was assessed by Cronbach's alpha and item-total correlation. The correlation between ICOAP and KOOS was determined using Spearman's correlation coefficient. Subjects found the Persian-version of the ICOAP to be clear, simple, and unambiguous, confirming its face validity. Spearman correlations between ICOAP total and subscale scores with KOOS scores were between 0.5 and 0.7, confirming construct validity. Cronbach's alpha, used to assess internal consistency, was 0.89, 0.93, and 0.92 for constant pain, intermittent pain, and total pain scores, respectively. The ICC was 0.90 for constant pain and 0.91 for the intermittent pain and total pain score. The Persian version of the ICOAP is a reliable and valid outcome measure that can be used in Iranian subjects with KOA.

Muscle force modification strategies are not consistent for gait retraining to reduce the knee adduction moment in individuals with knee osteoarthritis.

PubMed

Shull, Peter B; Huang, Yangjian; Schlotman, Taylor; Reinbolt, Jeffrey A

2015-09-18

While gait retraining paradigms that alter knee loads typically focus on modifying kinematics, the underlying muscle force modifications responsible for these kinematic changes remain largely unknown. As humans are generally thought to select uniform gait muscle patterns such as strategies based on fatigue cost functions or energy minimization, we hypothesized that a kinematic gait change known to reduce the knee adduction moment (i.e. toe-in gait) would be accompanied by a uniform muscle force modification strategy for individuals with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. Ten subjects with self-reported knee pain and radiographic evidence of medial compartment knee osteoarthritis performed normal gait and toe-in gait modification walking trials. Two hundred muscle-actuated dynamic simulations (10 steps for normal gait and 10 steps from toe-in gait for each subject) were performed to determine muscle forces for each gait. Results showed that subjects internally rotated their feet during toe-in gait, which decreased the foot progression angle by 7° (p<0.01) and reduced the first peak knee adduction moment by 20% (p<0.01). While significant muscle force modifications were evidenced within individuals, there were no consistent muscle force modifications across all subjects. It may be that self-selected muscle pattern changes are not uniform for gait modification particularly for individuals with knee pain. Future studies focused on altering knee loads should not assume consistent muscle force modifications for a given kinematic gait change across subjects and should consider muscle forces in addition to kinematics in gait retraining paradigms. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Speech Evoked Auditory Brainstem Response in Stuttering

PubMed Central

Tahaei, Ali Akbar; Ashayeri, Hassan; Pourbakht, Akram; Kamali, Mohammad

2014-01-01

Auditory processing deficits have been hypothesized as an underlying mechanism for stuttering. Previous studies have demonstrated abnormal responses in subjects with persistent developmental stuttering (PDS) at the higher level of the central auditory system using speech stimuli. Recently, the potential usefulness of speech evoked auditory brainstem responses in central auditory processing disorders has been emphasized. The current study used the speech evoked ABR to investigate the hypothesis that subjects with PDS have specific auditory perceptual dysfunction. Objectives. To determine whether brainstem responses to speech stimuli differ between PDS subjects and normal fluent speakers. Methods. Twenty-five subjects with PDS participated in this study. The speech-ABRs were elicited by the 5-formant synthesized syllable/da/, with duration of 40 ms. Results. There were significant group differences for the onset and offset transient peaks. Subjects with PDS had longer latencies for the onset and offset peaks relative to the control group. Conclusions. Subjects with PDS showed a deficient neural timing in the early stages of the auditory pathway consistent with temporal processing deficits and their abnormal timing may underlie to their disfluency. PMID:25215262

Family function of the families consisting of Asian immigrant women living in South Korea: a 3-year longitudinal study.

PubMed

Kim, Yeon-Pyo; Joh, Ju-Youn; Shin, Il-Seon

2015-03-01

Marriages between Korean men and immigrant women from elsewhere in Asia have increased rapidly during recent years. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship within families consisting of immigrant women and to identify the relevant factors. The study subjects were 62 Asian immigrant women married to South Korean men living in South Korea. In a baseline study in August 2008, the socioeconomic factors and family APGAR (adaptation, partnership, growth, affection, and resolve) scores were measured. Family APGAR has been widely used to study the relationship of family function and health problems in the busy clinician's office. A 3-year follow-up study was then conducted in August 2011, and the results were compared with the baseline study results. Family APGAR scores were higher at the 3-year follow-up than those at baseline. Changes in family APGAR scores were found to be influenced by the birthplace, reported subjective ability to read Korean, and Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale score. © 2012 APJPH.

Parental overprotection increases interpersonal sensitivity in healthy subjects.

PubMed

Otani, Koichi; Suzuki, Akihito; Matsumoto, Yoshihiko; Kamata, Mitsuhiro

2009-01-01

The effect of parental rearing on interpersonal sensitivity was studied in 469 Japanese volunteers. Perceived parental rearing was assessed by the Parental Bonding Instrument, which consists of the factors of care and protection, and interpersonal sensitivity was measured by the Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure (IPSM). In male subjects, higher IPSM scores were related to higher scores of paternal protection (P < .01) and maternal protection (P < .05). In female subjects, higher IPSM scores were related to higher scores of maternal protection (P < .001). The present study suggests that in both males and females, interpersonal sensitivity is increased by high protection of the same-sex parents and that in males there is an additional effect of high maternal protection.

A 3-level Bayesian mixed effects location scale model with an application to ecological momentary assessment data.

PubMed

Lin, Xiaolei; Mermelstein, Robin J; Hedeker, Donald

2018-06-15

Ecological momentary assessment studies usually produce intensively measured longitudinal data with large numbers of observations per unit, and research interest is often centered around understanding the changes in variation of people's thoughts, emotions and behaviors. Hedeker et al developed a 2-level mixed effects location scale model that allows observed covariates as well as unobserved variables to influence both the mean and the within-subjects variance, for a 2-level data structure where observations are nested within subjects. In some ecological momentary assessment studies, subjects are measured at multiple waves, and within each wave, subjects are measured over time. Li and Hedeker extended the original 2-level model to a 3-level data structure where observations are nested within days and days are then nested within subjects, by including a random location and scale intercept at the intermediate wave level. However, the 3-level random intercept model assumes constant response change rate for both the mean and variance. To account for changes in variance across waves, as well as clustering attributable to waves, we propose a more comprehensive location scale model that allows subject heterogeneity at baseline as well as across different waves, for a 3-level data structure where observations are nested within waves and waves are then further nested within subjects. The model parameters are estimated using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods. We provide details on the Bayesian estimation approach and demonstrate how the Stan statistical software can be used to sample from the desired distributions and achieve consistent estimates. The proposed model is validated via a series of simulation studies. Data from an adolescent smoking study are analyzed to demonstrate this approach. The analyses clearly favor the proposed model and show significant subject heterogeneity at baseline as well as change over time, for both mood mean and variance. The proposed 3-level location scale model can be widely applied to areas of research where the interest lies in the consistency in addition to the mean level of the responses. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The effect of preferred music genre selection versus preferred song selection on experimentally induced anxiety levels.

PubMed

Walworth, Darcy DeLoach

2003-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences of experimentally induced anxiety levels reached by subjects listening to no music (n = 30), subjects listening to music selected by the experimenter from the subject's preferred genre or artist listed as relaxing (n = 30), and subjects listening to a specific song they listed as relaxing (n = 30). Subjects consisted of 90 individuals, male and female, randomly assigned to one of the three groups mentioned above. Subjects in either music group filled out a questionnaire prior to participating in the study indicating their preference of music used for relaxation purposes. Subjects in Experimental Group 1 marked their preferred genres and/or artists, and Experimental Group 2 marked specific songs used for relaxation purposes. While the experimenter hypothesized subjects in Experimental Group 2 would show less anxiety than both the control group and Experimental Group 1, there were no significant differences found between the 2 music groups in anxiety levels reached. However, there was a statistically significant difference between the no music control group and both music groups in the anxiety level reached by subjects. Subjects listening to music, both songs chosen by the experimenter and subject selected songs, showed significantly less anxiety than subjects not listening to music.

Feeling Expression Using Avatars and Its Consistency for Subjective Annotation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ito, Fuyuko; Sasaki, Yasunari; Hiroyasu, Tomoyuki; Miki, Mitsunori

Consumer Generated Media(CGM) is growing rapidly and the amount of content is increasing. However, it is often difficult for users to extract important contents and the existence of contents recording their experiences can easily be forgotten. As there are no methods or systems to indicate the subjective value of the contents or ways to reuse them, subjective annotation appending subjectivity, such as feelings and intentions, to contents is needed. Representation of subjectivity depends on not only verbal expression, but also nonverbal expression. Linguistically expressed annotation, typified by collaborative tagging in social bookmarking systems, has come into widespread use, but there is no system of nonverbally expressed annotation on the web. We propose the utilization of controllable avatars as a means of nonverbal expression of subjectivity, and confirmed the consistency of feelings elicited by avatars over time for an individual and in a group. In addition, we compared the expressiveness and ease of subjective annotation between collaborative tagging and controllable avatars. The result indicates that the feelings evoked by avatars are consistent in both cases, and using controllable avatars is easier than collaborative tagging for representing feelings elicited by contents that do not express meaning, such as photos.

Acetaminophen-cysteine adducts during therapeutic dosing and following overdose

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Acetaminophen-cysteine adducts (APAP-CYS) are a specific biomarker of acetaminophen exposure. APAP-CYS concentrations have been described in the setting of acute overdose, and a concentration >1.1 nmol/ml has been suggested as a marker of hepatic injury from acetaminophen overdose in patients with an ALT >1000 IU/L. However, the concentrations of APAP-CYS during therapeutic dosing, in cases of acetaminophen toxicity from repeated dosing and in cases of hepatic injury from non-acetaminophen hepatotoxins have not been well characterized. The objective of this study is to describe APAP-CYS concentrations in these clinical settings as well as to further characterize the concentrations observed following acetaminophen overdose. Methods Samples were collected during three clinical trials in which subjects received 4 g/day of acetaminophen and during an observational study of acetaminophen overdose patients. Trial 1 consisted of non-drinkers who received APAP for 10 days, Trial 2 consisted of moderate drinkers dosed for 10 days and Trial 3 included subjects who chronically abuse alcohol dosed for 5 days. Patients in the observational study were categorized by type of acetaminophen exposure (single or repeated). Serum APAP-CYS was measured using high pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Results Trial 1 included 144 samples from 24 subjects; Trial 2 included 182 samples from 91 subjects and Trial 3 included 200 samples from 40 subjects. In addition, we collected samples from 19 subjects with acute acetaminophen ingestion, 7 subjects with repeated acetaminophen exposure and 4 subjects who ingested another hepatotoxin. The mean (SD) peak APAP-CYS concentrations for the Trials were: Trial 1- 0.4 (0.20) nmol/ml, Trial 2- 0.1 (0.09) nmol/ml and Trial 3- 0.3 (0.12) nmol/ml. APAP-CYS concentrations varied substantially among the patients with acetaminophen toxicity (0.10 to 27.3 nmol/ml). No subject had detectable APAP-CYS following exposure to a non-acetaminophen hepatotoxin. Conclusions Lower concentrations of APAP-CYS are detectable after exposure to therapeutic doses of acetaminophen and higher concentrations are detected after acute acetaminophen overdose and in patients with acetaminophen toxicity following repeated exposure. PMID:21401949

No significant correlation between the intensity of static stretching and subject's perception of pain.

PubMed

Lim, Wootaek; Park, Hyunju

2017-10-01

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine whether the intensity of static stretching measured quantitatively is related to subjects' perception of pain. [Subjects and Methods] Sixty-eight participants were recruited. Static stretching was performed once for 30 seconds while maintaining the knee at 0° flexion and was continued to the point where pain was recognized. The intensity of stretching exerted by the practitioner was quantitatively measured by using a handheld dynamometer (HHD). A subject's pain scaled on one's perception was measured by using the visual analog scale (VAS). [Results] No significant correlation was found between the intensity of stretching and the VAS score representing the subject's pain scaled on one's perception. In this study, the most frequent VAS score was 7, and the mean VAS score was 5.57 ± 1.77. The stretching intensity measured by using a HHD ranged from 28.4 to 133.0 N (mean, 72.04 ± 22.37 N). [Conclusion] This study showed that the intensity of stretching quantitatively measured by using HHD did not correlate with the degree of pain reported by the subjects. Therefore, subjective responses cannot guarantee a consistent application of intensity.

Determination of thickness of palatal mucosa

PubMed Central

Kolliyavar, Bharati; Setty, Swati; Thakur, Srinath L.

2012-01-01

Background: The palatal masticatory mucosa is widely used as a donor material in periodontal plastic surgery. The thickness of graft tissue is an important factor for the graft survival. The purpose of this study was to determine the thickness of palatal mucosa by a bone sounding technique. The association of age and gender with the thickness of palatal mucosa was also examined. Materials and Methods: Twenty four healthy subjects had participated in the study. The younger age group of 16-30 years consisted of 12 subjects of 7 females and 5 males, and the older age group of 31-54 years consisted of 12 subjects, of 5 females and 7 males. A bone sounding method using a periodontal probe was done to assess the thickness of palatal mucosa at 15 measurement sites defined according to the gingival margin and palatal line. Mann-Whitney test was used to determine the difference in mucosal thickness between both the groups. Results: The younger age group had thinner mucosa ranged from 2 to 3.1 mm in thickness than the older age group which ranged from 3.2 to 3.7 mm. In the same age group, females had thinner mucosa than males in the same age group. The mean thickness of palatal masticatory mucosa ranged from 2.5 to 3.7 mm. Conclusion: The younger subjects had thinner mucosa than older subjects. The canine and premolar areas appeared to be the most appropriate donor site for grafting procedures. PMID:22628968

Validity and Reliability of Thai Version of the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) Subjective Form.

PubMed

Arunakul, Marut; Arunakul, Preeyaphan; Suesiritumrong, Chakhrist; Angthong, Chayanin; Chernchujit, Bancha

2015-06-01

Self-administered questionnaires have become an important aspect for clinical outcome assessment of foot and ankle-related problems. The Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) subjective form is a region-specific questionnaire that is widely used and has sufficient validity and reliability from previous studies. Translate the original English version of FAAM into a Thai version and evaluate the validity and reliability of Thai FAAM in patients with foot and ankle-related problems. The FAAM subjective form was translated into Thai using forward-backward translation protocol. Afterward, reliability and validity were tested. Following responses from 60 consecutive patients on two questionnaires, the Thai FAAM subjective form and the short form (SF)-36, were used. The validity was tested by correlating the scores from both questionnaires. The reliability was adopted by measuring the test-retest reliability and internal consistency. Thai FAAM score including activity of daily life (ADL) and Sport subscale demonstrated the sufficient correlations with physical functioning (PF) and physical composite score (PCS) domains of the SF-36 (statistically significant with p < 0.001 level and ≥ 0.5 values). The result of reliability revealed highly intra-class correlation coefficient as 0.8 and 0.77, respectively from test-retest study. The internal consistency was strong (Cronbach alpha = 0.94 and 0.88, respectively). The Thai version of FAAM subjective form retained the characteristics of the original version and has proved a reliable evaluation instrument for patients with foot and ankle-related problems.

A comparison of the effects of citalopram and moclobemide on resting brain perfusion in social anxiety disorder.

PubMed

Warwick, J M; Carey, P; Van der Linden, G; Prinsloo, C; Niehaus, D; Seedat, S; Dupont, P; Stein, D J

2006-09-01

The serotonin specific reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) citalopram and the reversible mono-amine oxidase-A inhibitor (RIMA) moclobemide have both been used successfully for the treatment of social anxiety disorder (SAD). In this study we investigate the effects of these compounds on resting brain function using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Subjects meeting DSM-IV criteria for SAD underwent regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) SPECT using Tc-HMPAO at baseline and after 8 weeks of treatment with either citalopram or moclobemide. Using statistical parametric mapping brain SPECT studies were analysed to determine the effects of treatment on rCBF, to compare the effects of citalopram and moclobemide, and to detect correlations between changes in rCBF and clinical response. Subjects received citalopram (n=17) or moclobemide (n=14) as therapy. Subjects in both treatment groups demonstrated a significant improvement of SAD symptoms as measured by the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale total score. All subjects demonstrated a decrease in rCBF in the insulae post therapy. Subjects receiving citalopram had decreased superior cingulate rCBF after therapy compared to those receiving moclobemide. Both SSRI's and RIMA's decreased rCBF in the insulae during treatment of SAD; an effect that may be consistent with the role of these regions in processing internal somatic cues evoked by emotional stimuli. Citalopram had a greater effect on superior cingulate perfusion, an effect that is consistent with evidence of high levels of 5-HT transporters in this region.

Comparison of subjective, pharmacokinetic, and physiologic effects of marijuana smoked as joints and blunts

PubMed Central

Cooper, Ziva D.; Haney, Margaret

2009-01-01

Recent increases in marijuana smoking among the young adult population have been accompanied by the popularization of smoking marijuana as blunts instead of as joints. Blunts consist of marijuana wrapped in tobacco leaves, whereas joints consist of marijuana wrapped in cigarette paper. To date, the effects of marijuana smoked as joints and blunts have not been systematically compared. The current within-subject, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study sought to directly compare the subjective, physiologic, and pharmacokinetic effects of marijuana smoked by these two methods. Marijuana blunt smokers (12 women; 12 men) were recruited and participated in a 6-session outpatient study. Participants were blindfolded and smoked three puffs from either a blunt or a joint containing marijuana with varying delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentrations (0.0, 1.8, and 3.6%). Subjective, physiological (heart rate, blood pressure, carbon monoxide levels) and pharmacokinetic effects (plasma THC concentration) were monitored before and at specified time points for three hours after smoking. Joints produced greater increases in plasma THC and subjective ratings of marijuana intoxication, strength, and quality compared to blunts, and these effects were more pronounced in women compared to men. However, blunts produced equivalent increases in heart rate and higher carbon monoxide levels than joints, despite producing lower levels of plasma THC. These findings demonstrate that smoking marijuana in a tobacco leaf may increase the risks of marijuana use by enhancing carbon monoxide exposure and increasing heart rate compared to joints. PMID:19443132

Relationships of Race and Socioeconomic Status to Postpartum Depressive Symptoms in Rural African American and Non-Hispanic White Women

PubMed Central

Dolbier, Christyn L.; Rush, Taylor E.; Sahadeo, Latoya S.; Shaffer, Michele L.; Thorp, John

2012-01-01

This study examines the potential racial disparity in postpartum depression (PPD) symptoms among a cohort of non-Hispanic white and African American women after taking into consideration the influence of socioeconomic status (SES). Participants (N = 299) were recruited from maternity clinics serving rural counties, with over-sampling of low SES and African Americans. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was administered 1 and 6 months postpartum, and subjective SES scale at 6 months postpartum. Demographic information was collected during enrollment and 1 month postpartum, with updates at 6 months postpartum. Separate logistic regressions were conducted for 1 and 6 month time points for minor-major PPD (EPDS ≥ 10) and major PPD (EPDS > 12); with marital status, poverty, education, subjective SES, and race predictors entered in block sequence. After including all other predictors, race was not a significant predictor of minor-major or major PPD at 1 or 6 months postpartum. Subjective SES was the most consistent predictor of PPD, being significantly associated with minor-major PPD and major PPD at 6 months postpartum, with higher subjective SES indicating lower odds of PPD, even after accounting for all other predictors. This study shows that significant racial disparities were not observed for minor-major or major PPD criteria at 1 or 6 months postpartum. The most consistent and significant predictor of PPD was subjective SES. Implications of these findings for future research, as well as PPD screening and intervention are discussed. PMID:22961387

Potential of a suite of robot/computer-assisted motivating systems for personalized, home-based, stroke rehabilitation.

PubMed

Johnson, Michelle J; Feng, Xin; Johnson, Laura M; Winters, Jack M

2007-03-01

There is a need to improve semi-autonomous stroke therapy in home environments often characterized by low supervision of clinical experts and low extrinsic motivation. Our distributed device approach to this problem consists of an integrated suite of low-cost robotic/computer-assistive technologies driven by a novel universal access software framework called UniTherapy. Our design strategy for personalizing the therapy, providing extrinsic motivation and outcome assessment is presented and evaluated. Three studies were conducted to evaluate the potential of the suite. A conventional force-reflecting joystick, a modified joystick therapy platform (TheraJoy), and a steering wheel platform (TheraDrive) were tested separately with the UniTherapy software. Stroke subjects with hemiparesis and able-bodied subjects completed tracking activities with the devices in different positions. We quantify motor performance across subject groups and across device platforms and muscle activation across devices at two positions in the arm workspace. Trends in the assessment metrics were consistent across devices with able-bodied and high functioning strokes subjects being significantly more accurate and quicker in their motor performance than low functioning subjects. Muscle activation patterns were different for shoulder and elbow across different devices and locations. The Robot/CAMR suite has potential for stroke rehabilitation. By manipulating hardware and software variables, we can create personalized therapy environments that engage patients, address their therapy need, and track their progress. A larger longitudinal study is still needed to evaluate these systems in under-supervised environments such as the home.

Young Children's Understanding of Belief Constraints on Intention.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moses, Louis J.

1993-01-01

One important characteristic of rational action is that intentions should be consistent with beliefs. Two studies examined whether three year olds understand belief constraints on intention. In both studies, subjects' understanding of unfulfilled intentions was excellent and significantly better than their understanding of false beliefs, but…

NASCA Report 2: Longitudinal Study of Relationship of Exposure to Space Radiation and Risk of Lens Opacity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chylack, Leon T., Jr.; Peterson, Leif E.; Feiveson, Alan H.; Tung, William H.; Wear, Mary L.; Marak, Lisa J.; Hardy, Dale S.; Cucinotta, Francis A.

2011-01-01

The NASA Study of Cataract in Astronauts (NASCA) was a five-year longitudinal study of the effect of space radiation exposure on the severity/progression of nuclear (N), cortical (C), and posterior subcapsular (PSC) lens opacities. It began in 2003 and was completed in December, 2009. Participants included 171 consenting astronauts who flew at least one mission in space, and comparison subjects consisted of three groups, a) 53 astronauts who had not flown in space, b) 95 military aircrew personnel, and c) 99 non-aircrew, ground-based subjects.

An Evolutionary Game Theory Model of Revision-Resistant Motivations and Strategic Reasoning

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-08-01

The model also is consistent with a number of findings on the nature of emotions and related forms of motivation. 15. SUBJECT TERMS...because human beings have some kinds of motivations that are not reducible to the economist’s traditional notion of ordered preferences. These...simulation is designed in light of the most current human subject research on a widely studied game: the Ultimatum Game. This allows us to test

Opinion of Pakistani physiotherapists/students about anatomy as a subject and method of teaching anatomy: a cross sectional survey.

PubMed

Khan, Muhammad Sikander Ghayas; ul Ain, Qurrat; Hussan, Syed Imtiaz; Basher, Salman; Iram, Humaira; Umar, Bilal

2015-02-01

To recognise and identify the importance of Anatomy as a subject for physiotherapists/students. The cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted from January to October 2011 at Riphah International University, Lahore, and comprised physiotherapists registered with Pakistan Physical Therapy Association and students pursuing undergraduate physiotherapy studies at the University. A survey proforma consisting of six questions was used for data collection which was analysed using SPSS 17. Of the 500 questionnaires distributed among physiotherapists and students, 286(57.2%) were collected back duly filled. Overall, 280(97.9%) respondents said Anatomy was important in physical therapy, 179(62.58%) said Anatomy was a difficult subject to retain knowledge of, 155 (54.38%) were of the view that only Clinical Anatomy should be studied, 204 (71.32%) were in favour of performing dissection, 259 (90.55%) found that teaching videos were essential for the study of Anatomy, and 89 (31.11%) believed Anatomy could be memorised by multiple readings. Despite being a difficult subject, Anatomy is an essential subject for medical professionals.

The circadian variation of cardiovascular stress levels and reactivity: relationship to individual differences in morningness/eveningness.

PubMed

Nebel, L E; Howell, R H; Krantz, D S; Falconer, J J; Gottdiener, J S; Gabbay, F H

1996-05-01

Two studies assessed the circadian variation of cardiovascular responses to stress in healthy and coronary artery disease (CAD) populations. In within-subjects designs, stressors were administered to healthy male subjects and male CAD patients both in the morning and afternoon, and subjects were classified as either morning or evening types using the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (Horne & Ostberg, 1976, International Journal of Chronobiology, 4, 97-110). No consistent circadian variation in blood pressure or heart rate responses was observed in the aggregate sample of either healthy subjects or CAD patients. However, there were significant interactions between circadian type and time of day. In both populations, morning subjects exhibited higher cardiovascular levels during the morning session, and evening subjects exhibited higher levels during the afternoon session. Analyses of cardiovascular reactivity revealed less consistent evidence for this interaction. Self-reports of stress revealed interactions between time of day and morningness/eveningness only in the CAD sample. In CAD patients, preliminary analysis of myocardial wall function, an index of myocardial ischemia, did not reveal a significant interaction between morningness/eveningness and time of day, perhaps due to small sample size. The presence of differing circadian patterns in stress response based on individual differences in morningness/eveningness is discussed in terms of its methodological implications for psychophysiological research and in terms of the role of stress as an acute trigger of CAD.

Effects of neck exercise on high-school students' neck-shoulder posture.

PubMed

Lee, Myoung-Hyo; Park, Su-Jin; Kim, Jin-Sang

2013-05-01

[Purpose] This study examined the effects of deep flexor muscle-strengthening exercise on the neck-shoulder posture, and the strength and endurance of the deep flexor muscles of high-school students. [Subjects] The subjects were 30 seventeen-year-old female high-school students who complained about bad posture and chronic neck-shoulder pain. They were randomly divided into an experimental group of 15 subjects, who performed a deep flexor muscle-strengthening exercise and a control group of 15 subjects, who performed a basic stretching exercise. [Methods] The experimental group of 15 subjects performed a deep flexor muscle-strengthening exercise consisting of low-load training of the cranio-cervical flexor muscle, and the control group of 15 subjects performed a basic stretching exercise consisting of seven motions. [Results] The experimental group showed statistically significant changes in head tilt angle, neck flexion angle, forward shoulder angle, and the result of the cranio-cervical flexion test after the training. In contrast, the control group showed no statistically significant changes in these measures following the training. When the results of the groups were compared, statistically significant differences were found for all items between the experimental group and the control group. [Conclusion] Strengthening cranio-cervical flexor muscles is important for the adjustment of neck posture, and maintaining their stability is required to improve neck-shoulder posture.

Associations of endothelial function and air temperature in diabetic subjects

EPA Science Inventory

Background and Objective: Epidemiological studies consistently show that air temperature is associated with changes in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, the biological mechanisms underlying the association remain largely unknown. As one index of endothelial functio...

Analysis of critical thinking ability in direct current electrical problems solving

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hartono; Sunarno, Widha; Sarwanto; Arya Nugraha, Dewanta

2017-11-01

This study concern on analyzing the ability of students in critical thinking skills on the subject matter of direct current electricity. Samples were taken using purposive random sampling consisted of 32 students of grade XI, Multimedia 1, SMK Negeri 3 Surakarta in academic year 2016/2017. This study used descriptive quantitative method. The data were collected using tests and interviews regarding the subject matter of direct current electricity. Based on the results, students are getting some difficulties in solving problem in indicator 4. The average of students’ correct answer is 62.8%.

A parallel form of the Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scale.

PubMed

Gudjonsson, G H

1987-09-01

The purpose of this study is twofold: (1) to present a parallel form of the Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scale (GSS, Form 1); (2) to study test-retest reliabilities of interrogative suggestibility. Three groups of subjects were administered the two suggestibility scales in a counterbalanced order. Group 1 (28 normal subjects) and Group 2 (32 'forensic' patients) completed both scales within the same testing session, whereas Group 3 (30 'forensic' patients) completed the two scales between one week and eight months apart. All the correlations were highly significant, giving support for high 'temporal consistency' of interrogative suggestibility.

Probabilistic Characterization of Adversary Behavior in Cyber Security

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

Meyers, C A; Powers, S S; Faissol, D M

2009-10-08

The objective of this SMS effort is to provide a probabilistic characterization of adversary behavior in cyber security. This includes both quantitative (data analysis) and qualitative (literature review) components. A set of real LLNL email data was obtained for this study, consisting of several years worth of unfiltered traffic sent to a selection of addresses at ciac.org. The email data was subjected to three interrelated analyses: a textual study of the header data and subject matter, an examination of threats present in message attachments, and a characterization of the maliciousness of embedded URLs.

Motor Experts Care about Consistency and Are Reluctant to Change Motor Outcome.

PubMed

Kast, Volker; Leukel, Christian

2016-01-01

Thousands of hours of physical practice substantially change the way movements are performed. The mechanisms underlying altered behavior in highly-trained individuals are so far little understood. We studied experts (handballers) and untrained individuals (novices) in visuomotor adaptation of free throws, where subjects had to adapt their throwing direction to a visual displacement induced by prismatic glasses. Before visual displacement, experts expressed lower variability of motor errors than novices. Experts adapted and de-adapted slower, and also forgot the adaptation slower than novices. The variability during baseline was correlated with the learning rate during adaptation. Subjects adapted faster when variability was higher. Our results indicate that experts produced higher consistency of motor outcome. They were still susceptible to the sensory feedback informing about motor error, but made smaller adjustments than novices. The findings of our study relate to previous investigations emphasizing the importance of action exploration, expressed in terms of outcome variability, to facilitate learning.

Long-term follow-up of echolalia and question answering.

PubMed

Foxx, R M; Faw, G D

1990-01-01

A long-term follow-up of echolalia and correct question answering was conducted for 6 subjects from three previously published studies. The follow-up periods ranged from 26 to 57 months. In a training site follow-up, subjects were exposed to baseline/posttraining conditions in which the original trainer and/or a novel person(s) presented trained and untrained questions. Four subjects displayed echolalia below baseline levels, and another did so in some assessments. Overall, echolalia was lower than in baseline in 80.6% of the follow-ups. Five subjects displayed correct responding above baseline levels. No clear differences were noted in correct responding or echolalia between the trainer and novel-person presentations or between trained and untrained questions. In a follow-up in a natural environment conducted by a novel person, lower than baseline levels of echolalia were displayed by 3 subjects; 2 subjects displayed lower than baseline levels in some assessments. Two subjects consistently displayed correct responding above baseline, and 3 did so occasionally. Issues related to the study of maintenance are discussed.

Long-term follow-up of echolalia and question answering.

PubMed Central

Foxx, R M; Faw, G D

1990-01-01

A long-term follow-up of echolalia and correct question answering was conducted for 6 subjects from three previously published studies. The follow-up periods ranged from 26 to 57 months. In a training site follow-up, subjects were exposed to baseline/posttraining conditions in which the original trainer and/or a novel person(s) presented trained and untrained questions. Four subjects displayed echolalia below baseline levels, and another did so in some assessments. Overall, echolalia was lower than in baseline in 80.6% of the follow-ups. Five subjects displayed correct responding above baseline levels. No clear differences were noted in correct responding or echolalia between the trainer and novel-person presentations or between trained and untrained questions. In a follow-up in a natural environment conducted by a novel person, lower than baseline levels of echolalia were displayed by 3 subjects; 2 subjects displayed lower than baseline levels in some assessments. Two subjects consistently displayed correct responding above baseline, and 3 did so occasionally. Issues related to the study of maintenance are discussed. PMID:2249974

Cardiovascular effects of vasopressin following V(1) receptor blockade compared to effects of nitroglycerin.

PubMed

Cooke, C R; Wall, B M; Huch, K M; Mangold, T

2001-09-01

Studies to more clearly determine the mechanisms associated with arginine vasopressin (AVP)-induced vasodilation were performed in normal subjects and in quadriplegic subjects with impaired efferent sympathetic responses. Studies to compare the effects of AVP with the hemodynamic effects of nitroglycerin, an agent that primarily affects venous capacitance vessels, were also performed in normal subjects. Incremental infusions of AVP following V(1)-receptor blockade resulted in equivalent reductions in systemic vascular resistance (SVRI) in normal and in quadriplegic subjects. However, there were major differences in the effect on mean arterial pressure (MAP), which was reduced in quadriplegic subjects but did not change in normal subjects. This difference in MAP can be attributed to a difference in the magnitude of increase in cardiac output (CI), which was twofold greater in normal than in quadriplegic subjects. These observations are consistent with AVP-induced vasodilation of arterial resistance vessels with reflex sympathetic enhancement of CI and are clearly different from the hemodynamic effects of nitroglycerin, i.e., reductions in MAP, CI, and indexes of cardiac preload, with only minor changes in SVRI.

Association of ghrelin receptor gene polymorphism with bulimia nervosa in a Japanese population.

PubMed

Miyasaka, K; Hosoya, H; Sekime, A; Ohta, M; Amono, H; Matsushita, S; Suzuki, K; Higuchi, S; Funakoshi, A

2006-09-01

Eating disorders (EDs) have a highly heterogeneous etiology and multiple genetic factors might contribute to their pathogenesis. Ghrelin, a novel growth hormone-releasing peptide, enhances appetite and increases food intake, and human ghrelin plasma levels are inversely correlated with body mass index. In the present study, we examined the 171T/C polymorphism of the ghrelin receptor (growth hormone secretagogue receptor, GHSR) gene in patients diagnosed with EDs, because the subjects having ghrelin gene polymorphism (Leu72Met) was not detected in a Japanese population, previously. In addition, beta3 adrenergic receptor gene polymorphism (Try64Arg) and cholecystokinin (CCK)-A receptor (R) gene polymorphism (-81A/G, -128G/T), which are both associated with obesity, were investigated. The subjects consisted of 228 Japanese patients with EDs [96 anorexia nervosa (AN), 116 bulimia nervosa (BN) and 16 not otherwise specified (NOS)]. The age- and gender-matched control group consisted of 284 unrelated Japanese subjects. The frequency of the CC type of the GHSR gene was significantly higher in BN subjects than in control subjects (chi(2) = 4.47, p = 0.035, odds ratio = 2.05, Bonferroni correction: p = 0.070), while the frequency in AN subjects was not different from that in controls. The distribution of neither beta3 adrenergic receptor gene nor CCK-AR polymorphism differed between EDs and control subjects. Therefore, the CC type of GHSR gene polymorphism (171T/C) is a risk factor for BN, but not for AN.

Assessing Sexual Abuse/Attack Histories with Bariatric Surgery Patients

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mahony, David

2010-01-01

This study assessed sexual abuse/attack histories in 537 bariatric surgery patients using the PsyBari. The prevalence rates found were lower (15.5%, 19.3% of women, 5.2% of men) than other studies that used bariatric surgery patients but consistent with studies that used nonbariatric obese subjects. Furthermore, bariatric surgery patients who…

Using GOMS models and hypertext to create representations of medical procedures for online display

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gugerty, Leo; Halgren, Shannon; Gosbee, John; Rudisill, Marianne

1991-01-01

This study investigated two methods to improve organization and presentation of computer-based medical procedures. A literature review suggested that the GOMS (goals, operators, methods, and selecton rules) model can assist in rigorous task analysis, which can then help generate initial design ideas for the human-computer interface. GOMS model are hierarchical in nature, so this study also investigated the effect of hierarchical, hypertext interfaces. We used a 2 x 2 between subjects design, including the following independent variables: procedure organization - GOMS model based vs. medical-textbook based; navigation type - hierarchical vs. linear (booklike). After naive subjects studies the online procedures, measures were taken of their memory for the content and the organization of the procedures. This design was repeated for two medical procedures. For one procedure, subjects who studied GOMS-based and hierarchical procedures remembered more about the procedures than other subjects. The results for the other procedure were less clear. However, data for both procedures showed a 'GOMSification effect'. That is, when asked to do a free recall of a procedure, subjects who had studies a textbook procedure often recalled key information in a location inconsistent with the procedure they actually studied, but consistent with the GOMS-based procedure.

Cervical vertebral and dental maturity in Turkish subjects.

PubMed

Başaran, Güvenç; Ozer, Törün; Hamamci, Nihal

2007-04-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between the stages of calcification of teeth and the cervical vertebral maturity stages in Turkish subjects. A retrospective cross-sectional study was designed. The final study population consisted of 590 Turkish subjects. Statistical analysis of the data was performed with computer software. Spearman rank order correlation coefficients were used to assess the relationship between cervical vertebral and dental maturation. For a better understanding of the relationship between cervical vertebral maturation indexes and dental age, percentage distributions of the studied teeth were also calculated. Strict correlations were found between dental and cervical vertebral maturation of Turkish subjects. For males, the sequence from lowest to the highest was third molar, central incisor, canine, first premolar, second premolar, first molar, and second molar. For females, the sequence from lowest to the highest was third molar, canine, second premolar, first premolar, central incisor, first molar, and second molar. Dental maturation stages can be used as a reliable indicator of facial growth.

Autonomic, subjective, and expressive responses to emotional films in older and younger Chinese Americans and European Americans.

PubMed

Tsai, J L; Levenson, R W; Carstensen, L L

2000-12-01

Previously, the authors found that during idiosyncratic emotional events (relived emotions, discussions about marital conflict), older European American adults demonstrated smaller changes in cardiovascular responding than their younger counterparts (R. W. Levenson, L. L. Carstensen, W. V. Friesen, & P. Ekman, 1991; R. W. Levenson, L. L. Carstensen, & J. M. Gottman, 1994). This study examined whether such differences held when the emotional events were standardized, and whether they extend to another cultural group. Forty-eight old (70-85 years) and 48 young (20-34 years) European Americans and Chinese Americans viewed sad and amusing film clips in the laboratory while their cardiovascular, subjective (online and retrospective), and behavioral responses were measured. Consistent with previous findings, older participants evidenced smaller changes in cardiovascular responding than did younger participants during the film clips. Consistent with earlier reports, old and young participants did not differ in most subjective and behavioral responses to the films. No cultural differences were found.

Has Work Replaced Home as a Haven? Re-examining Arlie Hochschild's Time Bind Proposition with Objective Stress Data

PubMed Central

Damaske, Sarah; Smyth, Joshua M.; Zawadzki, Matthew J.

2014-01-01

Using innovative data with objective and subjective measures of stress collected from 122 employed men and women, this paper tests the thesis of the Time Bind by asking whether people report lower stress levels at work than at home. The study finds consistent support for the Time Bind hypothesis when examining objective stress data: when participants were at work they had lower values of the stress hormone cortisol than when they were at home. Two variables moderated this association – income and children at home – such that the work as haven effect was stronger for those with lower incomes and no children living at home. Participants also, however, consistently reported higher subjective stress levels on work days than on non-work days, which is in direct contrast to the Time Bind hypothesis. Although our overall findings support Hochschild's hypothesis that stress levels are lower at work, it appears that combining work and home increases people's subjective experience of daily stress. PMID:24869785

Death of the (traveling) salesman: primates do not show clear evidence of multi-step route planning.

PubMed

Janson, Charles

2014-05-01

Several comparative studies have linked larger brain size to a fruit-eating diet in primates and other animals. The general explanation for this correlation is that fruit is a complex resource base, consisting of many discrete patches of many species, each with distinct nutritional traits, the production of which changes predictably both within and between seasons. Using this information to devise optimal spatial foraging strategies is among the most difficult problems to solve in all of mathematics, a version of the famous Traveling Salesman Problem. Several authors have suggested that primates might use their large brains and complex cognition to plan foraging strategies that approximate optimal solutions to this problem. Three empirical studies have examined how captive primates move when confronted with the simplest version of the problem: a spatial array of equally valuable goals. These studies have all concluded that the subjects remember many food source locations and show very efficient travel paths; some authors also inferred that the subjects may plan their movements based on considering combinations of three or more future goals at a time. This analysis re-examines critically the claims of planned movement sequences from the evidence presented. The efficiency of observed travel paths is largely consistent with use of the simplest of foraging rules, such as visiting the nearest unused "known" resource. Detailed movement sequences by test subjects are most consistent with a rule that mentally sums spatial information from all unused resources in a given trial into a single "gravity" measure that guides movements to one destination at a time. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Pilot Decision-Making in Irreversible Emergencies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Winter, Scott R.

2013-01-01

The purpose of this study was to determine if a reflexive learning treatment utilizing select case studies could enhance the decision-making of pilots who encounter an irreversible emergency. Participants, who consisted of members of the subject university's professional pilot program, were divided into either a control or experimental group and…

The Dual-Factor Model of Mental Health: Further Study of the Determinants of Group Differences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lyons, Michael D.; Huebner, E. Scott; Hills, Kimberly J.; Shinkareva, Svetlana V.

2012-01-01

Consistent with a positive psychology framework, this study examined the contributions of personality, environmental, and perceived social support variables in classifying adolescents using Greenspoon and Saklofske's Dual-Factor model of mental health. This model incorporates information about positive subjective well-being (SWB), along with…

Impact of Intention on the ERP Correlates of Face Recognition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Guillaume, Fabrice; Tiberghien, Guy

2013-01-01

The present study investigated the impact of study-test similarity on face recognition by manipulating, in the same experiment, the expression change (same vs. different) and the task-processing context (inclusion vs. exclusion instructions) as within-subject variables. Consistent with the dual-process framework, the present results showed that…

Subjective Confidence in Perceptual Judgments: A Test of the Self-Consistency Model

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Koriat, Asher

2011-01-01

Two questions about subjective confidence in perceptual judgments are examined: the bases for these judgments and the reasons for their accuracy. Confidence in perceptual judgments has been claimed to rest on qualitatively different processes than confidence in memory tasks. However, predictions from a self-consistency model (SCM), which had been…

Study of Odours and taste for Space Food

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Katayama, Naomi; Space Agriculture Task Force; Nakata, Seiichi; Teranishi, Masaaki; Sone, Michihiko; Nakashima, Tsutomu; Hamajima, Nobuyuki; Ito, Yoshihiro

2012-07-01

The sense of taste and smell come under some kind of influences in the space environment. In the space, the astronaut was changed their food habits from light taste and smell food to like strong taste and smells food. When an astronaut live in the space comes to have weak bone like osteoporosis. It may become the physiologic condition like the old man on the earth. Therefore this study performed fact-finding of the smell and the taste in the old man on the earth as test bed of astronaut in space. Based on this finding, it was intended to predict the taste and the olfactory change of the astronaut in the space. The study included 179 males and 251 females aged 30-90 years in Yakumo Town, Hokkaido, Japan. Odours were tested using a ``standard odours by odour stick identification''method of organoleptic testing. Taste were tested using a ``standard taste by taste disc identification'' method of chemical testing. Correct answers for identification odours consisted of average 6.0±3.0 in male subjects and average 6.9±2.8 in female subjects. Correct answers for identification of sweet taste consisted of 81% males and 87% females, salty taste consisted of 86% males and 91%, sour taste consisted of 75% males and 78% females, bitter taste consisted of 76% males and 88% females. It became clear that overall approximately 20% were in some kind of abnormality in sense of smell and taste. I want to perform the investigation that continued more in future.

Phenomenological features of dreams: Results from dream log studies using the Subjective Experiences Rating Scale (SERS).

PubMed

Kahan, Tracey L; Claudatos, Stephanie

2016-04-01

Self-ratings of dream experiences were obtained from 144 college women for 788 dreams, using the Subjective Experiences Rating Scale (SERS). Consistent with past studies, dreams were characterized by a greater prevalence of vision, audition, and movement than smell, touch, or taste, by both positive and negative emotion, and by a range of cognitive processes. A Principal Components Analysis of SERS ratings revealed ten subscales: four sensory, three affective, one cognitive, and two structural (events/actions, locations). Correlations (Pearson r) among subscale means showed a stronger relationship among the process-oriented features (sensory, cognitive, affective) than between the process-oriented and content-centered (structural) features--a pattern predicted from past research (e.g., Bulkeley & Kahan, 2008). Notably, cognition and positive emotion were associated with a greater number of other phenomenal features than was negative emotion; these findings are consistent with studies of the qualitative features of waking autobiographical memory (e.g., Fredrickson, 2001). Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Relationship between personality disorder dimensions and verbal memory functioning in a community population.

PubMed

Park, Subin; Hong, Jin Pyo; Lee, Hochang B; Samuels, Jack; Bienvenu, O Joseph; Chung, Hye Yoon; Eaton, William W; Costa, Paul T; Nestadt, Gerald

2012-03-30

Based on the Baltimore Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) follow-up survey, we examined relationships between dimensions of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) personality disorders and both subjective and objective memory functioning in a community population. Our study subjects consisted of 736 individuals from the ECA follow-up study of the original Baltimore ECA cohort, conducted between 1993 and 1996 and available for assessment in the Hopkins Epidemiology Study of Personality Disorders from 1997 to 1999. Subjects were assessed for DSM-IV personality disorders using a semi-structured instrument, the International Personality Disorder Examination, and were asked about a subjective appraisal of memory. Verbal memory function, including immediate recall, delayed recall, and recognition, were also evaluated. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to determine associations between personality dimensions of DSM-IV Axis II traits and subjective and objective memory functioning. Scores on schizoid and schizotypal personality dimensions were associated with subjective and objective memory dysfunction, both with and without adjustment for Axis I disorders. Borderline, antisocial, avoidant, and dependent personality disorder scores were associated with subjective memory impairment only, both with and without adjustment for Axis I disorders. This study suggests that subjective feelings of memory impairment and/or objective memory dysfunction are associated with specific personality disorder dimensions. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Human performance measuring device

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Michael, J.; Scow, J.

1970-01-01

Complex coordinator, consisting of operator control console, recorder, subject display panel, and limb controls, measures human performance by testing perceptual and motor skills. Device measures psychophysiological functions in drug and environmental studies, and is applicable to early detection of psychophysiological body changes.

Estimating subglottal pressure via airflow interruption with auditory masking.

PubMed

Hoffman, Matthew R; Jiang, Jack J

2009-11-01

Current noninvasive measurement of subglottal pressure using airflow interruption often produces inconsistent results due to the elicitation of audio-laryngeal reflexes. Auditory feedback could be considered as a means of ensuring measurement accuracy and precision. The purpose of this study was to determine if auditory masking could be used with the airflow interruption system to improve intrasubject consistency. A prerecorded sample of subject phonation was played on a loop over headphones during the trials with auditory masking. This provided subjects with a target pitch and blocked out distracting ambient noise created by the airflow interrupter. Subglottal pressure was noninvasively measured using the airflow interruption system. Thirty subjects, divided into two equal groups, performed 10 trials without auditory masking and 10 trials with auditory masking. Group one performed the normal trials first, followed by the trials with auditory masking. Group two performed the auditory masking trials first, followed by the normal trials. Intrasubject consistency was improved by adding auditory masking, resulting in a decrease in average intrasubject standard deviation from 0.93+/-0.51 to 0.47+/-0.22 cm H(2)O (P < 0.001). Auditory masking can be used effectively to combat audio-laryngeal reflexes and aid subjects in maintaining constant glottal configuration and frequency, thereby increasing intrasubject consistency when measuring subglottal pressure. By considering auditory feedback, a more reliable method of measurement was developed. This method could be used by clinicians, as reliable, immediately available values of subglottal pressure are useful in evaluating laryngeal health and monitoring treatment progress.

Validation of a Russian Language Oswestry Disability Index Questionnaire.

PubMed

Yu, Elizabeth M; Nosova, Emily V; Falkenstein, Yuri; Prasad, Priya; Leasure, Jeremi M; Kondrashov, Dimitriy G

2016-11-01

Study Design  Retrospective reliability and validity study. Objective  To validate a recently translated Russian language version of the Oswestry Disability Index (R-ODI) using standardized methods detailed from previous validations in other languages. Methods  We included all subjects who were seen in our spine surgery clinic, over the age of 18, and fluent in the Russian language. R-ODI was translated by six bilingual people and combined into a consensus version. R-ODI and visual analog scale (VAS) questionnaires for leg and back pain were distributed to subjects during both their initial and follow-up visits. Test validity, stability, and internal consistency were measured using standardized psychometric methods. Results Ninety-seven subjects participated in the study. No change in the meaning of the questions on R-ODI was noted with translation from English to Russian. There was a significant positive correlation between R-ODI and VAS scores for both the leg and back during both the initial and follow-up visits ( p  < 0.01 for all). The instrument was shown to have high internal consistency (Cronbach α = 0.82) and moderate test-retest stability (interclass correlation coefficient = 0.70). Conclusions  The R-ODI is both valid and reliable for use among the Russian-speaking population in the United States.

Addiction-Like Mobile Phone Behavior – Validation and Association With Problem Gambling

PubMed Central

Fransson, Andreas; Chóliz, Mariano; Håkansson, Anders

2018-01-01

Mobile phone use and its potential addiction has become a point of interest within the research community. The aim of the study was to translate and validate the Test of Mobile Dependence (TMD), and to investigate if there are any associations between mobile phone use and problem gambling. This was a cross-sectional study on a Swedish general population. A questionnaire consisting of a translated version of the TMD, three problem gambling questions (NODS-CLiP) together with two questions concerning previous addiction treatment was published online. Exploratory factor analysis based on polychoric correlations was performed on the TMD. Independent samples T-tests, Mann-Whitney test, logistic regression analyses and ANOVA were performed to examine mean differences between subjects based on TMD test score, gambling and previous addiction treatment. A total of 1,515 people (38.3% men) answered the questionnaire. The TMD showed acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha: 0.905), and significant correlation with subjective dependence on one's mobile phone. Women scored higher on the TMD and 15-18 year olds had the highest mean test score. The TMD test score was significantly associated with problem gambling, but only when controlling for age and sex. Various separated items related to mobile phone use were associated with problem gambling. The TMD had acceptable internal consistency and correlates with subjective dependence, while future confirmatory factor analysis is recommended. An association between mobile phone use and problem gambling may be possible, but requires further research. PMID:29780345

GENETIC INFLUENCE OF APOE4 GENOTYPE ON HIPPOCAMPAL MORPHOMETRY - AN N=725 SURFACE-BASED ADNI STUDY

PubMed Central

Shi, Jie; Leporé, Natasha; Gutman, Boris A.; Thompson, Paul M.; Baxter, Leslie C.; Caselli, Richard L.; Wang, Yalin

2014-01-01

The apolipoprotein E (APOE) e4 allele is the most prevalent genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Hippocampal volumes are generally smaller in AD patients carrying the e4 allele compared to e4 non-carriers. Here we examined the effect of APOE e4 on hippocampal morphometry in a large imaging database – the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). We automatically segmented and constructed hippocampal surfaces from the baseline MR images of 725 subjects with known APOE genotype information including 167 with AD, 354 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 204 normal controls. High-order correspondences between hippocampal surfaces were enforced across subjects with a novel inverse consistent surface fluid registration method. Multivariate statistics consisting of multivariate tensor-based morphometry (mTBM) and radial distance were computed for surface deformation analysis. Using Hotelling’s T2 test, we found significant morphological deformation in APOE e4 carriers relative to non-carriers in the entire cohort as well as in the non-demented (pooled MCI and control) subjects, affecting the left hippocampus more than the right, and this effect was more pronounced in e4 homozygotes than heterozygotes. Our findings are consistent with previous studies that showed e4 carriers exhibit accelerated hippocampal atrophy; we extend these findings to a novel measure of hippocampal morphometry. Hippocampal morphometry has significant potential as an imaging biomarker of early stage AD. PMID:24453132

Addiction-Like Mobile Phone Behavior - Validation and Association With Problem Gambling.

PubMed

Fransson, Andreas; Chóliz, Mariano; Håkansson, Anders

2018-01-01

Mobile phone use and its potential addiction has become a point of interest within the research community. The aim of the study was to translate and validate the Test of Mobile Dependence (TMD), and to investigate if there are any associations between mobile phone use and problem gambling. This was a cross-sectional study on a Swedish general population. A questionnaire consisting of a translated version of the TMD, three problem gambling questions (NODS-CLiP) together with two questions concerning previous addiction treatment was published online. Exploratory factor analysis based on polychoric correlations was performed on the TMD. Independent samples T -tests, Mann-Whitney test, logistic regression analyses and ANOVA were performed to examine mean differences between subjects based on TMD test score, gambling and previous addiction treatment. A total of 1,515 people (38.3% men) answered the questionnaire. The TMD showed acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha: 0.905), and significant correlation with subjective dependence on one's mobile phone. Women scored higher on the TMD and 15-18 year olds had the highest mean test score. The TMD test score was significantly associated with problem gambling, but only when controlling for age and sex. Various separated items related to mobile phone use were associated with problem gambling. The TMD had acceptable internal consistency and correlates with subjective dependence, while future confirmatory factor analysis is recommended. An association between mobile phone use and problem gambling may be possible, but requires further research.

Humans display a reduced set of consistent behavioral phenotypes in dyadic games.

PubMed

Poncela-Casasnovas, Julia; Gutiérrez-Roig, Mario; Gracia-Lázaro, Carlos; Vicens, Julian; Gómez-Gardeñes, Jesús; Perelló, Josep; Moreno, Yamir; Duch, Jordi; Sánchez, Angel

2016-08-01

Socially relevant situations that involve strategic interactions are widespread among animals and humans alike. To study these situations, theoretical and experimental research has adopted a game theoretical perspective, generating valuable insights about human behavior. However, most of the results reported so far have been obtained from a population perspective and considered one specific conflicting situation at a time. This makes it difficult to extract conclusions about the consistency of individuals' behavior when facing different situations and to define a comprehensive classification of the strategies underlying the observed behaviors. We present the results of a lab-in-the-field experiment in which subjects face four different dyadic games, with the aim of establishing general behavioral rules dictating individuals' actions. By analyzing our data with an unsupervised clustering algorithm, we find that all the subjects conform, with a large degree of consistency, to a limited number of behavioral phenotypes (envious, optimist, pessimist, and trustful), with only a small fraction of undefined subjects. We also discuss the possible connections to existing interpretations based on a priori theoretical approaches. Our findings provide a relevant contribution to the experimental and theoretical efforts toward the identification of basic behavioral phenotypes in a wider set of contexts without aprioristic assumptions regarding the rules or strategies behind actions. From this perspective, our work contributes to a fact-based approach to the study of human behavior in strategic situations, which could be applied to simulating societies, policy-making scenario building, and even a variety of business applications.

Treating multiple body parts for skin laxity and fat deposits using a novel focused radiofrequency device with an ultrasound component: Safety and efficacy study.

PubMed

Chilukuri, Suneel; Denjean, Dominique; Fouque, Linda

2017-12-01

Growing demand for noninvasive skin tightening and reduction in fat results in an increasing pressure for devices with good clinical efficacy, consistency of results, and high patient comfort. The objective was to validate clinical efficacy and versatility of a novel device, which combines radiofrequency (RF) and ultrasound for treating skin laxity and fat deposits. We treated 34 subjects with facial skin laxity and/or abundant body or arm fat deposits. Subjects were divided based on their indications. Ten subjects received treatments to the face, 7 subjects to arms, 8 subjects to thighs, and 9 subjects on abdomen. All patients received 4 treatments on a weekly basis. Photographs of patients were assessed by blinded evaluators to recognize the baseline images from the 3-month follow-up images. Patient comfort and satisfaction were evaluated using a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire. Any adverse events were recorded. Patient images were correctly recognized in >90% of cases in all study groups. Patient questionnaires showed overall satisfaction with the therapy course and results. On a scale of 1 to 5, the patients agreed (4.1) that they are satisfied with the results that the treatment is comfortable (4.1) and that they are satisfied with the treatment time (4.1). No adverse events were reported. Consistent clinical efficacy was confirmed across all the treated areas, together with high patient comfort and satisfaction. We conclude the device is a highly versatile solution that can deliver results across body parts and different indications. © 2017 The Authors Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Acceleration endurance with pressure breathing during G with and without a counterpressure vest.

PubMed

Walker, Thomas B; Dart, Todd; Morgan, Thomas R; Balldin, Ulf I

2014-04-01

The purpose of this study was to test whether pressure breathing during G (PBC) without a counterpressure vest negatively influences G endurance or increases breathing fatigue during extended duration high-G exposures. While using PBG, 10 subjects underwent 2 trials of +3 Gz exposures: once when wearing a counterpressure vest and once without. The exposures consisted of a relaxed, gradual G onset run until peripheral or central light loss, a straining rapid onset GC run to +6 Gz for 15 s, and a simulated aerial combat maneuver (SACM) G profile consisting of 10-s periods varying between +5 Gz and +9 Gz, during which subjects executed a hand-eye tracking task. The SACM endpoint was light loss or exhaustion. Subjects provided ratings of subjective effort and discomfort after the SACM. Significant differences were found between the vest and no-vest conditions for only 3 of 19 measures: heart rate under G and two measures of tracking ability. The vast majority of data indicated no difference between the vest and no-vest conditions for performance under G. This experiment supports previous studies and expands those previous results by increasing the duration of PBG exposure shown to not be influenced by wearing of the vest. We conclude that there is likely no practical advantage to wearing a counterpressure vest during PBG.

Effect of shoe inserts on kinematics, center of pressure, and leg joint moments during running.

PubMed

Nigg, Benno M; Stergiou, Pro; Cole, Gerald; Stefanyshyn, Darren; Mündermann, Anne; Humble, Neil

2003-02-01

The purposes of this project were to assess the effect of four different shoe inserts on the path of the center of pressure (COP), to quantify the effect of these inserts on selected knee joint moments during running, and to assess the potential of COP data to predict the effects of inserts/orthotics on knee joint moments. Kinematics for the lower extremities, resultant ankle and knee joint moments, and the path of the COP were collected from the right foot of 15 male subjects while running heel-toe with five different shoe inserts (full or half with 4.5-mm postings). Individual movement changes with respect to the neutral insert condition were typically small and not systematic. Significant changes for the path of the COP were registered only for the full lateral insert condition with an average shift toward the lateral side. The mediolateral shift of the COP was not consistent for the full medial and the two half-shoe inserts. The subject-specific reactions to the inserts' intervention in the corresponding knee joint moments were typically not consistent. Compared with the neutral insert condition, subjects showed increases or decreases of the knee joint moments. The correlation between the individual COP shifts and the resultant knee joint moment was generally small. The results of this study showed that subject-specific reactions to the tested inserts were often not as expected. Additionally, reactions were not consistent between the subjects. This result suggests that the prescription of inserts and/or orthotics is a difficult task and that methods must be developed to test and assess these effects. Such methods, however, are not currently available.

Measure Projection Analysis: A Probabilistic Approach to EEG Source Comparison and Multi-Subject Inference

PubMed Central

Bigdely-Shamlo, Nima; Mullen, Tim; Kreutz-Delgado, Kenneth; Makeig, Scott

2013-01-01

A crucial question for the analysis of multi-subject and/or multi-session electroencephalographic (EEG) data is how to combine information across multiple recordings from different subjects and/or sessions, each associated with its own set of source processes and scalp projections. Here we introduce a novel statistical method for characterizing the spatial consistency of EEG dynamics across a set of data records. Measure Projection Analysis (MPA) first finds voxels in a common template brain space at which a given dynamic measure is consistent across nearby source locations, then computes local-mean EEG measure values for this voxel subspace using a statistical model of source localization error and between-subject anatomical variation. Finally, clustering the mean measure voxel values in this locally consistent brain subspace finds brain spatial domains exhibiting distinguishable measure features and provides 3-D maps plus statistical significance estimates for each EEG measure of interest. Applied to sufficient high-quality data, the scalp projections of many maximally independent component (IC) processes contributing to recorded high-density EEG data closely match the projection of a single equivalent dipole located in or near brain cortex. We demonstrate the application of MPA to a multi-subject EEG study decomposed using independent component analysis (ICA), compare the results to k-means IC clustering in EEGLAB (sccn.ucsd.edu/eeglab), and use surrogate data to test MPA robustness. A Measure Projection Toolbox (MPT) plug-in for EEGLAB is available for download (sccn.ucsd.edu/wiki/MPT). Together, MPA and ICA allow use of EEG as a 3-D cortical imaging modality with near-cm scale spatial resolution. PMID:23370059

Pancreatic abnormalities detected by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in patients without clinical signs of pancreatic disease: any difference between standard and Rosemont classification scoring?

PubMed

Petrone, Maria Chiara; Terracciano, Fulvia; Perri, Francesco; Carrara, Silvia; Cavestro, Giulia Martina; Mariani, Alberto; Testoni, Pier Alberto; Arcidiacono, Paolo Giorgio

2014-01-01

The prevalence of nine EUS features of chronic pancreatitis (CP) according to the standard Wiersema classification has been investigated in 489 patients undergoing EUS for an indication not related to pancreatico-biliary disease. We showed that 82 subjects (16.8%) had at least one ductular or parenchymal abnormality. Among them, 18 (3.7% of study population) had ≥3 Wiersema criteria suggestive of CP. Recently, a new classification (Rosemont) of EUS findings consistent, suggestive or indeterminate for CP has been proposed. To stratify healthy subjects into different subgroups on the basis of EUS features of CP according to the Wiersema and Rosemont classifications and to evaluate the agreement in the diagnosis of CP with the two scoring systems. Weighted kappa statistics was computed to evaluate the strength of agreement between the two scoring systems. Univariate and multivariate analysis between any EUS abnormality and habits were performed. Eighty-two EUS videos were reviewed. Using the Wiersema classification, 18 subjects showed ≥3 EUS features suggestive of CP. The EUS diagnosis of CP in these 18 subjects was considered as consistent in only one patient, according to Rosemont classification. Weighted Kappa statistics was 0.34 showing that the strength of agreement was 'fair'. Alcohol use and smoking were identified as risk factors for having pancreatic abnormalities on EUS. The prevalence of EUS features consistent or suggestive of CP in healthy subjects according to the Rosemont classification is lower than that assessed by Wiersema criteria. In that regard the Rosemont classification seems to be more accurate in excluding clinically relevant CP. Overall agreement between the two classifications is fair. Copyright © 2014 IAP and EPC. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Simulation of thalamic prosthetic vision: reading accuracy, speed, and acuity in sighted humans.

PubMed

Vurro, Milena; Crowell, Anne Marie; Pezaris, John S

2014-01-01

The psychophysics of reading with artificial sight has received increasing attention as visual prostheses are becoming a real possibility to restore useful function to the blind through the coarse, pseudo-pixelized vision they generate. Studies to date have focused on simulating retinal and cortical prostheses; here we extend that work to report on thalamic designs. This study examined the reading performance of normally sighted human subjects using a simulation of three thalamic visual prostheses that varied in phosphene count, to help understand the level of functional ability afforded by thalamic designs in a task of daily living. Reading accuracy, reading speed, and reading acuity of 20 subjects were measured as a function of letter size, using a task based on the MNREAD chart. Results showed that fluid reading was feasible with appropriate combinations of letter size and phosphene count, and performance degraded smoothly as font size was decreased, with an approximate doubling of phosphene count resulting in an increase of 0.2 logMAR in acuity. Results here were consistent with previous results from our laboratory. Results were also consistent with those from the literature, despite using naive subjects who were not trained on the simulator, in contrast to other reports.

Post-decision biases reveal a self-consistency principle in perceptual inference.

PubMed

Luu, Long; Stocker, Alan A

2018-05-15

Making a categorical judgment can systematically bias our subsequent perception of the world. We show that these biases are well explained by a self-consistent Bayesian observer whose perceptual inference process is causally conditioned on the preceding choice. We quantitatively validated the model and its key assumptions with a targeted set of three psychophysical experiments, focusing on a task sequence where subjects first had to make a categorical orientation judgment before estimating the actual orientation of a visual stimulus. Subjects exhibited a high degree of consistency between categorical judgment and estimate, which is difficult to reconcile with alternative models in the face of late, memory related noise. The observed bias patterns resemble the well-known changes in subjective preferences associated with cognitive dissonance, which suggests that the brain's inference processes may be governed by a universal self-consistency constraint that avoids entertaining 'dissonant' interpretations of the evidence. © 2018, Luu et al.

Feeling Interpersonally Controlled While Pursuing Materialistic Goals: A Problematic Combination for Moral Behavior.

PubMed

Sheldon, Kennon M; Sommet, Nicolas; Corcoran, Mike; Elliot, Andrew J

2018-04-01

We created a life-goal assessment drawing from self-determination theory and achievement goal literature, examining its predictive power regarding immoral behavior and subjective well-being. Our source items assessed direction and energization of motivation, via the distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic aims and between intrinsic and extrinsic reasons for acting, respectively. Fused source items assessed four goal complexes representing a combination of direction and energization. Across three studies ( Ns = 109, 121, and 398), the extrinsic aim/extrinsic reason complex was consistently associated with immoral and/or unethical behavior beyond four source and three other goal complex variables. This was consistent with the triangle model of responsibility's claim that immoral behaviors may result when individuals disengage the self from moral prescriptions. The extrinsic/extrinsic complex also predicted lower subjective well-being, albeit less consistently. Our goal complex approach sheds light on how self-determination theory's goal contents and organismic integration mini-theories interact, particularly with respect to unethical behavior.

Effects of neuromuscular joint facilitation on baseball pitching velocity and electromechanical reaction times of the teres major of young amateur baseball players.

PubMed

Wu, Peng; Huo, Ming; Maruyama, Hitoshi

2013-11-01

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of baseball pitching velocity and electromechanical reaction times (EMG-RT) of the teres major of young amateur baseball players after neuromuscular joint facilitation (NJF) treatment. [Subjects] The subjects were 18 healthy males who were divided into two groups: a NJF group and a control group. The NJF group consisted of 10 subjects, and the control group consisted of 8 subjects. [Methods] Participants in the NJF group received NJF treatment. The baseball pitching velocity, the EMG-RT, the premotor time (PMT), and the motor time (MT) during shoulder internal rotation movement were measured before and after 8 weeks of exercise. [Results] There were no significant differences among the results of the control group. In the NJF group, there were significant differences in baseball pitching velocity, EMG-RT and MT after NJF treatment. [Conclusion] NJF intervention shortens not only EMG-RT but also MT, which implies that NJF is effective for motor processes. Since the baseball pitching velocity increased, NJF may be recommended for the improvement of the performance of baseball players.

The utility of the Total Neuropathy Score as an instrument to assess neuropathy severity in chronic kidney disease: A validation study.

PubMed

Issar, Tushar; Arnold, Ria; Kwai, Natalie C G; Pussell, Bruce A; Endre, Zoltan H; Poynten, Ann M; Kiernan, Matthew C; Krishnan, Arun V

2018-05-01

To demonstrate construct validity of the Total Neuropathy Score (TNS) in assessing peripheral neuropathy in subjects with chronic kidney disease (CKD). 113 subjects with CKD and 40 matched controls were assessed for peripheral neuropathy using the TNS. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted and internal consistency of the scale was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha. Construct validity of the TNS was tested by comparing scores between case and control groups. Factor analysis revealed valid item correlations and internal consistency of the TNS was good with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.897. Subjects with CKD scored significantly higher on the TNS (CKD: median, 6, interquartile range, 1-13; controls: median, 0, interquartile range, 0-1; p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed construct validity was maintained for subjects with stages 3-5 CKD with and without diabetes. The TNS is a valid measure of peripheral neuropathy in patients with CKD. The TNS is the first neuropathy scale to be formally validated in patients with CKD. Copyright © 2018 International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Cryolipolysis for Targeted Fat Reduction and Improved Appearance of the Enlarged Male Breast.

PubMed

Munavalli, Girish S; Panchaprateep, Ratchathorn

2015-09-01

Pseudogynecomastia refers to benign male breast enlargement due to excess subareolar fat. Standard treatment is surgical excision under general anesthesia, liposuction, or a combination of both. The safety and efficacy of cryolipolysis was investigated for nonsurgical treatment of pseudogynecomastia. Enrollment consisted of 21 males with pseudogynecomastia. Subjects received a first treatment consisting of a 60-minute cryolipolysis cycle, followed by a two-minute massage, and a second 60-minute cycle with 50% treatment area overlap. At 60 days of follow-up, subjects received a second 60-minute treatment. Safety was evaluated by monitoring side effects and adverse events. Efficacy was assessed by ultrasound, clinical photographs, and subject surveys. Surveys revealed that 95% of subjects reported improved visual appearance and 89% reported reduced embarrassment associated with pseudogynecomastia. Ultrasound showed mean fat layer reduction of 1.6 ± 1.2 mm. Blinded reviewers correctly identified 82% of baseline photographs. Side effects included mild discomfort during treatment and transient paresthesia and tenderness. One case of paradoxical hyperplasia (PH) occurred but likelihood of PH in the male breast is not believed to be greater than in any other treatment area. This study demonstrated feasibility of cryolipolysis for safe, effective, and well-tolerated nonsurgical treatment of pseudogynecomastia.

Basolateral amygdala volume and cell numbers in major depressive disorder: a postmortem stereological study.

PubMed

Rubinow, Marisa J; Mahajan, Gouri; May, Warren; Overholser, James C; Jurjus, George J; Dieter, Lesa; Herbst, Nicole; Steffens, David C; Miguel-Hidalgo, Jose J; Rajkowska, Grazyna; Stockmeier, Craig A

2016-01-01

Functional imaging studies consistently report abnormal amygdala activity in major depressive disorder (MDD). Neuroanatomical correlates are less clear: imaging studies have produced mixed results on amygdala volume, and postmortem neuroanatomic studies have only examined cell densities in portions of the amygdala or its subregions in MDD. Here, we present a stereological analysis of the volume of, and the total number of, neurons, glia, and neurovascular (pericyte and endothelial) cells in the basolateral amygdala in MDD. Postmortem tissues from 13 subjects with MDD and 10 controls were examined. Sections (~15/subject) taken throughout the rostral-caudal extent of the basolateral amygdala (BLA) were stained for Nissl substance and utilized for stereological estimation of volume and cell numbers. Results indicate that depressed subjects had a larger lateral nucleus than controls and a greater number of total BLA neurovascular cells than controls. There were no differences in the number or density of neurons or glia between depressed and control subjects. These findings present a more detailed picture of BLA cellular anatomy in depression than has previously been available. Further studies are needed to determine whether the greater number of neurovascular cells in depressed subjects may be related to increased amygdala activity in depression.

Estimating disease prevalence in two-phase studies.

PubMed

Alonzo, Todd A; Pepe, Margaret Sullivan; Lumley, Thomas

2003-04-01

Disease prevalence is ideally estimated using a 'gold standard' to ascertain true disease status on all subjects in a population of interest. In practice, however, the gold standard may be too costly or invasive to be applied to all subjects, in which case a two-phase design is often employed. Phase 1 data consisting of inexpensive and non-invasive screening tests on all study subjects are used to determine the subjects that receive the gold standard in the second phase. Naive estimates of prevalence in two-phase studies can be biased (verification bias). Imputation and re-weighting estimators are often used to avoid this bias. We contrast the forms and attributes of the various prevalence estimators. Distribution theory and simulation studies are used to investigate their bias and efficiency. We conclude that the semiparametric efficient approach is the preferred method for prevalence estimation in two-phase studies. It is more robust and comparable in its efficiency to imputation and other re-weighting estimators. It is also easy to implement. We use this approach to examine the prevalence of depression in adolescents with data from the Great Smoky Mountain Study.

Global topological dominance in the left hemisphere.

PubMed

Wang, Bo; Zhou, Tian Gang; Zhuo, Yan; Chen, Lin

2007-12-26

A series of experiments with right-handers demonstrated that the left hemisphere (LH) is reliably and consistently superior to the right hemisphere (RH) for global topological perception. These experiments generalized the topological account of lateralization to different kinds of topological properties (including holes, inside/outside relation, and "presence vs. absence") in comparison with a broad spectrum of geometric properties, including orientation, distance, size, mirror-symmetry, parallelism, collinearity, etc. The stimuli and paradigms used were also designed to prevent subjects from using various nontopological properties in performing the tasks of topological discrimination. Furthermore, task factors commonly considered in the study of hemispheric asymmetry, such as response latency vs. accuracy, vertical vs. horizontal presentation, detection vs. recognition, and simultaneous vs. sequential judgment, were manipulated to not be confounding factors. Moreover, left-handed subjects were tested and showed the right lateralization of topological perception, in the opposite direction of lateralization compared with right-handers. In addition, the functional magnetic resonance imaging measure revealed that only a region in the left temporal gyrus was consistently more activated across subjects in the task of topological discrimination, consistent with the behavioral results. In summary, the global topological dominance in the LH is well supported by the converging evidence from the variety of paradigms and techniques, and it suggests a unified solution to the current major controversies on visual lateralization.

Cariogenic Potential of Inhaled Antiasthmatic Drugs.

PubMed

Brigic, Amela; Kobaslija, Sedin; Zukanovic, Amila

2015-08-01

The organism of children with asthma is exposed to the effects of the disease but also the drugs for its treatment. Antiasthmatic drugs have different modes that promote the caries formation which varies according to their basic pharmacological composition. Namely, these drugs have a relatively low pH (5.5), can contain sweeteners such as lactose monohydrate in order to improve the drug taste or both. Frequent consumption of these inhalers in combination with reduced secretion of saliva increases the risk of caries. The study sample consisted of 200 patients, age from 7-14 years, divided into two groups: control group (n1 = 100) consisted of healthy children and the experimental group consisted of children suffering from asthma (n2 = 100). In both groups of respondents are determined the DMFT index, plaque index value and hygienic-dietary habits using the questionnaire. The subjects in the control group had significantly higher DMFT index than subjects in the experimental group (p = 0.004). It is determined that there are no significant differences in the values of plaque index (p>0.05). The effect of different diseases or medications from their treatment, diet and fermentable carbohydrates in the etiology of dental caries cannot be observed outside the living conditions of subjects, their social epidemiologic status, age, habits, oral hygiene, fluoride use, etc.

Minimal evidence for consistent changes in maize DNA methylation patterns following environmental stress.

PubMed

Eichten, Steven R; Springer, Nathan M

2015-01-01

DNA methylation is a chromatin modification that is sometimes associated with epigenetic regulation of gene expression. As DNA methylation can be reversible at some loci, it is possible that methylation patterns may change within an organism that is subjected to environmental stress. In order to assess the effects of abiotic stress on DNA methylation patterns in maize (Zea mays), seeding plants were subjected to heat, cold, and UV stress treatments. Tissue was later collected from individual adult plants that had been subjected to stress or control treatments and used to perform DNA methylation profiling to determine whether there were consistent changes in DNA methylation triggered by specific stress treatments. DNA methylation profiling was performed by immunoprecipitation of methylated DNA followed by microarray hybridization to allow for quantitative estimates of DNA methylation abundance throughout the low-copy portion of the maize genome. By comparing the DNA methylation profiles of each individual plant to the average of the control plants it was possible to identify regions of the genome with variable DNA methylation. However, we did not find evidence of consistent DNA methylation changes resulting from the stress treatments used in this study. Instead, the data suggest that there is a low-rate of stochastic variation that is present in both control and stressed plants.

Resting-state fMRI correlations: From link-wise unreliability to whole brain stability.

PubMed

Pannunzi, Mario; Hindriks, Rikkert; Bettinardi, Ruggero G; Wenger, Elisabeth; Lisofsky, Nina; Martensson, Johan; Butler, Oisin; Filevich, Elisa; Becker, Maxi; Lochstet, Martyna; Kühn, Simone; Deco, Gustavo

2017-08-15

The functional architecture of spontaneous BOLD fluctuations has been characterized in detail by numerous studies, demonstrating its potential relevance as a biomarker. However, the systematic investigation of its consistency is still in its infancy. Here, we analyze within- and between-subject variability and test-retest reliability of resting-state functional connectivity (FC) in a unique data set comprising multiple fMRI scans (42) from 5 subjects, and 50 single scans from 50 subjects. We adopt a statistical framework that enables us to identify different sources of variability in FC. We show that the low reliability of single links can be significantly improved by using multiple scans per subject. Moreover, in contrast to earlier studies, we show that spatial heterogeneity in FC reliability is not significant. Finally, we demonstrate that despite the low reliability of individual links, the information carried by the whole-brain FC matrix is robust and can be used as a functional fingerprint to identify individual subjects from the population. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Dynamic transcriptional signatures and network responses for clinical symptoms in influenza-infected human subjects using systems biology approaches.

PubMed

Linel, Patrice; Wu, Shuang; Deng, Nan; Wu, Hulin

2014-10-01

Recent studies demonstrate that human blood transcriptional signatures may be used to support diagnosis and clinical decisions for acute respiratory viral infections such as influenza. In this article, we propose to use a newly developed systems biology approach for time course gene expression data to identify significant dynamically response genes and dynamic gene network responses to viral infection. We illustrate the methodological pipeline by reanalyzing the time course gene expression data from a study with healthy human subjects challenged by live influenza virus. We observed clear differences in the number of significant dynamic response genes (DRGs) between the symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects and also identified DRG signatures for symptomatic subjects with influenza infection. The 505 common DRGs shared by the symptomatic subjects have high consistency with the signature genes for predicting viral infection identified in previous works. The temporal response patterns and network response features were carefully analyzed and investigated.

An automated image processing method for classification of diabetic retinopathy stages from conjunctival microvasculature images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khansari, Maziyar M.; O'Neill, William; Penn, Richard; Blair, Norman P.; Chau, Felix; Shahidi, Mahnaz

2017-03-01

The conjunctiva is a densely vascularized tissue of the eye that provides an opportunity for imaging of human microcirculation. In the current study, automated fine structure analysis of conjunctival microvasculature images was performed to discriminate stages of diabetic retinopathy (DR). The study population consisted of one group of nondiabetic control subjects (NC) and 3 groups of diabetic subjects, with no clinical DR (NDR), non-proliferative DR (NPDR), or proliferative DR (PDR). Ordinary least square regression and Fisher linear discriminant analyses were performed to automatically discriminate images between group pairs of subjects. Human observers who were masked to the grouping of subjects performed image discrimination between group pairs. Over 80% and 70% of images of subjects with clinical and non-clinical DR were correctly discriminated by the automated method, respectively. The discrimination rates of the automated method were higher than human observers. The fine structure analysis of conjunctival microvasculature images provided discrimination of DR stages and can be potentially useful for DR screening and monitoring.

Variation of the Korotkoff Stethoscope Sounds During Blood Pressure Measurement: Analysis Using a Convolutional Neural Network.

PubMed

Pan, Fan; He, Peiyu; Liu, Chengyu; Li, Taiyong; Murray, Alan; Zheng, Dingchang

2017-11-01

Korotkoff sounds are known to change their characteristics during blood pressure (BP) measurement, resulting in some uncertainties for systolic and diastolic pressure (SBP and DBP) determinations. The aim of this study was to assess the variation of Korotkoff sounds during BP measurement by examining all stethoscope sounds associated with each heartbeat from above systole to below diastole during linear cuff deflation. Three repeat BP measurements were taken from 140 healthy subjects (age 21 to 73 years; 62 female and 78 male) by a trained observer, giving 420 measurements. During the BP measurements, the cuff pressure and stethoscope signals were simultaneously recorded digitally to a computer for subsequent analysis. Heartbeats were identified from the oscillometric cuff pressure pulses. The presence of each beat was used to create a time window (1 s, 2000 samples) centered on the oscillometric pulse peak for extracting beat-by-beat stethoscope sounds. A time-frequency two-dimensional matrix was obtained for the stethoscope sounds associated with each beat, and all beats between the manually determined SBPs and DBPs were labeled as "Korotkoff." A convolutional neural network was then used to analyze consistency in sound patterns that were associated with Korotkoff sounds. A 10-fold cross-validation strategy was applied to the stethoscope sounds from all 140 subjects, with the data from ten groups of 14 subjects being analyzed separately, allowing consistency to be evaluated between groups. Next, within-subject variation of the Korotkoff sounds analyzed from the three repeats was quantified, separately for each stethoscope sound beat. There was consistency between folds with no significant differences between groups of 14 subjects (P = 0.09 to P = 0.62). Our results showed that 80.7% beats at SBP and 69.5% at DBP were analyzed as Korotkoff sounds, with significant differences between adjacent beats at systole (13.1%, P = 0.001) and diastole (17.4%, P < 0.001). Results reached stability for SBP (97.8%, at sixth beat below SBP) and DBP (98.1%, at sixth beat above DBP) with no significant differences between adjacent beats (SBP P = 0.74; DBP P = 0.88). There were no significant differences at high-cuff pressures, but at low pressures close to diastole there was a small difference (3.3%, P = 0.02). In addition, greater within subject variability was observed at SBP (21.4%) and DBP (28.9%), with a significant difference between both (P < 0.02). In conclusion, this study has demonstrated that Korotkoff sounds can be consistently identified during the period below SBP and above DBP, but that at systole and diastole there can be substantial variations that are associated with high variation in the three repeat measurements in each subject.

Subjective well-being of mental health nurses in the United Kingdom: Results of an online survey.

PubMed

Oates, Jennifer; Jones, Julia; Drey, Nicholas

2017-08-01

The aim of the present study was to measure the subjective well-being of a group of 225 UK registered mental health nurses (MHN) using three survey measures, and to identify whether certain demographic and workplace factors correlated with subjective well-being measure scores. An online survey incorporating the subjective well-being questions used by the Office for National Statistics, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale was administered to members of two professional bodies for MHN. There was good consistency between the three subjective well-being measures, each demonstrating that UK MHN had a relatively low subjective well-being. Apart from the Office for National Statistics question, 'Overall, to what extent do you feel the things you do in your life are worthwhile?', demographic and workplace factors did not correlate with subjective well-being measure scores, although the characteristics of being male, living alone, and being aged 40-49 years were associated with lower mean scores on all three measures. The findings of the exploratory study suggest that a similar study should be undertaken with a larger representative population of MHN, and that qualitative research should explore why and how UK MHN have relatively low subjective well-being. The limitations of this study, namely the response rate and sample representativeness, mean that the results of the present study must be tested in further research on the MHN population. © 2016 Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Inc.

Emergent HIV-1 Drug Resistance Mutations Were Not Present at Low-Frequency at Baseline in Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor-Treated Subjects in the STaR Study

PubMed Central

Porter, Danielle P.; Daeumer, Martin; Thielen, Alexander; Chang, Silvia; Martin, Ross; Cohen, Cal; Miller, Michael D.; White, Kirsten L.

2015-01-01

At Week 96 of the Single-Tablet Regimen (STaR) study, more treatment-naïve subjects that received rilpivirine/emtricitabine/tenofovir DF (RPV/FTC/TDF) developed resistance mutations compared to those treated with efavirenz (EFV)/FTC/TDF by population sequencing. Furthermore, more RPV/FTC/TDF-treated subjects with baseline HIV-1 RNA >100,000 copies/mL developed resistance compared to subjects with baseline HIV-1 RNA ≤100,000 copies/mL. Here, deep sequencing was utilized to assess the presence of pre-existing low-frequency variants in subjects with and without resistance development in the STaR study. Deep sequencing (Illumina MiSeq) was performed on baseline and virologic failure samples for all subjects analyzed for resistance by population sequencing during the clinical study (n = 33), as well as baseline samples from control subjects with virologic response (n = 118). Primary NRTI or NNRTI drug resistance mutations present at low frequency (≥2% to 20%) were detected in 6.6% of baseline samples by deep sequencing, all of which occurred in control subjects. Deep sequencing results were generally consistent with population sequencing but detected additional primary NNRTI and NRTI resistance mutations at virologic failure in seven samples. HIV-1 drug resistance mutations emerging while on RPV/FTC/TDF or EFV/FTC/TDF treatment were not present at low frequency at baseline in the STaR study. PMID:26690199

Emergent HIV-1 Drug Resistance Mutations Were Not Present at Low-Frequency at Baseline in Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor-Treated Subjects in the STaR Study.

PubMed

Porter, Danielle P; Daeumer, Martin; Thielen, Alexander; Chang, Silvia; Martin, Ross; Cohen, Cal; Miller, Michael D; White, Kirsten L

2015-12-07

At Week 96 of the Single-Tablet Regimen (STaR) study, more treatment-naïve subjects that received rilpivirine/emtricitabine/tenofovir DF (RPV/FTC/TDF) developed resistance mutations compared to those treated with efavirenz (EFV)/FTC/TDF by population sequencing. Furthermore, more RPV/FTC/TDF-treated subjects with baseline HIV-1 RNA >100,000 copies/mL developed resistance compared to subjects with baseline HIV-1 RNA ≤100,000 copies/mL. Here, deep sequencing was utilized to assess the presence of pre-existing low-frequency variants in subjects with and without resistance development in the STaR study. Deep sequencing (Illumina MiSeq) was performed on baseline and virologic failure samples for all subjects analyzed for resistance by population sequencing during the clinical study (n = 33), as well as baseline samples from control subjects with virologic response (n = 118). Primary NRTI or NNRTI drug resistance mutations present at low frequency (≥2% to 20%) were detected in 6.6% of baseline samples by deep sequencing, all of which occurred in control subjects. Deep sequencing results were generally consistent with population sequencing but detected additional primary NNRTI and NRTI resistance mutations at virologic failure in seven samples. HIV-1 drug resistance mutations emerging while on RPV/FTC/TDF or EFV/FTC/TDF treatment were not present at low frequency at baseline in the STaR study.

Achievement-Related within-School Socioeconomic Gaps in Science Subjects in China: Evidence on Existence, Consistency, and Compensation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ma, Xin; Yuan, Jing; Luo, Xingkai

2016-01-01

Using data from the 2011 (Chinese) Student Academic Achievement Evaluation, we examined whether within-school socioeconomic gaps in science achievement exist across science subjects, how consistent they are, and whether there are relationships between school average science achievement and within-school socioeconomic gaps in science achievement.…

Effects of varied doses of psilocybin on time interval reproduction in human subjects.

PubMed

Wackermann, Jirí; Wittmann, Marc; Hasler, Felix; Vollenweider, Franz X

2008-04-11

Action of a hallucinogenic substance, psilocybin, on internal time representation was investigated in two double-blind, placebo-controlled studies: Experiment 1 with 12 subjects and graded doses, and Experiment 2 with 9 subjects and a very low dose. The task consisted in repeated reproductions of time intervals in the range from 1.5 to 5s. The effects were assessed by parameter kappa of the 'dual klepsydra' model of internal time representation, fitted to individual response data and intra-individually normalized with respect to initial values. The estimates kappa were in the same order of magnitude as in earlier studies. In both experiments, kappa was significantly increased by psilocybin at 90 min from the drug intake, indicating a higher loss rate of the internal duration representation. These findings are tentatively linked to qualitative alterations of subjective time in altered states of consciousness.

The distinctiveness heuristic in false recognition and false recall.

PubMed

McCabe, David P; Smith, Anderson D

2006-07-01

The effects of generative processing on false recognition and recall were examined in four experiments using the Deese-Roediger-McDermott false memory paradigm (Deese, 1959; Roediger & McDermott, 1995). In each experiment, a Generate condition in which subjects generated studied words from audio anagrams was compared to a Control condition in which subjects simply listened to studied words presented normally. Rates of false recognition and false recall were lower for critical lures associated with generated lists, than for critical lures associated with control lists, but only in between-subjects designs. False recall and recognition did not differ when generate and control conditions were manipulated within-subjects. This pattern of results is consistent with the distinctiveness heuristic (Schacter, Israel, & Racine, 1999), a metamemorial decision-based strategy whereby global changes in decision criteria lead to reductions of false memories. This retrieval-based monitoring mechanism appears to operate in a similar fashion in reducing false recognition and false recall.

Anorexia Nervosa and First-Person Perspective: Altruism, Family System, and Body Experience.

PubMed

Englebert, Jérôme; Follet, Valérie; Valentiny, Caroline

2018-01-01

Based on the case study of Jeanne, the objective of this article is to study patterns of specific subjectivity in anorexic subjects. We seek to identify, in a first-person perspective, the core vulnerability features of anorexic existence, beyond the dimension of food alone. The identification of a psychopathological structure results in a better understanding of Jeanne's clinical situation and helps formulate psychotherapeutic and prophylactic recommendations. We suggest that so-called "denial" is a psychological mechanism that should be reconsidered. Denial is not a mechanism pertaining to anorexic subjects alone, but is also a process encountered both in the patient's family and in the therapeutic environment. Anorexic denial is based on anosognosia and the refusal to see one's own thinness, while other people's denial consists in a widespread inability to perceive the altruism and intersubjective problematic on which the existence of an anorexic subject fundamentally depends. © 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.

The Effect of Electronic Dialogue Journaling on Jordanian Basic Stage EFL Students' Writing Performance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

El-Koumy, Abdel Salam Abdel Khalek; Mirjan, Zahra' Imad

2008-01-01

This study aimed at investigating the effect of electronic dialogue journaling on Jordanian upper basic stage EFL students' writing performance. The study utilized a pretest-posttest control group experimental design. The subjects of the study consisted of fifty students enrolled in the Islamic Educational School during the first semester of the…

What Does It Take for College Students to "Buy In" to Study Strategy Use?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schmitt, Maribeth Cassidy

A study investigated the effects of the motivational variables of attribution and self-efficacy on the continued use of successfully learned strategies which promote independent learning from text. The subjects consisted of 11 freshmen and sophomore students participating in a two-week workshop on learning strategies which included a study project…

Visual Field Asymmetries in Attention Vary with Self-Reported Attention Deficits

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Poynter, William; Ingram, Paul; Minor, Scott

2010-01-01

The purpose of this study was to determine whether an index of self-reported attention deficits predicts the pattern of visual field asymmetries observed in behavioral measures of attention. Studies of "normal" subjects do not present a consistent pattern of asymmetry in attention functions, with some studies showing better left visual field (LVF)…

Language Learning Styles and Learning Strategies of Tertiary-Level English Learners in China

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jie, Li; Xiaoqing, Qin

2006-01-01

This study focuses on the relationship between learning styles and language learning strategies in the EFL context in China. The study presents two kinds of data: quantitative and qualitative. In the quantitative study, the subjects consisted of 187 second-year undergraduates. Two self-reported inventories, the Chinese version of MBTI-G and a…

Practice of preventive dentistry for nursing staff in primary care.

PubMed

Jiménez-Báez, María Valeria; Acuña-Reyes, Raquel; Cigarroa-Martínez, Didier; Ureña-Bogarín, Enrique; Orgaz-Fernández, Jose David

2014-01-01

Determine the domain of preventive dentistry in nursing personnel assigned to a primary care unit. Prospective descriptive study, questionnaire validation, and prevalence study. In the first stage, the questionnaire for the practice of preventive dentistry (CPEP, for the term in Spanish) was validated; consistency and reliability were measured by Cronbach's alpha, Pearson's correlation, factor analysis with intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). In the second stage, the domain in preventive dental nurses was explored. The overall internal consistency of CPEP is α= 0.66, ICC= 0.64, CI95%: 0.29-0.87 (p >0.01). Twenty-one subjects in the study, average age 43, 81.0% female, average seniority of 12.5 were included. A total of 71.5% showed weak domain, 28.5% regular domain, and there was no questionnaire with good domain result. The older the subjects were, the smaller the domain; female nurses showed greater mastery of preventive dentistry (29%, CI95%: 0.1-15.1) than male nurses. Public health nurses showed greater mastery with respect to other categories (50%, CI95%: 0.56-2.8). The CDEP has enough consistency to explore the domain of preventive dentistry in health-care staff. The domain of preventive dentistry in primary care nursing is poor, required to strengthen to provide education in preventive dentistry to the insured population.

Depression, mood state, and back pain during microgravity simulated by bed rest

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Styf, J. R.; Hutchinson, K.; Carlsson, S. G.; Hargens, A. R.

2001-01-01

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to develop a ground-based model for spinal adaptation to microgravity and to study the effects of spinal adaptation on depression, mood state, and pain intensity. METHODS: We investigated back pain, mood state, and depression in six subjects, all of whom were exposed to microgravity, simulated by two forms of bed rest, for 3 days. One form consisted of bed rest with 6 degrees of head-down tilt and balanced traction, and the other consisted of horizontal bed rest. Subjects had a 2-week period of recovery between the studies. The effects of bed rest on pain intensity in the lower back, depression, and mood state were investigated. RESULTS: Subjects experienced significantly more intense lower back pain, lower hemisphere abdominal pain, headache, and leg pain during head-down tilt bed rest. They had higher scores on the Beck Depression Inventory (ie, were more depressed) and significantly lower scores on the activity scale of the Bond-Lader questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: Bed rest with 6 degrees of head-down tilt may be a better experimental model than horizontal bed rest for inducing the pain and psychosomatic reactions experienced in microgravity. Head-down tilt with balanced traction may be a useful method to induce low back pain, mood changes, and altered self-rated activity level in bed rest studies.

Screening for social phobia in medical in- and outpatients with the German version of the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN).

PubMed

Sosic, Z; Gieler, U; Stangier, U

2008-06-01

To evaluate the German version of the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) as a screening device and to report corresponding cut-off scores for different populations. In Study 1, 2043 subjects from a representative sample completed the SPIN. Cut-off values were established on the basis of means and standard deviations. In Study 2, different aspects of validity were examined in a clinical sample comprising 164 subjects, including social phobic individuals, individuals with other anxiety disorders and depression, and non-clinical control subjects. Internal consistency was evaluated. Convergent and divergent validity were explored using several established measures. Finally, the sensitivity and specificity of the German SPIN with regard to social anxiety classification were investigated by means of receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analyses. In Study 1, mean scores and standard deviations were used to determine cut-off scores for the German SPIN. In Study 2, excellent internal consistency and good convergent and divergent validity were obtained. ROC analyses revealed that the German SPIN performed well in discriminating between social phobic individuals on the one hand and psychiatric and non-psychiatric controls on the other. A cut-off score of 25 represented the best balance between sensitivity and specificity. Comparable to the original version, the German SPIN demonstrates solid psychometric properties and shows promise as an economic, reliable, and valid screening device.

Development of a Korean Version of the Perceived Deficits Questionnaire-Depression for Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

PubMed Central

Kim, Jae-Min; Hong, Jin-Pyo; Kim, Sang-Dae; Kang, Hee-Ju; Lee, Yong-Sung

2016-01-01

Objective Cognitive symptoms are an important component of depression and the Perceived Deficits Questionnaire-Depression is one of only a few instruments available for the subjective assessment of cognitive dysfunction in depression. Thus, the present study aimed to validate a Korean version of the PDQ-D (K-PDQ-D) using patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods This study included 128 MDD patients who were assessed at study entry and 86 of these patients were then completed 12 weeks of antidepressant monotherapy. All subjects were assessed with the K-PDQ-D, the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS), the EuroQol-5 dimensions questionnaire (EQ-5D), and the number of sick leave days taken in the previous week. The internal consistency, Guttman’s split-half and test-retest reliabilities, factorial analyses, and concurrent and predictive validities of the K-PDQ-D were investigated. Results The K-PDQ-D exhibited excellent internal consistency and reliabilities, and was composed of four factors with high coefficients of determination. The concurrent validity analyses revealed that the K-PDQ-D scores were significantly correlated with the MADRS, SDS, and EQ-5D scores and the number of sick leave days taken. The K-PDQ-D scores at study entry significantly predicted changes in sick leave days and EQ-5D score from study entry to the 12-week endpoint. Conclusion The newly developed K-PDQ-D is a reliable and valid instrument for the evaluation of subjective cognitive symptoms in MDD patients. The K-PDQ-D may assist in the gathering of unique information regarding subjective cognitive complaints, which is important for the comprehensive evaluation of patients with MDD. PMID:26792037

Swallowing assessment in myotonic dystrophy type 1 using fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES).

PubMed

Pilz, Walmari; Baijens, Laura W J; Passos, Valéria Lima; Verdonschot, Rob; Wesseling, Frederik; Roodenburg, Nel; Faber, Catharina G; Kremer, Bernd

2014-12-01

This study describes the swallowing function of patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) and the effect of bolus consistency on swallowing in this group. The aim of the study is twofold: (a) to identify which (and to what extent) swallowing variables change for DM1 patients relative to healthy control subjects and (b) to examine whether the degree of oropharyngeal dysphagia is associated with disease severity. Forty-five consecutive DM1 patients and ten healthy subjects underwent a swallowing assessment, at Maastricht University medical Center in the Netherlands. The assessment included a standardized fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) protocol using different bolus consistencies. Clinical severity of the disease was assessed using the muscular impairment rating scale (MIRS). Significant differences were found between patients and controls for all FEES variables. The magnitude of these differences depended on the bolus consistency. The odds of a more pathological swallowing outcome increased significantly with higher MIRS levels. In conclusion, swallowing function is found to be significantly altered in DM1 patients. The results emphasize the importance of conducting a detailed swallowing assessment in all patients, even those with mild muscle weakness. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Potential of a suite of robot/computer-assisted motivating systems for personalized, home-based, stroke rehabilitation

PubMed Central

Johnson, Michelle J; Feng, Xin; Johnson, Laura M; Winters, Jack M

2007-01-01

Background There is a need to improve semi-autonomous stroke therapy in home environments often characterized by low supervision of clinical experts and low extrinsic motivation. Our distributed device approach to this problem consists of an integrated suite of low-cost robotic/computer-assistive technologies driven by a novel universal access software framework called UniTherapy. Our design strategy for personalizing the therapy, providing extrinsic motivation and outcome assessment is presented and evaluated. Methods Three studies were conducted to evaluate the potential of the suite. A conventional force-reflecting joystick, a modified joystick therapy platform (TheraJoy), and a steering wheel platform (TheraDrive) were tested separately with the UniTherapy software. Stroke subjects with hemiparesis and able-bodied subjects completed tracking activities with the devices in different positions. We quantify motor performance across subject groups and across device platforms and muscle activation across devices at two positions in the arm workspace. Results Trends in the assessment metrics were consistent across devices with able-bodied and high functioning strokes subjects being significantly more accurate and quicker in their motor performance than low functioning subjects. Muscle activation patterns were different for shoulder and elbow across different devices and locations. Conclusion The Robot/CAMR suite has potential for stroke rehabilitation. By manipulating hardware and software variables, we can create personalized therapy environments that engage patients, address their therapy need, and track their progress. A larger longitudinal study is still needed to evaluate these systems in under-supervised environments such as the home. PMID:17331243

Masticatory muscle and temporomandibular joint pain in Croatian war veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.

PubMed

Uhac, Ivone; Tariba, Petra; Kovac, Zoran; Simonić-Kocijan, Suncana; Lajnert, Vlatka; Mesić, Vesna Fugosić; Kuis, Davor; Braut, Vedrana

2011-12-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and intensity of masticatory muscle and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain in Croatian war veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The examined group consisted of 100 Croatian war veterans, in whom PTSD had previously been diagnosed. Patients were compared with 92 subjects who had not taken part in the war and in whom PTSD was excluded by psychiatric examination. The clinical examination consisted of palpation of the masticatory muscles, the prominent neck musculature, and TMJ. The examination technique used and the definition of items were previously tested for reliability and validity. 93% of the subjects with PTSD had masticatory muscle tenderness compared to 45.65% of the subjects in the control group (chi2 = 51.46, p < 0.0001). The most frequent painful location in the subjects with PTSD was the left lateral pterygoid site in 88%, and in subjects of the control group the right lateral pterygoid site in 28.26% of cases. The most painful location in the PTSD group was the left lateral pterygoid site in 72%, and in the control group the left posterior digastric in 4.35% of cases. 58% of the subjects with PTSD had TMJ tenderness compared to 3.26% of subjects in the control group (chi2 = 66.23, p < 0.0001). The most frequent painful location of TMJ in both groups was the left posterior capsule; in the PTSD group 38% and in subjects in the control group 2.17% of cases. The most painful location was the left posterior capsule in 28% of subjects with PTSD, while not one subject in the control group reported severe painful sensitivity. The very high frequency and intensity of pain in subjects with PTSD confirms the effect of stress on muscle and joint sensitivity, i.e. perception of pain.

Psychiatric and psychosocial problems in adults with normal-intelligence autism spectrum disorders.

PubMed

Hofvander, Björn; Delorme, Richard; Chaste, Pauline; Nydén, Agneta; Wentz, Elisabet; Ståhlberg, Ola; Herbrecht, Evelyn; Stopin, Astrid; Anckarsäter, Henrik; Gillberg, Christopher; Råstam, Maria; Leboyer, Marion

2009-06-10

Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) often display symptoms from other diagnostic categories. Studies of clinical and psychosocial outcome in adult patients with ASDs without concomitant intellectual disability are few. The objective of this paper is to describe the clinical psychiatric presentation and important outcome measures of a large group of normal-intelligence adult patients with ASDs. Autistic symptomatology according to the DSM-IV-criteria and the Gillberg & Gillberg research criteria, patterns of comorbid psychopathology and psychosocial outcome were assessed in 122 consecutively referred adults with normal intelligence ASDs. The subjects consisted of 5 patients with autistic disorder (AD), 67 with Asperger's disorder (AS) and 50 with pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD NOS). This study group consists of subjects pooled from two studies with highly similar protocols, all seen on an outpatient basis by one of three clinicians. Core autistic symptoms were highly prevalent in all ASD subgroups. Though AD subjects had the most pervasive problems, restrictions in non-verbal communication were common across all three subgroups and, contrary to current DSM criteria, so were verbal communication deficits. Lifetime psychiatric axis I comorbidity was very common, most notably mood and anxiety disorders, but also ADHD and psychotic disorders. The frequency of these diagnoses did not differ between the ASD subgroups or between males and females. Antisocial personality disorder and substance abuse were more common in the PDD NOS group. Of all subjects, few led an independent life and very few had ever had a long-term relationship. Female subjects more often reported having been bullied at school than male subjects. ASDs are clinical syndromes characterized by impaired social interaction and non-verbal communication in adulthood as well as in childhood. They also carry a high risk for co-existing mental health problems from a broad spectrum of disorders and for unfavourable psychosocial life circumstances. For the next revision of DSM, our findings especially stress the importance of careful examination of the exclusion criterion for adult patients with ASDs.

Orofacial pain and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders in Finnish and Thai populations.

PubMed

Sipilä, Kirsi; Tolvanen, Mimmi; Mitrirattanakul, Somsak; Sitthisomwong, Panupen; Järvelin, Marjo-Riitta; Taanila, Anja; Anttonen, Vuokko; Lahti, Satu

2015-07-01

Cultural or ethnic factors may play an important role in subjects' pain reports. The aim of the study was to compare the prevalence of orofacial pain symptoms between Finnish and Thai populations. The Finnish study population comprised the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966, of which 5696 subjects participated in the present study. The Thai sample consisted of 1501 randomly selected people living in 10 different districts in Bangkok. Data on orofacial pain was collected based on questionnaires. After adjusting for age, gender and education, the logistic regression analysis showed that Thai subjects had an increased risk for reporting oral pain (OR = 4.5, 95% CI = 3.7-5.4), tooth pain (OR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.8-2.4) and pain in the face (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.2-1.7). It can be concluded that Thai people report more orofacial pain symptoms than Finnish subjects. Cross-cultural factors exist in the background of reporting pain symptoms in the oral and facial area.

The relationship between physical activity, meaning in life, and subjective vitality in community-dwelling older adults.

PubMed

Ju, Haewon

2017-11-01

The present study examined the potential contribution of meaning in life to the relationship between physical activity and subjective vitality in older adults. Two-hundred and fifty community-dwelling elders completed the instruments assessing physical activity, meaning in life, and subjective vitality. Results from structural equation modeling indicated that physical activity was positively associated with both meaning in life and subjective vitality. Further, the relationship between physical activity and vitality was partially mediated by meaning in life. Although previous studies have consistently found a positive impact of physical activity on vitality, the current study suggested that it is more productive to focus not only on physical activity, but also on meaning in life, in order to vitalize elders. Further, a focus on meaning in life can be a productive way to continue to vitalize older adults who are unable to engage in regular physical activity. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

EEG-based emotion recognition in music listening.

PubMed

Lin, Yuan-Pin; Wang, Chi-Hong; Jung, Tzyy-Ping; Wu, Tien-Lin; Jeng, Shyh-Kang; Duann, Jeng-Ren; Chen, Jyh-Horng

2010-07-01

Ongoing brain activity can be recorded as electroencephalograph (EEG) to discover the links between emotional states and brain activity. This study applied machine-learning algorithms to categorize EEG dynamics according to subject self-reported emotional states during music listening. A framework was proposed to optimize EEG-based emotion recognition by systematically 1) seeking emotion-specific EEG features and 2) exploring the efficacy of the classifiers. Support vector machine was employed to classify four emotional states (joy, anger, sadness, and pleasure) and obtained an averaged classification accuracy of 82.29% +/- 3.06% across 26 subjects. Further, this study identified 30 subject-independent features that were most relevant to emotional processing across subjects and explored the feasibility of using fewer electrodes to characterize the EEG dynamics during music listening. The identified features were primarily derived from electrodes placed near the frontal and the parietal lobes, consistent with many of the findings in the literature. This study might lead to a practical system for noninvasive assessment of the emotional states in practical or clinical applications.

Verbal numerical scales are as reliable and sensitive as visual analog scales for rating dyspnea in young and older subjects.

PubMed

Morris, N R; Sabapathy, S; Adams, L; Kingsley, R A; Schneider, D A; Stulbarg, M S

2007-08-01

This study compared the use of a simple verbal 0-10 numerical rating scale (verbal NRS) and a visual analog scale (VAS) for the rating of dyspnea during exercise in a group of young and older subjects. Twelve younger (32+/-9 yr) and 12 older (71+/-7 yr) subjects used either the verbal NRS or the VAS in a randomised fashion to rate dyspnea during 60 s of uphill treadmill walking (range 5.6-8.8 km h(-1)) performed at either a low (17% grade) or high workload (26% grade) and then during recovery. Rating scales were evaluated twice on separate days (day 1 and day 2) at each workload. While the verbal NRS scores proved to be reliable throughout exercise and recovery, VAS scores were significantly (p<0.05) lower on day 2 during the low workload test (younger group) and the high workload test (older group). Verbal NRS ratings were consistently greater than VAS ratings at both workloads (p<0.001) for both young and older groups. The intra-class correlation coefficients for rating peak dyspnea using either the VAS or verbal NRS were consistently lower for the older subjects (range: r=0.54-0.67) than the younger subjects (range: r=0.70-0.86). Overall, subjects preferred the verbal NRS to the VAS. These results suggest that the verbal NRS compares favourably with the VAS for rating dyspnea during exercise without mask or mouthpiece. However, when rating peak dyspnea both scales appear less reliable when used by the older compared to young subjects.

University Teachers' Experiences of Academic Leadership and Their Approaches to Teaching

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ramsden, Paul; Prosser, Michael; Trigwell, Keith; Martin, Elaine

2007-01-01

The study examined associations between university teachers' experiences of academic leadership, their perceptions of a specific academic context and their approaches to teaching in a particular subject that was taught in that context. The sample consisted of 439 lecturers in Australian universities in four fields of study. Lecturers completed…

76 FR 28973 - Terra-Gen Dixie Valley, LLC; Order on Rehearing and Accepting Tariff Filing, Subject to...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-19

.... Clustering and Effective Date i. Terra-Gen Tariff Provisions 15. Terra-Gen proposes provisions to address clustering of transmission system impact studies, consistent with the guidance provided in the January 14... on how Terra-Gen may cluster studies.\\22\\ Terra-Gen's proposed clustering provisions provide, among...

Problem Solving Strategies of Selected Pre-Service Secondary School Mathematics Teachers in Malaysia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yew, Wun Theam; Zamri, Sharifah Norul Akmar Syed

2016-01-01

Problem solving strategies of eight pre-service secondary school mathematics teachers (PSSMTs) were examined in this study. A case study research design was employed and clinical interview technique was used to collect the data. Materials collected for analysis consisted of audiotapes and videotapes of clinical interviews, subjects' notes and…

Burnout: Coping with Predictable Professional Life Crises.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schnacke, Stephen B.; And Others

The first section of this paper presents a review of recent studies on teacher burnout. Although a number of specific stressors have been explored, those which appear most consistently in studies on the subject are in the general categories of conduct and discipline of pupils, misbehavior and poor student attitudes, personal teaching competence,…

Classical Civilization, English, Social Studies: 5114.67.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hankins, Gretchen C.

This course will include the study of Greek mythology, philosophy, and drama and analyze their influence on modern man and his ideas. The course outline consists of: I. Performance Objectives; II. Range of Subject Matter; III. Course Content; IV. Teaching Strategies and Learning Activities; V. Student Resources -- a list of books relevant to Greek…

Problems in Learning of Electronic Filing at Vocational School in Yogyakarta Special Region, Indonesia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sutirman; Muhyadi; Surjono, Herman Dwi

2017-01-01

This study aims to investigate the learning implementation of electronic filing and problems faced by teachers in learning implementing of electronic filing. This study is a descriptive research with qualitative approach. Collecting data used interview and documentation techniques. The research subjects consisted of 29 teachers who teach Filing…

Effectiveness of Instruction Based on the Constructivist Approach on Understanding Chemical Equilibrium Concepts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Akkus, Huseyin; Kadayifci, Hakki; Atasoy, Basri; Geban, Omer

2003-01-01

The purpose of this study was to identify misconceptions concerning chemical equilibrium concepts and to investigate the effectiveness of instruction based on the constructivist approach over traditional instruction on 10th grade students' understanding of chemical equilibrium concepts. The subjects of this study consisted of 71 10th grade…

Effectiveness of a Solution-Based Counseling on Students' Self-Perception

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Joker, Habib; Ghaderi, Zahra

2015-01-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of solution-based counseling to increase students' self-conception. Method of research was semi-experimental with pretest and posttest design with a control group. The study sample consisted of all high school students in Dashtestan city, Bushkan district for which 30 subjects were…

Interpretation Awareness of Creativity Mathematics Teacher High School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mastuti, Ajeng Gelora; Nusantara, Toto; Purwanto; As'ari, Abdurrahman; Subanji; Abadyo; Susiswo

2016-01-01

The purposes of this study are: a) to investigate high school math teacher creativity equality, b) to investigate what factors can inhibit their creativity consciousness. The subjects of this study consisted of two high school math teacher who had a different experience academically. The results of the qualitative research show the relationship…

Identifying Natural Sources of Resistance: A Case Study Analysis of Curriculum Implementation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Swanson-Owens, Deborah

Frequently curriculum implementation procedures consist of little more than teachers receiving descriptions of subject matter, definitions of new or technical terminology, and/or outlines detailing the surface steps of an instructional process. This case study analysis of how two high school teachers adapted some new curriculum features into their…

Identity, gender, and subjective well-being.

PubMed

Chang, Wen-Chun

2011-01-01

Using the self-reported level of happiness as a measure of subjective well-being, this study examines the relationship between gender identity and subjective well-being with data from Taiwan. The findings suggest that an individual's perceptions about the ideals of women's gender roles in the labor market, the family, and politics are strongly related to his or her assigned social category, the prescriptions and characteristics associated with the social category, and the actions taken to match the ideals of gender identity. Consistent with Akerlof and Kranton's (2000) identity model, it is also found that an individual's gains or losses in gender identity lead to increases or decreases in the level of happiness.

Evaluation of the relationship between motion sickness symptomatology and blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Graybiel, A.; Lackner, J. R.

1980-01-01

This study investigated the relationship between the development of symptoms of motion sickness and changes in blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature. Twelve subjects were each evaluated four times using the vestibular-visual interaction test (Graybiel and Lackner, 1980). The results were analyzed both within and across individual subjects. Neither a systematic group nor consistent individual relationship was found between the physiological parameters and the appearance of symptoms of motion sickness. These findings suggest that biofeedback control of the physiological variables studied is not likely to prevent the expression of motion sickness symptomatology.

Characteristics of students in comparative problem solving

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Irfan, M.; Sudirman; Rahardi, R.

2018-01-01

Often teachers provided examples and exercised to students with regard to comparative problems consisting of one quantity. In this study, the researchers gave the problem of comparison with the two quantities mixed. It was necessary to have a good understanding to solve this problem. This study aimed to determine whether students understand the comparison in depth and be able to solve the problem of non-routine comparison. This study used qualitative explorative methods, with researchers conducting in-depth interviews on subjects to explore the thinking process when solving comparative problems. The subject of this study was three students selected by purposive sampling of 120 students. From this research, researchers found there were three subjects with different characteristics, namely: subject 1, he did the first and second questions with methods of elimination and substitution (non-comparison); subject 2, he did the first question with the concept of comparison although the answer was wrong, and did the second question with the method of elimination and substitution (non-comparison); and subject 3, he did both questions with the concept of comparison. In the first question, he did wrong because he was unable to understand the problem, while on the second he did correctly. From the characteristics of the answers, the researchers divided into 3 groups based on thinking process, namely: blind-proportion, partial-proportion, and proportion thinking.

Quantitative evaluation of light scattering intensities of the crystalline lens for radiation related minimal change in interventional radiologists: a cross-sectional pilot study.

PubMed

Abe, Toshi; Furui, Shigeru; Sasaki, Hiroshi; Sakamoto, Yasuo; Suzuki, Shigeru; Ishitake, Tatsuya; Terasaki, Kinuyo; Kohtake, Hiroshi; Norbash, Alexander M; Behrman, Richard H; Hayabuchi, Naofumi

2013-03-01

To evaluate low-dose X-ray radiation effects on the eye by measuring the amount of light scattering in specific regions of the lens, we compared exposed subjects (interventional radiologists) with unexposed subjects (employees of medical service companies), as a pilot study. According to numerous exclusionary rules, subjects with confounding variables contributing to cataract formation were excluded. Left eye examinations were performed on 68 exposed subjects and 171 unexposed subjects. The eye examinations consisted of an initial screening examination, followed by Scheimpflug imaging of the lens using an anterior eye segment analysis system. The subjects were assessed for the quantity of light scattering intensities found in each of the six layers of the lens. Multiple stepwise regression analyses were performed with the stepwise regression for six variables: age, radiation exposure, smoking, drinking, wearing glasses and workplace. In addition, an age-matched comparison between exposed and unexposed subjects was performed. Minimal increased light scattering intensity in the posterior subcapsular region showed statistical significance. Our results indicate that occupational radiation exposure in interventional radiologists may affect the posterior subcapsular region of the lens. Since by its very nature this retrospective study had many limitations, further well-designed studies concerning minimal radiation-related lens changes should be carried out in a low-dose exposure group.

MDMA effects consistent across laboratories

PubMed Central

Kirkpatrick, Matthew G.; Baggott, Matthew J.; Mendelson, John E.; Galloway, Gantt P.; Liechti, Matthias E.; Hysek, Cédric M.; de Wit, Harriet

2014-01-01

Rationale Several laboratories have conducted placebo-controlled drug challenge studies with MDMA, providing a unique source of data to examine the reliability of the acute effects of the drug across subject samples and settings. We examined the subjective and physiological responses to the drug across three different laboratories, and investigated the influence of prior MDMA use. Methods Overall, 220 healthy volunteers with varying levels of previous MDMA experience participated in laboratory-based studies in which they received placebo or oral MDMA (1.5 mg/kg or 125 mg fixed dose) under double blind conditions. Cardiovascular and subjective effects were assessed before and repeatedly after drug administration. The studies were conducted independently by investigators in Basel, San Francisco and Chicago. Results Despite methodological differences between the studies and differences in the subjects' drug use histories, MDMA produced very similar cardiovascular and subjective effects across the sites. The participants' prior use of MDMA was inversely related to feeling `Any Drug Effect' only at sites testing more experienced users. Conclusions These data indicate that the pharmacological effects of MDMA are robust and highly reproducible across settings. There was also modest evidence for tolerance to the effects of MDMA in regular users. PMID:24633447

Homophobia: The Quest for a Valid Scale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lumby, Malcolm E.

1976-01-01

Using a modified version of Smith's "homophobic scale," this study examines attitudinal differences between 60 homosexual and 60 heterosexual Caucasian, middle-class males. Although homosexual subjects evidenced a consistent liberal attitude toward sexual behavior in general, many heterosexuals indicated a strong margin of attitudinal…

Thermal environment and sleep in winter shelter-analogue settings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mochizuki, Yosuke; Maeda, Kazuki; Nabeshima, Yuki; Tsuzuki, Kazuyo

2017-10-01

We aimed to examine sleep in shelter-analogue settings in winter to determine the sleep and environmental conditions in evacuation shelters. Twelve young healthy students took part in the sleep study of two nights for seven hours from 0 AM to 7 AM in a gymnasium. One night the subject used a pair of futons and on the other the subject used emergency supplies consisting of four blankets and a set of portable partitions. Air temperature, humidity were measured around the sleeping subjects through the night. Sleep parameters, skin temperature, microclimate temperature, rectal temperature, and heart rate of the subjects were continuously measured and recorded during the sleeping period. The subjects completed questionnaires relating to thermal comfort and subjective sleep before and after sleep. The sleep efficiency indices were lower when the subjects slept using the blankets. As the microclimate temperature between the human body and blanket was lower, mean skin temperature was significantly lower in the case of blankets.

Does Subjective Rating Reflect Behavioural Coding? Personality in 2 Month-Old Dog Puppies: An Open-Field Test and Adjective-Based Questionnaire

PubMed Central

Passalacqua, Chiara; Beghelli, Valentina; Capra, Alexa; Normando, Simona; Pelosi, Annalisa; Valsecchi, Paola

2016-01-01

A number of studies have recently investigated personality traits in non-human species, with the dog gaining popularity as a subject species for research in this area. Recent research has shown the consistency of personality traits across both context and time for adult dogs, both when using questionnaire based methods of investigation and behavioural analyses of the dogs’ behaviour. However, only a few studies have assessed the correspondence between these two methods, with results varying considerably across studies. Furthermore, most studies have focused on adult dogs, despite the fact that an understanding of personality traits in young puppies may be important for research focusing on the genetic basis of personality traits. In the current study, we sought to evaluate the correspondence between a questionnaire based method and the in depth analyses of the behaviour of 2-month old puppies in an open-field test in which a number of both social and non-social stimuli were presented to the subjects. We further evaluated consistency of traits over time by re-testing a subset of puppies. The correspondence between methods was high and test- retest consistency (for the main trait) was also good using both evaluation methods. Results showed clear factors referring to the two main personality traits ‘extroversion,’ (i.e. the enthusiastic, exuberant approach to the stimuli) and ‘neuroticism,’ (i.e. the more cautious and fearful approach to the stimuli), potentially similar to the shyness-boldness dimension found in previous studies. Furthermore, both methods identified an ‘amicability’ dimension, expressing the positive interactions the pups directed at the humans stranger, and a ‘reservedness’ dimension which identified pups who largely chose not to interact with the stimuli, and were defined as quiet and not nosey in the questionnaire. PMID:26977588

Malabsorption Blood Test: Assessing Fat Absorption in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis and Pancreatic Insufficiency

PubMed Central

Mascarenhas, Maria R.; Mondick, John; Barrett, Jeffrey S.; Wilson, Martha; Stallings, Virginia A.; Schall, Joan I.

2015-01-01

The Malabsorption Blood Test (MBT), consisting of pentadecanoic acid (PA), a free fatty acid and triheptadecanoic acid (THA), a triglyceride that requires pancreatic lipase for absorption of the heptadecanoic acid (HA), was developed to assess fat malabsorption in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and pancreatic insufficiency (PI). The objective was to construct a population pharmacokinetic (PK) model to describe PA and HA disposition in healthy subjects and CF subjects. A model was simultaneously fit to PA and HA concentrations, consisting of one compartment disposition and a transit model to describe absorption. PA bioavailability estimates for CF subjects without pancreatic enzyme administration [1.07 (0.827,1.42)] and with enzymes [0.88 (0.72,1.09)] indicated PA absorption comparable to healthy subjects. HA bioavailability in CF without enzyme administration was 0.0292 (0.0192,0.0459), and with enzymes increased to 0.606 (0.482,0.823). In CF, compared to taking enzymes with the MBT, HA bioavailability was further decreased by factors of 0.829 (0.664,0.979) and 0.78 (0.491,1.13) with enzymes taken 30 and 60 minutes after MBT, respectively. The MBT detected differences in fat absorption in subjects with CF with and without enzyme administration and with changes in enzyme timing. Future studies will address application of the MBT in CF and other malabsorption diagnoses. PMID:25689042

MR Imaging Anatomy in Neurodegeneration: A Robust Volumetric Parcellation Method of the Frontal Lobe Gyri with Quantitative Validation in Patients with Dementia

PubMed Central

Iordanova, B.; Rosenbaum, D.; Norman, D.; Weiner, M.; Studholme, C.

2007-01-01

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Brain volumetry is widely used for evaluating tissue degeneration; however, the parcellation methods are rarely validated and use arbitrary planes to mark boundaries of brain regions. The goal of this study was to develop, validate, and apply an MR imaging tracing method for the parcellation of 3 major gyri of the frontal lobe, which uses only local landmarks intrinsic to the structures of interest, without the need for global reorientation or the use of dividing planes or lines. METHODS Studies were performed on 25 subjects—healthy controls and subjects diagnosed with Lewy body dementia and Alzheimer disease—with significant variation in the underlying gyral anatomy and state of atrophy. The protocol was evaluated by using multiple observers tracing scans of subjects diagnosed with neurodegenerative disease and those aging normally, and the results were compared by spatial overlap agreement. To confirm the results, observers marked the same locations in different brains. We illustrated the variabilities of the key boundaries that pose the greatest challenge to defining consistent parcellations across subjects. RESULTS The resulting gyral volumes were evaluated, and their consistency across raters was used as an additional assessment of the validity of our marking method. The agreement on a scale of 0–1 was found to be 0.83 spatial and 0.90 volumetric for the same rater and 0.85 spatial and 0.90 volumetric for 2 different raters. The results revealed that the protocol remained consistent across different neurodegenerative conditions. CONCLUSION Our method provides a simple and reliable way for the volumetric evaluation of frontal lobe neurodegeneration and can be used as a resource for larger comparative studies as well as a validation procedure of automated algorithms. PMID:16971629

For whom the mind wanders, and when: an experience-sampling study of working memory and executive control in daily life.

PubMed

Kane, Michael J; Brown, Leslie H; McVay, Jennifer C; Silvia, Paul J; Myin-Germeys, Inez; Kwapil, Thomas R

2007-07-01

An experience-sampling study of 124 undergraduates, pretested on complex memory-span tasks, examined the relation between working memory capacity (WMC) and the experience of mind wandering in daily life. Over 7 days, personal digital assistants signaled subjects eight times daily to report immediately whether their thoughts had wandered from their current activity, and to describe their psychological and physical context. WMC moderated the relation between mind wandering and activities' cognitive demand. During challenging activities requiring concentration and effort, higher-WMC subjects maintained on-task thoughts better, and mind-wandered less, than did lower-WMC subjects. The results were therefore consistent with theories of WMC emphasizing the role of executive attention and control processes in determining individual differences and their cognitive consequences.

A web-based system for neural network based classification in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis.

PubMed

de Dumast, Priscille; Mirabel, Clément; Cevidanes, Lucia; Ruellas, Antonio; Yatabe, Marilia; Ioshida, Marcos; Ribera, Nina Tubau; Michoud, Loic; Gomes, Liliane; Huang, Chao; Zhu, Hongtu; Muniz, Luciana; Shoukri, Brandon; Paniagua, Beatriz; Styner, Martin; Pieper, Steve; Budin, Francois; Vimort, Jean-Baptiste; Pascal, Laura; Prieto, Juan Carlos

2018-07-01

The purpose of this study is to describe the methodological innovations of a web-based system for storage, integration and computation of biomedical data, using a training imaging dataset to remotely compute a deep neural network classifier of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA). This study imaging dataset consisted of three-dimensional (3D) surface meshes of mandibular condyles constructed from cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. The training dataset consisted of 259 condyles, 105 from control subjects and 154 from patients with diagnosis of TMJ OA. For the image analysis classification, 34 right and left condyles from 17 patients (39.9 ± 11.7 years), who experienced signs and symptoms of the disease for less than 5 years, were included as the testing dataset. For the integrative statistical model of clinical, biological and imaging markers, the sample consisted of the same 17 test OA subjects and 17 age and sex matched control subjects (39.4 ± 15.4 years), who did not show any sign or symptom of OA. For these 34 subjects, a standardized clinical questionnaire, blood and saliva samples were also collected. The technological methodologies in this study include a deep neural network classifier of 3D condylar morphology (ShapeVariationAnalyzer, SVA), and a flexible web-based system for data storage, computation and integration (DSCI) of high dimensional imaging, clinical, and biological data. The DSCI system trained and tested the neural network, indicating 5 stages of structural degenerative changes in condylar morphology in the TMJ with 91% close agreement between the clinician consensus and the SVA classifier. The DSCI remotely ran with a novel application of a statistical analysis, the Multivariate Functional Shape Data Analysis, that computed high dimensional correlations between shape 3D coordinates, clinical pain levels and levels of biological markers, and then graphically displayed the computation results. The findings of this study demonstrate a comprehensive phenotypic characterization of TMJ health and disease at clinical, imaging and biological levels, using novel flexible and versatile open-source tools for a web-based system that provides advanced shape statistical analysis and a neural network based classification of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Differences in gut microbiota associated with age, sex, and stool consistency in healthy Japanese subjects.

PubMed

Takagi, Tomohisa; Naito, Yuji; Inoue, Ryo; Kashiwagi, Saori; Uchiyama, Kazuhiko; Mizushima, Katsura; Tsuchiya, Saeko; Dohi, Osamu; Yoshida, Naohisa; Kamada, Kazuhiro; Ishikawa, Takeshi; Handa, Osamu; Konishi, Hideyuki; Okuda, Kayo; Tsujimoto, Yoshimasa; Ohnogi, Hiromu; Itoh, Yoshito

2018-06-20

Human gut microbiota is involved in host health and disease development. Investigations of age-related and sex-related alterations in gut microbiota are limited, and the association between stool consistency and gut microbiota has not been fully investigated. We investigated gut microbiota differences related to age, sex, and stool consistency in healthy Japanese subjects. Two-hundred and seventy-seven healthy Japanese subjects aged 20-89 years were enrolled. Fecal samples were obtained to analyze the gut microbiome. We evaluated the association between stool consistency [Bristol stool scale (BSS)] and gut microbiota. Although there were significant differences in the microbial structure between males and females, the α-diversity of gut microbiota showed no difference between males and females or among age groups. There were significant increases in genera Prevotella, Megamonas, Fusobacterium, and Megasphaera and Bifidobacterium, Ruminococcus, and Akkermansia in males and females, respectively. The ratio of hard stools (BSS types 1 and 2) was higher in females; the ratio of loose stools (BSS type 6) was higher in males. No younger male had BSS type 1 or type 2. Fusobacterium in males was significantly higher in the loose consistency group, and Oscillospira was significantly higher in the hard consistency group in males; Campylobacter, SMB53, and Turicibacter were significantly higher in the hard consistency group in females. Several changes in gut microbiota were associated with age and sex. Stool consistency and gut microbiota associations emphasized the importance of stool consistency assessments to understand intestinal function.

Marihuana use. Biologic and behavioral aspects.

PubMed

Mendelson, J H

1976-11-01

More than 70 male chronic marihuana users were studied under research ward conditions for a 31-day period consisting of 5 days of baseline assessment, 21 days of marihuana availability, and 5 days of postsmoking assessment. Biological findings were for the most part within normal limits. Blood chemistry studies showed no abnormalities. Plasma testosterone levels for all subjects at all times during the study were well within normal limits, suggesting that previous reports of testosterone suppression by marihuana may have statistical but not biologic singificance. A significant reduction in baseline vital capacity was observed in six subjects, a compromise in pulmonary function similar to that characteristically produced by chronic inhalation of substances, such as tobacco smoke, which are irritants to the lung. Increased caloric intake and weight gain occurred in virtually all subjects and were causally related to marihuana smoking. The weight gain may be attributable to water retention as well as increased caloric intake. Behavioral findings indicated that no uniform alteration in mood is produced by marihuana smoking--all subjects reported becoming "high", but experienced no consistent degree of euphoria. Mood changes which occurred were relatively mild and were largely dependent on group determinants rather than individual experience. No relationship could be established between marihuana use and motivation to work or engage in socially desirable activities. Evidence that pulmonary function may be compromised as a function of marihuana smoking suggests the need for alerting individuals to this potential health hazard. As was true of cigarette smoking, the eventual public health consequences of marihuana use may become apparent only after large numbers of individuals have smoked marihuana for two or three decades.

Effects of sarin on the nervous system in rescue team staff members and police officers 3 years after the Tokyo subway sarin attack.

PubMed

Nishiwaki, Y; Maekawa, K; Ogawa, Y; Asukai, N; Minami, M; Omae, K

2001-11-01

Although the clinical manifestations of acute sarin poisoning have been reported in detail, no comprehensive study of the chronic physical and psychiatric effects of acute sarin poisoning has been carried out. To clarify the chronic effects of sarin on the nervous system, a cross-sectional epidemiologic study was conducted 3 years after the Tokyo subway sarin attack. Subjects consisted of the rescue team staff members and police officers who had worked at the disaster site. Subjects consisted of 56 male exposed subjects and 52 referent subjects matched for age and occupation. A neurobehavioral test, stabilometry, and measurement of vibration perception thresholds were performed, as well as psychometric tests to assess traumatic stress symptoms. The exposed group performed less well in the backward digit span test than the referent group in a dose-effect manner. This result was the same after controlling for possible confounding factors and was independent of traumatic stress symptoms. In other tests of memory function, except for the Benton visual retention test (mean correct answers), effects related to exposure were also suggested, although they were not statistically significant. In contrast, the dose-effect relationships observed in the neurobehavioral tests (psychomotor function) were unclear. None of the stabilometry and vibration perception threshold parameters had any relation to exposure. Our findings suggest the chronic decline of memory function 2 years and 10 months to 3 years and 9 months after exposure to sarin in the Tokyo subway attack, and further study is needed.

Effects of sarin on the nervous system in rescue team staff members and police officers 3 years after the Tokyo subway sarin attack.

PubMed Central

Nishiwaki, Y; Maekawa, K; Ogawa, Y; Asukai, N; Minami, M; Omae, K

2001-01-01

Although the clinical manifestations of acute sarin poisoning have been reported in detail, no comprehensive study of the chronic physical and psychiatric effects of acute sarin poisoning has been carried out. To clarify the chronic effects of sarin on the nervous system, a cross-sectional epidemiologic study was conducted 3 years after the Tokyo subway sarin attack. Subjects consisted of the rescue team staff members and police officers who had worked at the disaster site. Subjects consisted of 56 male exposed subjects and 52 referent subjects matched for age and occupation. A neurobehavioral test, stabilometry, and measurement of vibration perception thresholds were performed, as well as psychometric tests to assess traumatic stress symptoms. The exposed group performed less well in the backward digit span test than the referent group in a dose-effect manner. This result was the same after controlling for possible confounding factors and was independent of traumatic stress symptoms. In other tests of memory function, except for the Benton visual retention test (mean correct answers), effects related to exposure were also suggested, although they were not statistically significant. In contrast, the dose-effect relationships observed in the neurobehavioral tests (psychomotor function) were unclear. None of the stabilometry and vibration perception threshold parameters had any relation to exposure. Our findings suggest the chronic decline of memory function 2 years and 10 months to 3 years and 9 months after exposure to sarin in the Tokyo subway attack, and further study is needed. PMID:11713003

Personality and behavior prediction and consistency across cultures: A multimethod study of Blacks and Whites in South Africa.

PubMed

Fetvadjiev, Velichko H; Meiring, Deon; van de Vijver, Fons J R; Nel, J Alewyn; Sekaja, Lusanda; Laher, Sumaya

2018-03-01

The cross-cultural universality of behavior's consistency and predictability from personality, assumed in trait models though challenged in cultural psychological models, has usually been operationalized in terms of beliefs and perceptions, and assessed using single-instance self-reports. In a multimethod study of actual behavior across a range of situations, we examined predictability and consistency in participants from the more collectivistic Black ethnic group and the more individualistic White group in South Africa. Participants completed personality questionnaires before the behavior measurements. In Study 1, 107 Black and 241 White students kept diaries for 21 days, recording their behaviors and the situations in which they had occurred. In Study 2, 57 Black and 52 White students were video-recorded in 12 situations in laboratory settings, and external observers scored their behaviors. Across both studies, behavior was predicted by personality on average equally well in the 2 groups, and equally well when using trait-adjective- and behavior-based personality measures. The few cultural differences in situational variability were not in line with individualism-collectivism; however, subjective perceptions of variability, operationalized as dialectical beliefs, were more in line with individualism-collectivism: Blacks viewed their behavior as more variable than Whites. We propose drawing a distinction between subjective beliefs and objective behavior in the study of personality and culture. Larger cultural differences can be expected in beliefs and perceptions than in the links between personality and actual behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

A cross-modal investigation of the neural substrates for ongoing cognition

PubMed Central

Wang, Megan; He, Biyu J.

2014-01-01

What neural mechanisms underlie the seamless flow of our waking consciousness? A necessary albeit insufficient condition for such neural mechanisms is that they should be consistently modulated across time were a segment of the conscious stream to be repeated twice. In this study, we experimentally manipulated the content of a story followed by subjects during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) independently from the modality of sensory input (as visual text or auditory speech) as well as attentional focus. We then extracted brain activity patterns consistently modulated across subjects by the evolving content of the story regardless of whether it was presented visually or auditorily. Specifically, in one experiment we presented the same story to different subjects via either auditory or visual modality. In a second experiment, we presented two different stories simultaneously, one auditorily, one visually, and manipulated the subjects' attentional focus. This experimental design allowed us to dissociate brain activities underlying modality-specific sensory processing from modality-independent story processing. We uncovered a network of brain regions consistently modulated by the evolving content of a story regardless of the sensory modality used for stimulus input, including the superior temporal sulcus/gyrus (STS/STG), the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), the medial frontal cortex (MFC), the temporal pole (TP), and the temporoparietal junction (TPJ). Many of these regions have previously been implicated in semantic processing. Interestingly, different stories elicited similar brain activity patterns, but with subtle differences potentially attributable to varying degrees of emotional valence and self-relevance. PMID:25206347

Diagnostic Sensitivity and Specificity of Dark Adaptometry for Detection of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

PubMed Central

Jackson, Gregory R.; Scott, Ingrid U.; Kim, Ivana K.; Quillen, David A.; Iannaccone, Alessandro; Edwards, John G.

2014-01-01

Purpose. Difficulty with night vision is a common complaint of patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Consistent with this complaint, dark adaptation (DA) is substantially impaired in these patients. Because of the severity of the deficit, measurement of DA has been suggested as a means for the diagnosis of AMD. Previous methods for measurement of DA were time intensive (>30 minutes), which made them unsuitable for clinical use. This study evaluated a rapid DA test (≤6.5 minutes) for the detection of AMD. Methods. Dark adaptation was measured by using the AdaptDx dark adaptometer in two groups: subjects with normal retinal health and subjects with AMD. Subjects were assigned to their group by clinical examination and grading of fundus photographs. Subjects were classified as having DA consistent with normal retinal health (rod intercept ≤ 6.5 minutes) or having dark adaptation consistent with AMD (rod intercept > 6.5 minutes). Results. The eligible sample for analysis included 21 normal adults and 127 AMD patients. The rapid test was found to have a diagnostic sensitivity of 90.6% (P < 0.001) and specificity of 90.5% (P < 0.027). Thus, abnormal DA was detected in 115 of 127 AMD patients, and normal DA was found in 19 of 21 normal adults. Conclusions. The high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity compared favorably to long-duration research methods for the measurement of DA, and slit lamp biomicroscopy performed by a retina specialist. These results suggest that a rapid DA test is useful for the detection of AMD. PMID:24550363

Dental examiners consistency in applying the ICDAS criteria for a caries prevention community trial.

PubMed

Nelson, S; Eggertsson, H; Powell, B; Mandelaris, J; Ntragatakis, M; Richardson, T; Ferretti, G

2011-09-01

To examine dental examiners' one-year consistency in utilizing the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) criteria after baseline training and calibration. A total of three examiners received baseline training/calibration by a "gold standard" examiner, and one year later re-calibration was conducted. For the baseline training/calibration, subjects aged 8-16 years, and for the re-calibration subjects aged five to six years were recruited for the study. The ICDAS criteria were used to classify visual caries lesion severity (0-6 scale), lesion activity (active/inactive), and presence of filling material (0-9 scale) of all available tooth surfaces of permanent and primary teeth. The examination used a clinical light, mirror and air syringe. Kappa (weighted: Wkappa, unweighted: Kappa) statistics were used to determine inter-and intra-examiner reliability at baseline and re-calibration. For lesion severity and filling criteria, the baseline calibration on 35 subjects indicated an inter-rater Wkappa ranging from 0.69-0.92 and intra-rater Wkappa ranging from 0.81-0.92. Re-calibration on 22 subjects indicated an inter-rater Wkappa of 0.77-0.98 and intra-rater Wkappa ranged from 0.93-1.00. The Wkappa for filling was consistently in the excellent range, while lesion severity was in the good to excellent range. Activity kappa was in the poor to good range. All examiners improved with time. The baseline training/calibration in ICDAS was crucial to maintain the stability of the examiners reliability over a one year period. The ICDAS can be an effective assessment tool for community-based clinical trials.

A Study of the Predictability of Praxis I Examination Scores from ACT Scores and Teacher Education Program Prerequisite Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Henderson, Allen R.

2013-01-01

This study investigated the relationship between student enrollment in certain college courses and Praxis I scores. Specifically, the study examined the predictive nature of the relationships between students' grades in college algebra, their freshman English course of choice, their ACT scores, and their Praxis I scores. The subjects consisted of…

The Effect of Classroom Performance Assessment on EFL Students' Basic and Inferential Reading Skills

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

El-Koumy, Abdel Salam Abdel Khalek

2009-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of classroom performance assessment on the EFL students' basic and inferential reading skills. A pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design was employed in the study. The subjects of the study consisted of 64 first-year secondary school students in Menouf Secondary School for Boys at Menoufya…

The Effects of Computer Assisted Instruction Materials on Approximate Number Skills of Students with Dyscalculia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mutlu, Yilmaz; Akgün, Levent

2017-01-01

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of computer assisted instruction materials on approximate number skills of students with mathematics learning difficulties. The study was carried out with pretest-posttest quasi experimental method with a single subject. The participants of the study consist of a girl and two boys who attend 3rd…

A Case Study of How Professional Learning Communities Influence Morale and Rigor in the Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McDonough, Jessica S.

2013-01-01

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore how professional learning communities influence teacher morale and rigor in the classroom. Participants of the study consisted of six to eight core subject teachers from two 4-A high school campuses in southeast Texas. Two focus group interviews were conducted, one at each school, and…

The Emotions in Teaching and Learning Nature Sciences and Physics/Chemistry in Pre-Service Primary Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brigido, Maria; Bermejo, M. Luisa; Conde, M. Carmen; Mellado, Vicente

2010-01-01

A study was made of different emotions that prospective primary school teachers report with respect to science subjects, when they were pupils, and during their practice teaching, taking into account the variables gender and the specialty they studied in the secondary education. The study consisted of a questionnaire completed by 63 primary…

The Effectiveness of Conceptual Change Texts in Remediating High School Students' Alternative Conceptions Concerning Chemical Equilibrium

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ozmen, Haluk

2007-01-01

This study investigated the effectiveness of conceptual change texts in remediating high school students' alternative conceptions concerning chemical equilibrium. A quasi-experimental design was used in this study. The subjects for this study consisted of a total 78 tenth-grade students, 38 of them in the experimental group and 40 of them in the…

The De Facto National Curriculum in Elementary Social Studies: Critique of a Representative Sample. Elementary Subjects Center Series No. 17.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brophy, Jere

Despite scholarly disagreement about the nature and purposes of social studies education, the most widely adopted elementary social studies textbook series tend to be remarkably uniform, consisting of compendia of facts organized within the expanding communities curriculum structure. Content selection and explication tend to be guided primarily by…

Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS): The Study of Validity and Reliability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Basha, Ertan; Kaya, Mehmet

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study is to examine validity and reliability of the Albanian version of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS), which is developed by Lovibond and Lovibond (1995). The sample of this study is consisted of 555 subjects who were living in Kosovo. The results of confirmatory factor analysis indicated 42 items loaded on…

Bimodal benefits on objective and subjective outcomes for adult cochlear implant users.

PubMed

Heo, Ji-Hye; Lee, Jae-Hee; Lee, Won-Sang

2013-09-01

Given that only a few studies have focused on the bimodal benefits on objective and subjective outcomes and emphasized the importance of individual data, the present study aimed to measure the bimodal benefits on the objective and subjective outcomes for adults with cochlear implant. Fourteen listeners with bimodal devices were tested on the localization and recognition abilities using environmental sounds, 1-talker, and 2-talker speech materials. The localization ability was measured through an 8-loudspeaker array. For the recognition measures, listeners were asked to repeat the sentences or say the environmental sounds the listeners heard. As a subjective questionnaire, three domains of Korean-version of Speech, Spatial, Qualities of Hearing scale (K-SSQ) were used to explore any relationships between objective and subjective outcomes. Based on the group-mean data, the bimodal hearing enhanced both localization and recognition regardless of test material. However, the inter- and intra-subject variability appeared to be large across test materials for both localization and recognition abilities. Correlation analyses revealed that the relationships were not always consistent between the objective outcomes and the subjective self-reports with bimodal devices. Overall, this study supports significant bimodal advantages on localization and recognition measures, yet the large individual variability in bimodal benefits should be considered carefully for the clinical assessment as well as counseling. The discrepant relations between objective and subjective results suggest that the bimodal benefits in traditional localization or recognition measures might not necessarily correspond to the self-reported subjective advantages in everyday listening environments.

Effects of combining vertical and horizontal information into a primary flight display

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abbott, Terence S.; Nataupsky, Mark; Steinmetz, George G.

1987-01-01

A ground-based aircraft simulation study was conducted to determine the effects of combining vertical and horizontal flight information into a single display. Two display configurations were used in this study. The first configuration consisted of a Primary Flight Display (PFD) format and a Horizontal Situation Display (HSD) with the PFD displayed conventionally above the HSD. For the second display configuration, the HSD format was combined with the PFD format. Four subjects participated in this study. Data were collected on performance parameters, pilot-control inputs, auditory evoked response parameters (AEP), oculometer measurements (eye-scan), and heart rate. Subjective pilot opinion was gathered through questionnaire data and scorings for both the Subjective Workload Assessment Technique (SWAT) and the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX). The results of this study showed that, from a performance and subjective standpoint, the combined configuration was better than the separate configuration. Additionally, both the eye-transition and eye-dwell times for the separate HSD were notably higher than expected, with a 46% increase in available visual time when going from double to single display configuration.

Attention theory and training research

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Connelly, James G., Jr.; Wickens, Christopher D.; Lintern, Gavan; Harwood, Kelly

1987-01-01

This study used elements of attention theory as a methodological basis to decompose a complex training task in order to improve training efficiency. The complex task was a microcomputer flight simulation where subjects were required to control the stability of their own helicopter while acquiring and engaging enemy helicopers in a threat enviroment. Subjects were divided into whole-task, part-task, and part/open loop adaptive task groups in a transfer of training paradigm. The effect of reducing mental workload at the early stages of learning was examined with respect to the degree that subordinate elements of the complex task could be automated through practice of consistent, learnable stimulus-response relationships. Results revealed trends suggesting the benefit of isolating consistently mapped sub-tasks for part-task training and the presence of a time-sharing skill over and above the skill required for the separate subtasks.

Resetting of circadian melatonin and cortisol rhythms in humans by ordinary room light

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Boivin, D. B.; Czeisler, C. A.

1998-01-01

The present study was designed to investigate whether a weak photic stimulus can reset the endogenous circadian rhythms of plasma melatonin and plasma cortisol in human subjects. A stimulus consisting of three cycles of 5 h exposures to ordinary room light (approximately 180 lux), centered 1.5 h after the endogenous temperature nadir, significantly phase-advanced the plasma melatonin rhythm in eight healthy young men compared with the phase delays observed in eight control subjects who underwent the same protocol but were exposed to darkness (p < or = 0.003). After light-induced phase advances, the circadian rhythms of plasma melatonin and plasma cortisol maintained stable temporal relationships with the endogenous core body temperature cycle, consistent with the conclusion that exposure to ordinary indoor room light had shifted a master circadian pacemaker.

Genetic and neurophysiological correlates of the age of onset of alcohol use disorders in adolescents and young adults

PubMed Central

Chorlian, David B.; Rangaswamy, Madhavi; Manz, Niklas; Wang, Jen-Chyong; Dick, Danielle; Almasy, Laura; Bauer, Lance; Bucholz, Kathleen; Foroud, Tatiana; Hesselbrock, Victor; Kang, Sun J.; Kramer, John; Kuperman, Sam; Nurnberger, John; Rice, John; Schuckit, Marc; Tischfield, Jay; Edenberg, Howard J.; Goate, Alison; Bierut, Laura; Porjesz, Bernice

2013-01-01

Discrete time survival analysis (DTSA) was used to assess the age-specific association of event related oscillations (EROs) and CHRM2 gene variants on the onset of regular alcohol use and alcohol dependence. The subjects were 2938 adolescents and young adults ages 12 to 25. Results showed that the CHRM2 gene variants and ERO risk factors had hazards which varied considerably with age. The bulk of the significant age-specific associations occurred in those whose age of onset was under 16. These associations were concentrated in those subjects who at some time took an illicit drug. These results are consistent with studies which associate greater rates of alcohol dependence among those who begin drinking at an early age. The age specificity of the genetic and neurophysiological factors is consistent with recent studies of adolescent brain development, which locate an interval of heightened vulnerability to substance use disorders in the early to mid teens. PMID:23963516

Assessment and comparison of retention of zirconia copings luted with different cements onto zirconia and titanium abutments: An in vitro study

PubMed Central

Menon, Neelima Sreekumar; Kumar, G. P. Surendra; Jnanadev, K. R.; Satish Babu, C. L.; Shetty, Shilpa

2016-01-01

Aim: The purpose of this in vitro study was to assess and compare the retention of zirconia copings luted with different luting agents onto zirconia and titanium abutments. Materials and Methods: Titanium and zirconia abutments were torqued at 35 N/cm onto implant analogs. The samples were divided into two groups: Group A consisted of four titanium abutments and 32 zirconia copings and Group B consisted of four zirconia abutments and 32 zirconia copings and four luting agents were used. The cemented copings were subjected to tensile dislodgement forces and subjected to ANOVA test. Results: Zirconia abutments recorded a higher mean force compared to titanium. Among the luting agents, resin cement recorded the highest mean force followed by zinc phosphate, glass ionomer, and noneugenol zinc oxide cement, respectively. Conclusion: Highest mean retention was recorded for zirconia implant abutments compared to titanium abutments when luted with zirconia copings. PMID:27141162

Reconstructed phase spaces of intrinsic mode functions. Application to postural stability analysis.

PubMed

Snoussi, Hichem; Amoud, Hassan; Doussot, Michel; Hewson, David; Duchêne, Jacques

2006-01-01

In this contribution, we propose an efficient nonlinear analysis method characterizing postural steadiness. The analyzed signal is the displacement of the centre of pressure (COP) collected from a force plate used for measuring postural sway. The proposed method consists of analyzing the nonlinear dynamics of the intrinsic mode functions (IMF) of the COP signal. The nonlinear properties are assessed through the reconstructed phase spaces of the different IMFs. This study shows some specific geometries of the attractors of some intrinsic modes. Moreover, the volume spanned by the geometric attractors in the reconstructed phase space represents an efficient indicator of the postural stability of the subject. Experiments results corroborate the effectiveness of the method to blindly discriminate young subjects, elderly subjects and subjects presenting a risk of falling.

Effects of two natural medicine formulations on irritable bowel syndrome symptoms: a pilot study.

PubMed

Hawrelak, Jason A; Myers, Stephen P

2010-10-01

The study objective was to assess the effects and tolerability of two novel natural medicine formulations in improving bowel habit and abdominal symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The DA-IBS formula was designed to treat diarrhea-predominant and alternating bowel habit IBS, and the C-IBS formula was designed to treat constipation-predominant IBS. This was a two arm, open-label, uncontrolled pilot study. Subjects were recruited from the greater Lismore area (NSW, Australia) in 2001. The study included 31 patients who fulfilled the Rome II criteria for IBS. Twenty-one (21) patients were classified as suffering from diarrhea-predominant or alternating bowel habit IBS and 10 patients were classified with constipation-predominant IBS. The DA-IBS formula consisted of a mixture of dried, powdered bilberry fruit, slippery elm bark, agrimony aerial parts, and cinnamon quills. The C-IBS formula consisted of a mixture of dried powdered slippery elm bark, lactulose, oat bran, and licorice root. The aim of each formula was to normalize stool frequency and stool consistency. Ingestion of the DA-IBS formula was associated with a small, but significant increase in bowel movement frequency (p = 0.027). Subjects in the DA-IBS group also experienced reductions in straining (p = 0.004), abdominal pain (p = 0.006), bloating (p < 0.0001), flatulence (p = 0.0001), and global IBS symptoms (p = 0.002) during the treatment phase of the trial. Subjects in the C-IBS group experienced a 20% increase in bowel movement frequency (p = 0.016) and significant reductions in straining (p < 0.0001), abdominal pain (p = 0.032), bloating (p = 0.034), and global IBS symptom severity (p = 0.0005), as well as improvements in stool consistency (p < 0.0001). Both formulas were well-tolerated. The DA-IBS formula was not effective in improving bowel habit in individuals with diarrhea-predominant or alternating bowel habit IBS, although it did significantly improve a number of IBS symptoms. The C-IBS formula significantly improved both bowel habit and IBS symptoms in patients with constipation-predominant IBS. Further research is warranted on C-IBS, as a potentially useful therapeutic formula.

Program factors related to women's substance abuse treatment retention and other outcomes: a review and critique.

PubMed

Sun, An-Pyng

2006-01-01

This study examined program factors related to women's substance abuse treatment outcomes. Although substance abuse research is traditionally focused on men, some more recent studies target women. A systematic review of 35 empirical studies that included solely women subjects or that analyzed female subjects separately from male subjects revealed five elements related to women's substance abuse treatment effectiveness; these are (1) single- versus mixed-sex programs, (2) treatment intensity, (3) provision for child care, (4) case management and the "one-stop shopping" model, and (5) supportive staff plus the offering of individual counseling. Although all 35 studies contribute to the knowledge base, critiques of six areas of design weakness in the studies were included to provide directions for future studies; these are (1) lack of a randomized controlled design, (2) nondisentanglement of multiple conditions, (3) lack of a consistent definition for treatment factors and outcomes, (4) small sample size, (5) lack of thorough program description, and (6) lack of thorough statistical analyses.

Marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in patients with end-stage renal failure and in subjects without kidney disease: a comparative study.

PubMed

Madsen, Trine; Christensen, Jeppe H; Svensson, My; Witt, Petra M; Toft, Egon; Schmidt, Erik B

2011-03-01

Patients with end-stage renal disease treated with chronic hemodialysis (HD) are reported to have low levels of marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in plasma and cell membranes compared with healthy subjects. The aim of this study was to investigate whether n-3 PUFA levels in plasma and cells are lower in HD patients as compared with subjects without kidney disease. A comparative study was carried out. This study was carried out at the Departments of Nephrology and Cardiology, Aalborg Hospital, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. This study consisted of 2 study populations comprising HD patients and 5 study populations comprising subjects without kidney disease. The fatty acid distribution in plasma phospholipids and platelet phospholipids was measured using gas chromatography. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and arachidonic acid (AA) levels in plasma or serum phospholipids and platelet phospholipids in HD patients were compared with n-3 PUFA levels in subjects without kidney disease. EPA and DHA were lower and AA/EPA was higher in plasma/serum phospholipids in HD patients than in subjects without kidney disease. Similarly, higher AA and AA/EPA and lower EPA and DHA levels were found in platelet phospholipids of HD patients. Adjustment for gender, age, and habitual intake of fish and fish oil supplements did not change these results. HD patients have lower n-3 PUFA levels in plasma and cells compared with subjects without kidney disease. Copyright © 2011 National Kidney Foundation, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of performance, safety, subject acceptance, and compliance of a disposable autoinjector for subcutaneous injections in healthy volunteers.

PubMed

Berteau, Cecile; Schwarzenbach, Florence; Donazzolo, Yves; Latreille, Mathilde; Berube, Julie; Abry, Herve; Cotten, Joël; Feger, Celine; Laurent, Philippe E

2010-10-05

A disposable autoinjector was developed for subcutaneous (SC) self-injection by patients with chronic diseases. To verify its performance and evaluate its acceptance, a clinical study was conducted in healthy volunteers, comparing SC injections performed by subjects using the autoinjector with SC injections performed by nurses using a syringe. This was a randomized, single-center, crossover study comparing SC self-injection using an autoinjector with SC nurse-administered injection using a syringe. Two volumes (0.2 mL and 1 mL) were injected into healthy volunteers. Study objectives included assessment of the accuracy and consistency of the volume injected by the injection systems, and skin reaction and pain associated with the injection. The fluid depot in the SC tissue layer was evaluated by ultrasound. Subject acceptance was evaluated using questionnaires on attitudes and emotions towards the injection technique, and challenged by seeking the subjects' preferred system for a final study injection or future treatment. A total of 960 injections (480 with autoinjector, 480 with syringe) were performed in 40 subjects. There were no significant differences in mean fluid leakage and injected volumes between the systems. Pain associated with the injection was significantly lower with the auto-injector than with the syringe. Local skin reaction at the injection site was overall satisfactory. Injections were appropriately performed by all subjects. At study end, all 40 subjects preferred the autoinjector for a final study injection and for future treatment. This study indicated that the autoinjector used by the subject was similar to a syringe used by a nurse in terms of performance and safety in administering the injections, and better in terms of pain, overall acceptance, and preference.

Has work replaced home as a haven? Re-examining Arlie Hochschild's Time Bind proposition with objective stress data.

PubMed

Damaske, Sarah; Smyth, Joshua M; Zawadzki, Matthew J

2014-08-01

Using innovative data with objective and subjective measures of stress collected from 122 employed men and women, this paper tests the thesis of the Time Bind by asking whether people report lower stress levels at work than at home. The study finds consistent support for the Time Bind hypothesis when examining objective stress data: when participants were at work they had lower values of the stress hormone cortisol than when they were at home. Two variables moderated this association - income and children at home - such that the work as haven effect was stronger for those with lower incomes and no children living at home. Participants also, however, consistently reported higher subjective stress levels on work days than on non-work days, which is in direct contrast to the Time Bind hypothesis. Although our overall findings support Hochschild's hypothesis that stress levels are lower at work, it appears that combining work and home increases people's subjective experience of daily stress. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Current concepts about chromium supplementation in type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance.

PubMed

Wang, Zhong Q; Cefalu, William T

2010-04-01

Chromium has been established to be an essential trace element in mammals in regard to maintenance of normal carbohydrate metabolism. Studies that provided chromium to human subjects in documented deficiency states noted improved glucose levels. However, controversy exists as to whether dietary supplementation with chromium should be routinely recommended in subjects without documented deficiencies. Over the recent past, several well-designed clinical trials have provided evidence in favor of and against a beneficial effect of chromium. It appears that across all subject phenotypes (eg, lean and obese, insulin sensitive and insulin resistant), a consistent significant and beneficial effect of chromium may not be observed. Specifically, recent data fail to demonstrate significant improvement in carbohydrate metabolism in individuals with metabolic syndrome, impaired glucose tolerance, or consistently in individuals with type 2 diabetes. However, patient selection may be an important factor in determining clinical response, as it was concluded that a clinical response to chromium (ie, decreased glucose and improved insulin sensitivity) may be more likely in insulin-resistant individuals with type 2 diabetes who have more elevated fasting glucose and hemoglobin A(1c) levels.

A practical formula for determining growth.

PubMed

Türkoz, Çağrı; Kaygısız, Emine; Ulusoy, Çağrı; Ateş, Can

2017-01-01

We aimed to establish a practical method to evaluate skeletal age using cervical vertebrae. The study consisted of hand-wrist and cephalometric radiographs of 324 subjects (167 girls, 157 boys; age range, 7.3-17.2 years). Skeletal ages of the subjects were calculated from hand-wrist radiographs, and cervical vertebral bodies were measured using cephalometric radiographs. A single formula based on C3 and C4 vertebral body heights with different coefficients for each gender was derived using ridge regression analysis. The correlation coefficients for vertebral and hand-wrist bone age were 0.825 and 0.856 for girls and boys, respectively. The correlations among vertebral bone age and C3 and C4 vertebral body heights were also found to be significant. The intraclass correlation (ICC) score was found to be 0.914, which shows high consistency between the two measurements of the same investigator for each C3 and C4 vertebral body height result. The formula derived for evaluating skeletal age in cephalometric radiographs is reliable and can be applied to both girl and boy subjects for legal requirements or therapeutic needs of age estimation.

Belief in the Claim of an Argument Increases Perceived Argument Soundness

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wolfe, Michael B.; Kurby, Christopher A.

2017-01-01

We examined subjects' ability to judge the soundness of informal arguments. The argument claims matched or did not match subject beliefs. In all experiments subjects indicated beliefs about spanking and television violence in a prescreening. Subjects read one-sentence arguments consisting of a claim followed by a reason and then judged the…

Endogenous Opioid Antagonism in Physiological Experimental Pain Models: A Systematic Review

PubMed Central

Werner, Mads U.; Pereira, Manuel P.; Andersen, Lars Peter H.; Dahl, Jørgen B.

2015-01-01

Opioid antagonists are pharmacological tools applied as an indirect measure to detect activation of the endogenous opioid system (EOS) in experimental pain models. The objective of this systematic review was to examine the effect of mu-opioid-receptor (MOR) antagonists in placebo-controlled, double-blind studies using ʻinhibitoryʼ or ʻsensitizingʼ, physiological test paradigms in healthy human subjects. The databases PubMed and Embase were searched according to predefined criteria. Out of a total of 2,142 records, 63 studies (1,477 subjects [male/female ratio = 1.5]) were considered relevant. Twenty-five studies utilized ʻinhibitoryʼ test paradigms (ITP) and 38 studies utilized ʻsensitizingʼ test paradigms (STP). The ITP-studies were characterized as conditioning modulation models (22 studies) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation models (rTMS; 3 studies), and, the STP-studies as secondary hyperalgesia models (6 studies), ʻpainʼ models (25 studies), summation models (2 studies), nociceptive reflex models (3 studies) and miscellaneous models (2 studies). A consistent reversal of analgesia by a MOR-antagonist was demonstrated in 10 of the 25 ITP-studies, including stress-induced analgesia and rTMS. In the remaining 14 conditioning modulation studies either absence of effects or ambiguous effects by MOR-antagonists, were observed. In the STP-studies, no effect of the opioid-blockade could be demonstrated in 5 out of 6 secondary hyperalgesia studies. The direction of MOR-antagonist dependent effects upon pain ratings, threshold assessments and somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP), did not appear consistent in 28 out of 32 ʻpainʼ model studies. In conclusion, only in 2 experimental human pain models, i.e., stress-induced analgesia and rTMS, administration of MOR-antagonist demonstrated a consistent effect, presumably mediated by an EOS-dependent mechanisms of analgesia and hyperalgesia. PMID:26029906

The effect of low force chiropractic adjustments for 4 weeks on body surface electromagnetic field.

PubMed

Zhang, John; Snyder, Brian J

2005-01-01

To study the effects of 4 weeks of low-force chiropractic adjustments on body surface electromagnetic fields (EMFs). Thirty-five chiropractic students randomly assigned into control (17 subjects) and experimental groups (28 subjects). A triaxial fluxgate magnetometer was used for EMF detection. The subjects' body surface EMF was determined in the prone position before and after the chiropractic adjustment. A Toftness low-force chiropractic adjustment was applied to the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral areas as determined by the practitioner. Heart rate variability analysis was recorded once a week to determine autonomic nervous system activity in both the control and experimental groups. The EMF on the subjects' body surface decreased after chiropractic adjustment at the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions in all 6 visits during the 4-week treatment period. The EMF showed a downtrend over the 4-week period after the low-force adjustment. The same changes were not observed in the control group. The chiropractic adjustment group had a slight decrease in heart rate over the 4-week treatment period, and no significant change was observed in the control group. Heart rate variability analysis did not show consistent changes before and after the low-force adjustments during the treatment period. Low-force chiropractic adjustment in the cervical and thoracic areas resulted in a consistent reduction of the body surface EMF after 4 weeks of active treatment. No statistically significant differences were found in the heart rate and heart rate variability in the 4-week study.

Enhanced subject-specific resting-state network detection and extraction with fast fMRI.

PubMed

Akin, Burak; Lee, Hsu-Lei; Hennig, Jürgen; LeVan, Pierre

2017-02-01

Resting-state networks have become an important tool for the study of brain function. An ultra-fast imaging technique that allows to measure brain function, called Magnetic Resonance Encephalography (MREG), achieves an order of magnitude higher temporal resolution than standard echo-planar imaging (EPI). This new sequence helps to correct physiological artifacts and improves the sensitivity of the fMRI analysis. In this study, EPI is compared with MREG in terms of capability to extract resting-state networks. Healthy controls underwent two consecutive resting-state scans, one with EPI and the other with MREG. Subject-level independent component analyses (ICA) were performed separately for each of the two datasets. Using Stanford FIND atlas parcels as network templates, the presence of ICA maps corresponding to each network was quantified in each subject. The number of detected individual networks was significantly higher in the MREG data set than for EPI. Moreover, using short time segments of MREG data, such as 50 seconds, one can still detect and track consistent networks. Fast fMRI thus results in an increased capability to extract distinct functional regions at the individual subject level for the same scan times, and also allow the extraction of consistent networks within shorter time intervals than when using EPI, which is notably relevant for the analysis of dynamic functional connectivity fluctuations. Hum Brain Mapp 38:817-830, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Rumination predicts longer sleep onset latency after an acute psychosocial stressor.

PubMed

Zoccola, Peggy M; Dickerson, Sally S; Lam, Suman

2009-09-01

Rumination has been linked to self-reported sleep quality. However, whether rumination is related to an objective sleep parameter has not been tested. This study examined whether rumination predicts sleep onset latency (SOL) on the night after an acute psychosocial stressor. We hypothesized that those who ruminate (assessed with both trait and stressor-specific measures) would have longer SOL (assessed with objective and subjective methods). Seventy participants delivered a 5-minute speech in front of an evaluative panel during an afternoon laboratory session. Trait rumination was assessed before the stressor. Stressor-specific rumination was captured with the frequency of task-related thoughts participants experienced during a 10-minute rest period after the stressor. Participants wore actigraphs on their wrists on the night after the laboratory session to measure objective sleep onset latency (SOL-O). Subjective sleep onset latency was estimated by participants on the subsequent morning. Consistent with hypotheses, trait and stressor-specific rumination predicted longer SOL-O and subjective sleep onset latency, respectively. In addition, trait and stressor-specific rumination interacted to predict longer SOL-O. SOL-O was longest among those who engaged in more stressor-specific rumination and had greater trait rumination scores. Neither rumination measure was related to sleep duration or wakefulness after sleep onset. The findings from this study are consistent with previous research linking rumination to subjective sleep quality. The results also suggest that post-stressor ruminative thought may predict delayed sleep onset for those with a propensity for rumination.

An Examination of Articles Published on Preschool Education in Turkey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yilmaz, Kursad; Altinkurt, Yahya

2012-01-01

This study aims to examine articles published in Turkey on Preschool Education both in terms of subject and method. Sample of the study based on document analysis in qualitative method consists of seven Turkey-based journals indexed in SSCI (Social Science Citation Index) and 10 journals indexed in Turkish Academic Network and Information Center…

Ecological Fallacy in Reading Acquisition Research: Masking Constructive Processes of the Learner.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berninger, Virginia W.; Abbott, Robert D.

A study examined whether conclusions about constructive processes in reading based on analysis of group data were consistent with those based on an analysis of individual data. Subjects, selected from a larger sample of 45 first grade students who had participated in a longitudinal study on acquisition of linguistic procedures for printed words,…

Conceptual Change Text: A Supplementary Material To Facilitate Conceptual Change in Electrochemical Cell Concepts.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yuruk, Nejla; Geban, Omer

The main purpose of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of conceptual change text (CCT) oriented instruction over traditionally designed instruction on students' understanding of electrochemical (galvanic and electrolytic) cell concepts. The subjects of the study consisted of 64 students from the two classes of a high school in Turkey.…

Learning Abilities of the Prekindergarten Child. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cordis, LeOra L.

The purpose of this study was to collect data from which the cognitive processes of the prekindergarten child could be analyzed. The study population consisted of 53 subjects, 3-1/2-4-1/2 years old. Kindergarten Evaluation of Learning Potential (KELP) was used to obtain data. The learning theory on which KELP is based postulates associative,…

Police Traffic Services Basic Training Program. Student Study Guide. Volume 3 of 3.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hale, Allen; Hamilton, John W.

As part of the basic training program in police traffic services intended to establish a national standard, the student study guide was developed to serve as a basic reference text to reinforce and supplement the subject material presented in class. The document consists of the six following major sections: (1) background for policy traffic…

A STUDY OF COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE IN CHILDREN WITH NORMAL AND DEFECTIVE HEARING.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

TEMPLIN, MILDRED C.

A COMPARATIVE, LONGITUDINAL STUDY WAS CONDUCTED TO EXAMINE SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF DEAF AND NORMAL CHILDREN ON SELECTED COGNITIVE TASKS. THE SAMPLE, DISTRIBUTED INTO 3 AGE CATEGORIES, CONSISTED OF 72 NORMAL AND 60 DEAF CHILDREN. MEASURES WERE SELECTED TO ASSESS THE PERFORMANCE OF SUBJECTS (1) IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF COGNITION, (2) BY…

Information and Communication Technology Integration into Teaching and Learning: Opportunities and Challenges for Commerce Educators in South Africa

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Assan, Thomas; Thomas, Raju

2012-01-01

The study examined the opportunities available and challenges experienced by Commerce subjects' educators using ICT. Quantitative and qualitative descriptive research was used. Six high schools were purposely selected for the study because they are all equipped with computer laboratories. A purposive sample consisted of 138 school-based commerce…

Vocabulary Teaching Strategies: Effects on Vocabulary Recognition and Comprehension at the First Grade Level.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Peitz, Patricia; Vena, Patricia

A study examined teaching methods for vocabulary at the first grade level. The study compared teaching vocabulary in context and teaching vocabulary in isolation. Subjects were 32 culturally diverse first-grade students from varying socio-economic backgrounds. The sample consisted of 14 boys and 18 girls, heterogeneously grouped. Two teacher-made…

Using Technology for Teaching Arabic Language Grammar

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arrabtah, Adel; Nusour, Tayseer

2012-01-01

This study investigates the effect of using technology such as CD-ROM, computers, and internet to teach Arabic language grammar to students at Princess Alia University College at Al-Balqa University. The sample of the study consisted of 122 third year female students; (64) for the experimental group and (58) for the control group. The subjects of…

Gender, Gender Roles Affecting Mate Preferences in Turkish College Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gazioglu, A. Esra Ismen

2008-01-01

The subject of this study is gender and gender roles affecting mate preferences. The sample of the study consists of 300 undergraduates and master students. To identify students' gender roles the Sex Role Evaluation Inventory (Bem, 1974) is used. The Question List (Bacanli 2001; Buss et. al., 1990) is applied to the sample group to determine the…

Effectiveness of Conceptual Change Text-Oriented Instruction on Students' Understanding of Cellular Respiration Concepts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cakirt, Ozlem S.; Geban, Omer; Yuruk, Nejla

2002-01-01

This study investigated the effect of conceptual change text-oriented instruction over traditional instruction on students' understanding of cellular respiration concepts and their attitudes toward biology as a school subject. The sample of this study consisted of 84 eleventh-grade students from four classes of a high school. Two of the classes…

Diverse Educational Leadership Training Academy at Northeastern State University-Broken Arrow Campus in Oklahoma: Why Is It Working?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mahan, Melissa Kaye

2009-01-01

Scope and method of study. This study used a descriptive design in which quantitative subject profile data were expanded upon by qualitative data from focus group interviews. Specifically, institutional data from Northeastern State University and focus group interviews with DELTA graduates were used. The institutional data collected consisted of…

Meeting Threshold Learning Standards through Self-Management in Group Oral Presentations: Observations on Accounting Postgraduate Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shauki, Elvia R.; Benzie, Helen

2017-01-01

This study explores the development of student self-management skills through an oral presentation task. It is motivated by the challenge to maintain consistent quality in students' oral skills and to incorporate national accounting curriculum requirements for threshold learning standards into an accounting subject. The study has been conducted in…

The impact of semantic impairment on word stem completion in Alzheimer's disease.

PubMed

Beauregard, M; Chertkow, H; Gold, D; Bergman, S

2001-01-01

Both the extent of semantic memory impairment and the level of processing attained during encoding might constitute critical factors in determining the amount of word-stem completion (WSC) priming encountered in Alzheimer's disease (AD) subjects. We investigated the impact of varying encoding level in AD and elderly normal subjects, using a set of stimuli ranked as "intact" or "degraded" in terms of each subject's semantic knowledge on probe questions. For both shallow and deep encoding conditions, overall priming in the two subject groups was equivalent. However, for the deep encoding condition, consisting of a semantic judgment task performed on each target word, the priming effect noted in AD subjects was significantly smaller for semantically degraded items than for semantically intact items. Results indicate that the degree of semantic impairment represents one important variable affecting the amount of WSC priming which results when deep encoding procedures are used at study.

Scan-rescan reproducibility of diastolic left ventricular kinetic energy, viscous energy loss and vorticity assessment using 4D flow MRI: analysis in healthy subjects.

PubMed

Kamphuis, Vivian P; Westenberg, Jos J M; van der Palen, Roel L F; van den Boogaard, Pieter J; van der Geest, Rob J; de Roos, Albert; Blom, Nico A; Roest, Arno A W; Elbaz, Mohammed S M

2018-01-05

The aim of the current study was to assess the scan-rescan reproducibility of left ventricular (LV) kinetic energy (KE), viscous energy loss (EL) and vorticity during diastole from four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging (4D flow MRI) in healthy subjects. Twelve volunteers (age 27 ± 3 years) underwent whole-heart 4D flow MRI twice in one session. In-scan consistency was evaluated by correlation between KE and EL. EL index was computed to measure the amount of EL relative to KE over diastole. Scan-rescan analysis was performed to test reproducibility of volumetric measurements of KE, EL, EL index and vorticity in the LV over early (E) and late (A) diastolic filling. In-scan consistency between KE and EL was strong-excellent (E-filling scan1: r = 0.92, P < 0.001; scan2: ρ = 0.96, P < 0.001 and A-filling scan1: ρ = 0.87, P < 0.001; scan2: r = 0.99, P < 0.001). For the majority of subjects (10 out of 12), KE and EL measures showed good to strong reproducibility. However, with a wide range of agreement [intraclass correlation (ICC): 0.64-0.95] and coefficients of variation (CV) ≤ 25%. EL index showed strong reproducibility for all 12 subjects with a strong ICC (0.94, P < 0.001) and a CV of 9%. Scan-rescan reproducibility of volumetric vorticity showed good-excellent ICCs (0.83-0.95) with CVs ≤ 11%. In conclusion, the current study shows strong-excellent in-scan consistency and overall good agreement between scans for 4D flow MRI assessment of left ventricular kinetic energy, energy loss and vorticity over diastole. However, substantial differences between the scans were also found in some parameters in two out of twelve subjects. Strong reproducibility was found in the dimensionless EL index , which measures the amount of viscous energy loss relative to the average kinetic energy over diastole.

Consistency and similarity of MEG- and fMRI-signal time courses during movie viewing.

PubMed

Lankinen, Kaisu; Saari, Jukka; Hlushchuk, Yevhen; Tikka, Pia; Parkkonen, Lauri; Hari, Riitta; Koskinen, Miika

2018-06-01

Movie viewing allows human perception and cognition to be studied in complex, real-life-like situations in a brain-imaging laboratory. Previous studies with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and with magneto- and electroencephalography (MEG and EEG) have demonstrated consistent temporal dynamics of brain activity across movie viewers. However, little is known about the similarities and differences of fMRI and MEG or EEG dynamics during such naturalistic situations. We thus compared MEG and fMRI responses to the same 15-min black-and-white movie in the same eight subjects who watched the movie twice during both MEG and fMRI recordings. We analyzed intra- and intersubject voxel-wise correlations within each imaging modality as well as the correlation of the MEG envelopes and fMRI signals. The fMRI signals showed voxel-wise within- and between-subjects correlations up to r = 0.66 and r = 0.37, respectively, whereas these correlations were clearly weaker for the envelopes of band-pass filtered (7 frequency bands below 100 Hz) MEG signals (within-subjects correlation r < 0.14 and between-subjects r < 0.05). Direct MEG-fMRI voxel-wise correlations were unreliable. Notably, applying a spatial-filtering approach to the MEG data uncovered consistent canonical variates that showed considerably stronger (up to r = 0.25) between-subjects correlations than the univariate voxel-wise analysis. Furthermore, the envelopes of the time courses of these variates up to about 10 Hz showed association with fMRI signals in a general linear model. Similarities between envelopes of MEG canonical variates and fMRI voxel time-courses were seen mostly in occipital, but also in temporal and frontal brain regions, whereas intra- and intersubject correlations for MEG and fMRI separately were strongest only in the occipital areas. In contrast to the conventional univariate analysis, the spatial-filtering approach was able to uncover associations between the MEG envelopes and fMRI time courses, shedding light on the similarities of hemodynamic and electromagnetic brain activities during movie viewing. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in subjects with major depressive disorder with previous suicide attempt: A population-based study.

PubMed

Pedrotti Moreira, Fernanda; Borges, Cristiane Jackson; Wiener, Carolina David; da Silva, Paula Moraes; Portela, Luis Valmor; Lara, Diogo R; da Silva, Ricardo Azevedo; de Mattos Souza, Luciano Dias; Jansen, Karen; Oses, Jean Pierre

2018-04-01

Major depressive disorders (MDD) and suicide are significant public health concerns. Recent studies have been demonstrated that alterations in Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) can be associated with this psychiatric disorders, MDD and suicide. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate differences in serum levels in individuals with MDD and with or without suicide attempt (SA), from a population-based sample. This was a paired cross-sectional study nested in a population-based study. The psychopathology screen was performed with the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). The total population of the sample consisted of 147 subjects distributed in three groups: 49 healthy controls, 49 subjects with MDD and 49 subjects with MDD and SA (MDD + SA). The BDNF serum levels were significantly reduced in subjects with MDD and MDD + SA compared to the healthy controls. However, there were no significant differences between the MDD and MDD + SA groups with respect to BDNF serum levels. These results suggest that SA did not interfere in the serum levels of BDNF, indicating that this neurotrophin may be related to the diagnosis of MDD and not to suicide attempt. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Subjective overachievement: individual differences in self-doubt and concern with performance.

PubMed

Oleson, K C; Poehlmann, K M; Yost, J H; Lynch, M E; Arkin, R M

2000-06-01

We discuss the construct of doubt about one's competence and suggest that doubt can have myriad consequences (e.g., self-handicapping, defensive pessimism). We focus on the effect of self-doubt when it is combined with a concern with performance and assert that this combination leads to the phenomenon of subjective overachievement. In two studies, we present a new 17-item Subjective Overachievement Scale (SOS), which includes two independent subscales measuring individual differences in self-doubt and concern with performance. The first study, consisting of two large samples (Ns = 2,311 and 1,703), provides evidence that the scale has high internal consistency and a clear two-factor structure. Additionally, the subscales have adequate test-retest reliability (Ns = 67 and 115). A second study reveals that the SOS has good convergent and discriminant validity. Both subscales are unrelated to social desirability but exhibit the predicted patterns of associations with other related constructs. The Concern with Performance Subscale is correlated with achievement motivation, whereas the Self-Doubt Subscale is correlated with scales assessing negative affectivity (e.g., self-esteem, social anxiety) and other self-related strategies associated with concerns about one's competence (e.g., self-handicapping, defensive pessimism, impostor phenomenon). The SOS, which combines the two subscales, appears to tap a unique strategy that individuals may use to deal with doubts about their own competence.

Model-free fMRI group analysis using FENICA.

PubMed

Schöpf, V; Windischberger, C; Robinson, S; Kasess, C H; Fischmeister, F PhS; Lanzenberger, R; Albrecht, J; Kleemann, A M; Kopietz, R; Wiesmann, M; Moser, E

2011-03-01

Exploratory analysis of functional MRI data allows activation to be detected even if the time course differs from that which is expected. Independent Component Analysis (ICA) has emerged as a powerful approach, but current extensions to the analysis of group studies suffer from a number of drawbacks: they can be computationally demanding, results are dominated by technical and motion artefacts, and some methods require that time courses be the same for all subjects or that templates be defined to identify common components. We have developed a group ICA (gICA) method which is based on single-subject ICA decompositions and the assumption that the spatial distribution of signal changes in components which reflect activation is similar between subjects. This approach, which we have called Fully Exploratory Network Independent Component Analysis (FENICA), identifies group activation in two stages. ICA is performed on the single-subject level, then consistent components are identified via spatial correlation. Group activation maps are generated in a second-level GLM analysis. FENICA is applied to data from three studies employing a wide range of stimulus and presentation designs. These are an event-related motor task, a block-design cognition task and an event-related chemosensory experiment. In all cases, the group maps identified by FENICA as being the most consistent over subjects correspond to task activation. There is good agreement between FENICA results and regions identified in prior GLM-based studies. In the chemosensory task, additional regions are identified by FENICA and temporal concatenation ICA that we show is related to the stimulus, but exhibit a delayed response. FENICA is a fully exploratory method that allows activation to be identified without assumptions about temporal evolution, and isolates activation from other sources of signal fluctuation in fMRI. It has the advantage over other gICA methods that it is computationally undemanding, spotlights components relating to activation rather than artefacts, allows the use of familiar statistical thresholding through deployment of a higher level GLM analysis and can be applied to studies where the paradigm is different for all subjects. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Human Subject Effects on Torsion Pendulum Oscillations: Further Evidence of Mediation by Convection Currents.

PubMed

Hammerschlag, Richard; Linda Baldwin, Ann; Schwartz, Gary E

When a human subject sits beneath a wire mesh, hemispheric torsion pendulum (TP) a rapid-onset series of oscillations at frequencies both higher and lower than the fundamental frequency of the TP have been consistently observed. This study was designed to replicate and extend prior findings that suggest the human subject effect on TP behavior is due to subject-generated, heat-induced convection currents. Effects on pendulum behavior were tested after draping an aluminized "space blanket" over the subject and by replacing the subject with a thermal mattress pad shaped to approximate the human form. Experiments were performed in a basic science university research laboratory. Real-time recordings and Fast Fourier Transform frequency spectra of pendulum oscillatory movement. The space blanket blocked, while the mattress pad mimicked, the human subject induced complex array of pendulum oscillations. Our findings support and strengthen previous results that suggest the effects of human subjects on behavior of a torsion pendulum are mediated by body-heat-induced air convection rather than an unknown type of biofield. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The impact of physical activity on endothelial function in middle-aged and elderly subjects: the Ikaria study.

PubMed

Siasos, Gerasimos; Chrysohoou, Christina; Tousoulis, Dimitris; Oikonomou, Evangelos; Panagiotakos, Demosthenes; Zaromitidou, Marina; Zisimos, Konstantinos; Marinos, Georgios; Mazaris, Savvas; Kampaksis, Manolis; Papavassiliou, Athanasios G; Pitsavos, Christos; Stefanadis, Christodoulos

2013-01-01

Exercise training and physical activity (PA) have substantial vascular and cardiac health benefits. Ikaria Island has been recognised as having one of the highest longevity rates worldwide and a high percentage of healthy ageing. We examined the relationship between endothelial function and levels of habitual PA to evaluate the factors related to healthy ageing in this population. The study was conducted on a subgroup population of the IKARIA study consisting of 185 middle-aged (40-65 years) and 142 elderly subjects (66-91 years). Endothelial function was evaluated by ultrasound measurement of flow-mediated dilatation (FMD). PA was evaluated using the shortened version of the self-reported International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Subjects in the low PA group (<500 MET/ min/week) were considered as physically inactive and the rest as active. In the overall study population FMD was inversely associated with age (r=-0.24, p<0.001) and middle-aged subjects had higher FMD compared with the elderly (6.26 ± 3.31% vs. 5.21 ± 2.95%, p=0.003). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that among middle-aged subjects the physically active had higher FMD compared with the physically inactive. Physically active subjects in the middle-aged group showed higher FMD compared with the physically active elderly (p=0.008). However, there was no difference in FMD values between middle-aged inactive subjects and the elderly physically active (p=NS). The present study revealed that increased PA was associated with improved endothelial function in middle-aged subjects and that PA in elderly subjects can ameliorate the devastating effects of ageing on arterial wall properties.

Sleep Disturbances in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Disorders: A Review of the Variability of Objective Sleep Markers.

PubMed

Baddam, Suman K R; Canapari, Craig A; van Noordt, Stefon J R; Crowley, Michael J

2018-06-04

Sleep disturbances are often observed in child and adolescent mental health disorders. Although previous research has identified consistent subjective reports of sleep disturbances, specific objective sleep markers have not yet been identified. We evaluated the current research on subjective and objective sleep markers in relation to attention deficit hyperactivity disorders, autism spectrum disorders, anxiety and depressive disorders. Subjective sleep markers are more consistent than objective markers of actigraphy, polysomnography, and circadian measures. We discuss the causes of variability in objective sleep findings and suggest future directions for research.

Evaluation of Second-Level Inference in fMRI Analysis

PubMed Central

Roels, Sanne P.; Loeys, Tom; Moerkerke, Beatrijs

2016-01-01

We investigate the impact of decisions in the second-level (i.e., over subjects) inferential process in functional magnetic resonance imaging on (1) the balance between false positives and false negatives and on (2) the data-analytical stability, both proxies for the reproducibility of results. Second-level analysis based on a mass univariate approach typically consists of 3 phases. First, one proceeds via a general linear model for a test image that consists of pooled information from different subjects. We evaluate models that take into account first-level (within-subjects) variability and models that do not take into account this variability. Second, one proceeds via inference based on parametrical assumptions or via permutation-based inference. Third, we evaluate 3 commonly used procedures to address the multiple testing problem: familywise error rate correction, False Discovery Rate (FDR) correction, and a two-step procedure with minimal cluster size. Based on a simulation study and real data we find that the two-step procedure with minimal cluster size results in most stable results, followed by the familywise error rate correction. The FDR results in most variable results, for both permutation-based inference and parametrical inference. Modeling the subject-specific variability yields a better balance between false positives and false negatives when using parametric inference. PMID:26819578

Effects of Cannabis Use on Human Brain Structure in Psychosis: A Systematic Review Combining In Vivo Structural Neuroimaging and Post Mortem Studies

PubMed Central

Rapp, Charlotte; Bugra, Hilal; Riecher-Rössler, Anita; Tamagni, Corinne; Borgwardt, Stefan

2012-01-01

It is unclear yet whether cannabis use is a moderating or causal factor contributing to grey matter alterations in schizophrenia and the development of psychotic symptoms. We therefore systematically reviewed structural brain imaging and post mortem studies addressing the effects of cannabis use on brain structure in psychosis. Studies with schizophrenia (SCZ) and first episode psychosis (FEP) patients as well as individuals at genetic (GHR) or clinical high risk for psychosis (ARMS) were included. We identified 15 structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (12 cross sectional / 3 longitudinal) and 4 post mortem studies. The total number of subjects encompassed 601 schizophrenia or first episode psychosis patients, 255 individuals at clinical or genetic high risk for psychosis and 397 healthy controls. We found evidence for consistent brain structural abnormalities in cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptor enhanced brain areas as the cingulate and prefrontal cortices and the cerebellum. As these effects have not consistently been reported in studies examining non-psychotic and healthy samples, psychosis patients and subjects at risk for psychosis might be particularly vulnerable to brain volume loss due to cannabis exposure PMID:22716152

Psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the Social Phobia Inventory.

PubMed

Nagata, Toshihiko; Nakajima, Takenori; Teo, Alan R; Yamada, Hisashi; Yoshimura, Chiho

2013-04-01

The aim of the current study was to study the psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN-J) among Japanese subjects with social anxiety disorder (SAD). The sample consisted of 86 subjects with SAD and 86 controls. Diagnosis was based on a modified version of the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV. In addition to the SPIN-J, clinician-administered and self-rating scales, including the Japanese versions of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, the Social Phobia Scale, and the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale, were used. The SPIN-J showed adequate internal consistency (0.82-0.96) for the total and subscales. Correlations between the SPIN-J and the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, the Social Phobia Scale, and the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale ranged from 0.83 to 0.89 and indicated adequate concurrent validity. A cut-off point of 22 between subjects with SAD and controls showed a sensitivity of 96.5% and specificity of 87.2%, indicating robust discriminant validity. The SPIN-J showed adequate reliability and validity for use as a screening tool for social anxiety disorder in Japanese clinical settings. © 2013 The Authors. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences © 2013 Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology.

The analysis of probability task completion; Taxonomy of probabilistic thinking-based across gender in elementary school students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sari, Dwi Ivayana; Budayasa, I. Ketut; Juniati, Dwi

2017-08-01

Formulation of mathematical learning goals now is not only oriented on cognitive product, but also leads to cognitive process, which is probabilistic thinking. Probabilistic thinking is needed by students to make a decision. Elementary school students are required to develop probabilistic thinking as foundation to learn probability at higher level. A framework of probabilistic thinking of students had been developed by using SOLO taxonomy, which consists of prestructural probabilistic thinking, unistructural probabilistic thinking, multistructural probabilistic thinking and relational probabilistic thinking. This study aimed to analyze of probability task completion based on taxonomy of probabilistic thinking. The subjects were two students of fifth grade; boy and girl. Subjects were selected by giving test of mathematical ability and then based on high math ability. Subjects were given probability tasks consisting of sample space, probability of an event and probability comparison. The data analysis consisted of categorization, reduction, interpretation and conclusion. Credibility of data used time triangulation. The results was level of boy's probabilistic thinking in completing probability tasks indicated multistructural probabilistic thinking, while level of girl's probabilistic thinking in completing probability tasks indicated unistructural probabilistic thinking. The results indicated that level of boy's probabilistic thinking was higher than level of girl's probabilistic thinking. The results could contribute to curriculum developer in developing probability learning goals for elementary school students. Indeed, teachers could teach probability with regarding gender difference.

Bimodal Benefits on Objective and Subjective Outcomes for Adult Cochlear Implant Users

PubMed Central

Heo, Ji-Hye; Lee, Won-Sang

2013-01-01

Background and Objectives Given that only a few studies have focused on the bimodal benefits on objective and subjective outcomes and emphasized the importance of individual data, the present study aimed to measure the bimodal benefits on the objective and subjective outcomes for adults with cochlear implant. Subjects and Methods Fourteen listeners with bimodal devices were tested on the localization and recognition abilities using environmental sounds, 1-talker, and 2-talker speech materials. The localization ability was measured through an 8-loudspeaker array. For the recognition measures, listeners were asked to repeat the sentences or say the environmental sounds the listeners heard. As a subjective questionnaire, three domains of Korean-version of Speech, Spatial, Qualities of Hearing scale (K-SSQ) were used to explore any relationships between objective and subjective outcomes. Results Based on the group-mean data, the bimodal hearing enhanced both localization and recognition regardless of test material. However, the inter- and intra-subject variability appeared to be large across test materials for both localization and recognition abilities. Correlation analyses revealed that the relationships were not always consistent between the objective outcomes and the subjective self-reports with bimodal devices. Conclusions Overall, this study supports significant bimodal advantages on localization and recognition measures, yet the large individual variability in bimodal benefits should be considered carefully for the clinical assessment as well as counseling. The discrepant relations between objective and subjective results suggest that the bimodal benefits in traditional localization or recognition measures might not necessarily correspond to the self-reported subjective advantages in everyday listening environments. PMID:24653909

Consistency of performance of robot-assisted surgical tasks in virtual reality.

PubMed

Suh, I H; Siu, K-C; Mukherjee, M; Monk, E; Oleynikov, D; Stergiou, N

2009-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate consistency of performance of robot-assisted surgical tasks in a virtual reality environment. Eight subjects performed two surgical tasks, bimanual carrying and needle passing, with both the da Vinci surgical robot and a virtual reality equivalent environment. Nonlinear analysis was utilized to evaluate consistency of performance by calculating the regularity and the amount of divergence in the movement trajectories of the surgical instrument tips. Our results revealed that movement patterns for both training tasks were statistically similar between the two environments. Consistency of performance as measured by nonlinear analysis could be an appropriate methodology to evaluate the complexity of the training tasks between actual and virtual environments and assist in developing better surgical training programs.

Individual Movement Variability Magnitudes Are Explained by Cortical Neural Variability.

PubMed

Haar, Shlomi; Donchin, Opher; Dinstein, Ilan

2017-09-13

Humans exhibit considerable motor variability even across trivial reaching movements. This variability can be separated into specific kinematic components such as extent and direction that are thought to be governed by distinct neural processes. Here, we report that individual subjects (males and females) exhibit different magnitudes of kinematic variability, which are consistent (within individual) across movements to different targets and regardless of which arm (right or left) was used to perform the movements. Simultaneous fMRI recordings revealed that the same subjects also exhibited different magnitudes of fMRI variability across movements in a variety of motor system areas. These fMRI variability magnitudes were also consistent across movements to different targets when performed with either arm. Cortical fMRI variability in the posterior-parietal cortex of individual subjects explained their movement-extent variability. This relationship was apparent only in posterior-parietal cortex and not in other motor system areas, thereby suggesting that individuals with more variable movement preparation exhibit larger kinematic variability. We therefore propose that neural and kinematic variability are reliable and interrelated individual characteristics that may predispose individual subjects to exhibit distinct motor capabilities. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Neural activity and movement kinematics are remarkably variable. Although intertrial variability is rarely studied, here, we demonstrate that individual human subjects exhibit distinct magnitudes of neural and kinematic variability that are reproducible across movements to different targets and when performing these movements with either arm. Furthermore, when examining the relationship between cortical variability and movement variability, we find that cortical fMRI variability in parietal cortex of individual subjects explained their movement extent variability. This enabled us to explain why some subjects performed more variable movements than others based on their cortical variability magnitudes. Copyright © 2017 the authors 0270-6474/17/379076-10$15.00/0.

Comprehending Elementary School Teachers' Classroom Management Approaches

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sahin, Ali E.

2015-01-01

This study intends to determine elementary school teachers' degree of classroom control, which constitutes the consistency in their classroom management and discipline-related behaviour. The major research question was as follows: Is the control approach adopted by teachers related to certain variables (gender, age, subject area, experience)? The…

The Importance of Being a Complement: CED Effects Revisited

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jurka, Johannes

2010-01-01

This dissertation revisits subject island effects (Ross 1967, Chomsky 1973) cross-linguistically. Controlled acceptability judgment studies in German, English, Japanese and Serbian show that extraction out of specifiers is consistently degraded compared to extraction out of complements, indicating that the Condition on Extraction domains (CED,…

Prospective Science Teachers' Conceptions about Astronomical Subjects

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Küçüközer, Hüseyin

2007-01-01

The main objective of this study was to identify prospective science teachers' conceptions on basic astronomical phenomena. A questionnaire consisting of nine open-ended questions was administered to 327 prospective science teachers. The questionnaire was constructed after extensive review of the literature and took into consideration the reported…

Common symptoms of Nepalese soft contact lens wearers: A pilot study.

PubMed

Sapkota, Kishor; Martin, Raul; Franco, Sandra; Lira, Madalena

2015-01-01

To determine the common symptoms in current soft contact lens (CL) wearers and their association with other factors among Nepalese population. All the current CL wearers who started to wear soft CL in Nepal Eye Hospital between July 2007 and June 2012 were invited for the participation. Frequency of the ten most common symptoms, divided into never, occasionally, frequently and consistent were recorded. Association between degree of symptoms with other factors, e.g. age, gender, profession, cigarette smoking, ethnicity, level of education and duration and wearing modality of CL wear were analyzed. Out of 129 subjects participated in this study, 67% were female; the mean age of the subjects was 23.9±4.3 years. Ninety seven percent of them had at least one symptom occasionally or frequently or consistently. Discomfort was found in 88.4% of the total subjects. Other common symptoms were foreign body sensation in 73.6%, redness in 65.9%, reduced wearing time in 63.6% and dryness in 62.8%. Symptoms were found occasionally in the majority of subjects. Degree of symptoms was not associated with age, gender, profession, education status, ethnicity of subjects and duration or modality of lens wear (p>0.05) but was positively associated with passive cigarette smoking (p<0.001). Almost all of the Nepalese soft CL wearers had some types of symptoms at least occasionally. Discomfort was the most common symptom. Degree of symptoms was associated with the passive smoking but not with other factors like age, sex, profession and duration of lens wear. Copyright © 2014 Spanish General Council of Optometry. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

Epidemiology and molecular analysis of hepatitis A, B and C in a semi-urban and rural area of Crete.

PubMed

Drositis, I; Bertsias, A; Lionis, C; Kouroumalis, E

2013-12-01

An observational seroepidemiological study was carried out in a well-defined primary-care district on the island of Crete in order to determine the recent endemicity of viral hepatitis in Cretan-population. The setting consisted of a semi-urban group and a remote & rural group. Serum samples were collected from 876 subjects (437 males, 439 females) aged 15 years or above. Subjects were randomly selected from the permanent population of the area that consisted of 5705 individuals. The aim was to measure the prevalence of selected viral-hepatitis markers. Hepatitis B surface-antigen (HBsAg) was found positive in twenty-nine individuals, (3.3%). Antibodies to hepatitis B virus core-antigen (HBcAb) were detected in 287 subjects (32.8%) and antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) were detected in nineteen subjects (2.2%). Seropositivities for the semi-urban group were: 3.4%, 19.1%, 2.1% and 3.2%, 48.8%, 2.2% in remote & rural group respectively. Virtually, all subjects >45 years old were seropositive for antibodies to hepatitis A, whereas approximately 80% of those in the 15-44 age-group were found to be seropositive. A threefold increase in the HBV exposure and carrier proportion was found in Cretan native-population and in rural-areas compared to older studies carried out in other rural-populations of the island. It is still unknown whether the recent economic crisis or the demographic changes in Cretan-population contributed to these findings. HCV endemicity remains relatively constant, however an alteration of hepatitis C genotypes was observed. Exposure to HAV was found to be higher in remote and rural areas compared to semi-urban areas. © 2013.

Detection of changes in SEMG signals with myofascial pain using the pattern-classifier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Ching-Fen; Huang, Pao-Tieh

2013-10-01

Myofascial pain on the upper back (MFPUB) has been a common occupational hazard associated with consistent computer use. Investigations into any sort neuromuscular functional changes due to myofascial pain are rare. This study aims to differentiate the wavelet energy patterns of the surface electromyography signals measured from 30 normal and 26 patient subjects using the K-means clustering process. The results show that the wavelet energy pattern of patient subjects was different to that of normal subject and reveals a sensitivity of 57.69% at a specificity of 76.67% in the identification of myofascial pain. Therefore, this model could provide a reliable feature for clinical diagnosis of myofascial pain.

Low-cost, email-based system for self blood pressure monitoring at home.

PubMed

Nakajima, Kazuki; Nambu, Masayuki; Kiryu, Tohru; Tamura, Toshiyo; Sasaki, Kazuo

2006-01-01

We have developed a low-cost monitoring system, which allows subjects to send blood pressure (BP) data obtained at home to health-care professionals by email. The system consists of a wrist BP monitor and a personal computer (PC) with an Internet connection. The wrist BP monitor includes an advanced positioning sensor to verify that the wrist is placed properly at heart level. Subjects at home can self-measure their BP every day, automatically transfer the BP data to their PC each week, and then send a comma-separated values (CSV) file to their health-care professional by email. In a feasibility study, 10 subjects used the system for a mean period of 207 days (SD 149). The mean percent achievement of measurement in the 10 subjects was 84% (SD 12). There was a seasonal variation in systolic and diastolic BP, which was inversely correlated with temperature. Eight of the 10 subjects evaluated the system favourably. The results of the present study demonstrate the feasibility of our email-based system for self-monitoring of blood pressure. Its low cost means that it may have widespread application in future home telecare studies.

The effect of different imitation models on theaccuracy and speed of imitation of movement

PubMed Central

Nishizawa, Hitomi; Kimura, Teiji; Goh, Ah-Cheng

2015-01-01

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy, speed and subjective ease of imitation of movement using three different imitation models. [Subjects] Thirty-four right-handed healthy males participated in this study. [Methods] The imitation task chosen for this study was an asymmetric combined motion of the upper and lower limbs. Three kinds of imitation models were displayed on a screen as follows: a) third person perspective mirror imitation (3PM), b) third person perspective anatomical imitation (3PA), and c) first person perspective ipsilateral imitation (1PI). Subjects were instructed to imitate the movement shown on a screen as quickly and as accurately as possible. They executed four sets of the movement with each set consisting of one trial of each of the three imitation models. [Results] 3PM was the most accurate, and 1PI was the fastest in speed and subjective ease of imitation, compared with the other two imitation models. [Conclusion] These results suggest that 1PI and 3PM, which do not require mental rotation of the movement task as required by 3PA, should be considered more suitable imitation models for teaching healthy subjects how to move. PMID:26696710

The effect of different imitation models on theaccuracy and speed of imitation of movement.

PubMed

Nishizawa, Hitomi; Kimura, Teiji; Goh, Ah-Cheng

2015-11-01

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy, speed and subjective ease of imitation of movement using three different imitation models. [Subjects] Thirty-four right-handed healthy males participated in this study. [Methods] The imitation task chosen for this study was an asymmetric combined motion of the upper and lower limbs. Three kinds of imitation models were displayed on a screen as follows: a) third person perspective mirror imitation (3PM), b) third person perspective anatomical imitation (3PA), and c) first person perspective ipsilateral imitation (1PI). Subjects were instructed to imitate the movement shown on a screen as quickly and as accurately as possible. They executed four sets of the movement with each set consisting of one trial of each of the three imitation models. [Results] 3PM was the most accurate, and 1PI was the fastest in speed and subjective ease of imitation, compared with the other two imitation models. [Conclusion] These results suggest that 1PI and 3PM, which do not require mental rotation of the movement task as required by 3PA, should be considered more suitable imitation models for teaching healthy subjects how to move.

Eating habits in elderly diabetic subjects: assessment in the InCHIANTI Study.

PubMed

Mannucci, E; Bartali, B; Molino Lova, R; Papucci, M; Lauretani, F; Luisi, M L; Pietrobelli, A; Macchi, C

2008-05-01

Nutritional therapy is a cornerstone of the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to assess differences in dietary habits between subjects with and without known type 2 diabetes. In a sample of 1242 predominantly elderly subjects enrolled in the InCHIANTI study, total energy and macronutrient intake was assessed cross-sectionally using the EPIC self-reported questionnaire. Results were compared in subjects with (N=109) and without known diabetes, and differences were adjusted for age, sex, and reported comorbidities. Subjects with known diabetes reported a significantly lower (p<0.001) total energy and soluble carbohydrate intake in comparison with the rest of the sample (1793+/-481 vs 2040+/-624 kCal/day, and 66.9+/-22.3 vs. 93.5+/-34.9 g/day, respectively). Conversely, consumption of total and saturated fats, dietary fibres and proteins was not significantly different. Known diabetes is associated with a reduction of soluble carbohydrate consumption and total energy intake without any further modification of dietary habits. These data suggest that the diagnosis of diabetes could induce some changes in nutritional style. However, corrections in dietary habits do not appear to be consistent with current guidelines and recommendations.

Glucose enhancement of a facial recognition task in young adults.

PubMed

Metzger, M M

2000-02-01

Numerous studies have reported that glucose administration enhances memory processes in both elderly and young adult subjects. Although these studies have utilized a variety of procedures and paradigms, investigations of both young and elderly subjects have typically used verbal tasks (word list recall, paragraph recall, etc.). In the present study, the effect of glucose consumption on a nonverbal, facial recognition task in young adults was examined. Lemonade sweetened with either glucose (50 g) or saccharin (23.7 mg) was consumed by college students (mean age of 21.1 years) 15 min prior to a facial recognition task. The task consisted of a familiarization phase in which subjects were presented with "target" faces, followed immediately by a recognition phase in which subjects had to identify the targets among a random array of familiar target and novel "distractor" faces. Statistical analysis indicated that there were no differences on hit rate (target identification) for subjects who consumed either saccharin or glucose prior to the test. However, further analyses revealed that subjects who consumed glucose committed significantly fewer false alarms and had (marginally) higher d-prime scores (a signal detection measure) compared to subjects who consumed saccharin prior to the test. These results parallel a previous report demonstrating glucose enhancement of a facial recognition task in probable Alzheimer's patients; however, this is believed to be the first demonstration of glucose enhancement for a facial recognition task in healthy, young adults.

Interhemispheric Effective and Functional Cortical Connectivity Signatures of Spina Bifida Are Consistent with Callosal Anomaly

PubMed Central

Malekpour, Sheida; Li, Zhimin; Cheung, Bing Leung Patrick; Castillo, Eduardo M.; Papanicolaou, Andrew C.; Kramer, Larry A.; Fletcher, Jack M.

2012-01-01

Abstract The impact of the posterior callosal anomalies associated with spina bifida on interhemispheric cortical connectivity is studied using a method for estimating cortical multivariable autoregressive models from scalp magnetoencephalography data. Interhemispheric effective and functional connectivity, measured using conditional Granger causality and coherence, respectively, is determined for the anterior and posterior cortical regions in a population of five spina bifida and five control subjects during a resting eyes-closed state. The estimated connectivity is shown to be consistent over the randomly selected subsets of the data for each subject. The posterior interhemispheric effective and functional connectivity and cortical power are significantly lower in the spina bifida group, a result that is consistent with posterior callosal anomalies. The anterior interhemispheric effective and functional connectivity are elevated in the spina bifida group, a result that may reflect compensatory mechanisms. In contrast, the intrahemispheric effective connectivity is comparable in the two groups. The differences between the spina bifida and control groups are most significant in the θ and α bands. PMID:22571349

Timed activity performance in persons with upper limb amputation: A preliminary study.

PubMed

Resnik, Linda; Borgia, Mathew; Acluche, Frantzy

55 subjects with upper limb amputation were administered the T-MAP twice within one week. To develop a timed measure of activity performance for persons with upper limb amputation (T-MAP); examine the measure's internal consistency, test-retest reliability and validity; and compare scores by prosthesis use. Measures of activity performance for persons with upper limb amputation are needed The time required to perform daily activities is a meaningful metric that implication for participation in life roles. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were evaluated. Construct validity was examined by comparing scores by amputation level. Exploratory analyses compared sub-group scores, and examined correlations with other measures. Scale alpha was 0.77, ICC was 0.93. Timed scores differed by amputation level. Subjects using a prosthesis took longer to perform all tasks. T-MAP was not correlated with other measures of dexterity or activity, but was correlated with pain for non-prosthesis users. The timed scale had adequate internal consistency and excellent test-retest reliability. Analyses support reliability and construct validity of the T-MAP. 2c "outcomes" research. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Subjective Ratings of Beauty and Aesthetics: Correlations With Statistical Image Properties in Western Oil Paintings

PubMed Central

Lehmann, Thomas; Redies, Christoph

2017-01-01

For centuries, oil paintings have been a major segment of the visual arts. The JenAesthetics data set consists of a large number of high-quality images of oil paintings of Western provenance from different art periods. With this database, we studied the relationship between objective image measures and subjective evaluations of the images, especially evaluations on aesthetics (defined as artistic value) and beauty (defined as individual liking). The objective measures represented low-level statistical image properties that have been associated with aesthetic value in previous research. Subjective rating scores on aesthetics and beauty correlated not only with each other but also with different combinations of the objective measures. Furthermore, we found that paintings from different art periods vary with regard to the objective measures, that is, they exhibit specific patterns of statistical image properties. In addition, clusters of participants preferred different combinations of these properties. In conclusion, the results of the present study provide evidence that statistical image properties vary between art periods and subject matters and, in addition, they correlate with the subjective evaluation of paintings by the participants. PMID:28694958

Accuracy of body weight perception and obesity among Chinese Americans

PubMed Central

Liu, Shan; Hu, Sophia H.; Wang, Vincent Y.; Crupi, Robert; Qiu, Jeanna M.; Cleland, Chuck; Melkus, Gail D’Eramo

2015-01-01

Background Accuracy of body weight perception is an individual’s perception of their body weight in comparison with actual body weight and is associated with weight related behaviors. Chinese Americans have increased risk for obesity but no studies have examined accuracy of body weight perception. Methods This study was a descriptive and cross-sectional study, which was conducted in a community health center in New York. Study subjects were all Chinese-American adults. Demographic information, accuracy of perception of body weight, anthropometric measures (Weight, Height, BMI, weight to height ratio, weight to hip ratio), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), HbA1C and obesity related disease including hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, stroke were assessed. Results A total of 162 Chinese American were recruited.52 subjects (32%) did not perceive body weight correctly, in which 32 subjects had underestimation and 20 subjects had overestimation of body weight. Significant differences were found among subjects in three groups of different accuracy of body weight perception in terms of gender (p=0.003), age (p=0.003), education years (p=0.047). WC (p<0.001), HC (p=<0.001), weight/height ratio (p=0.001), BMI (p<0.001). Subjects in consistent/accurate estimation group and underestimation group had similar obesity related-characteristics but different from subjects in overestimation group. Discussion and Conclusion The study identified around one third of Chinese American did not perceive their body weight correctly. Intervention studies for obesity management in Chinese American should address gender difference, target on older subjects, and focus on educating the normal values and significances of WC, HC and HbA1C among Chinese Americans. PMID:25937164

The uptake of dental services by elderly Germans.

PubMed

Nitschke, I; Müller, F; Hopfenmüller, W

2001-12-01

The aim of the study was to assess the uptake of dental services by the old and very old population within the scope of the Berlin Aging Study (Berliner Altersstudie BASE). A multi-disciplinary structured interview was performed on 928 subjects, aged from 70 to 103 years of whom 516 persons volunteered to take part in a 14-session intensive protocol. Six representative study groups were matched for age and gender. Subjects were asked to recall the timing of their most recent dental visit. Data were validated by sending for dental records and compared with all study participants from the multi-disciplinary intake assessment. Data were related to age group, dental state, dementia and education. Reported last contact with dental services ranged from 2 weeks to 52 years (median 18 months) with a higher time lapse in the study groups aged 85 and older. Dentate subjects had seen their dentist more recently than edentate subjects. Higher education correlated with an increased dental utilisation. Subjective memory on the time lapse since the last dental appointment coincided in 13% of the subjects with available dental records (n=84), was misjudged between one and six months in 55%, and by more than six months in the remainder. Moderately or severely demented subjects who remembered their last dental appointment (n=48 of 70) showed no consistently different utilisation to healthy or mildly demented study participants. Edentate old and very old subjects show the least frequent utilisation of dental services. Data on motivation and barriers to care are needed to develop strategies to improve the use of dental services and thus promote oral health in late life.

Convergent Genomic Studies Identify Association of GRIK2 and NPAS2 with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

PubMed Central

Smith, Alicia K.; Fang, Hong; Whistler, Toni; Unger, Elizabeth R.; Rajeevan, Mangalathu S.

2011-01-01

Background There is no consistent evidence of specific gene(s) or molecular pathways that contribute to the pathogenesis, therapeutic intervention or diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). While multiple studies support a role for genetic variation in CFS, genome-wide efforts to identify associated loci remain unexplored. We employed a novel convergent functional genomics approach that incorporates the findings from single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and mRNA expression studies to identify associations between CFS and novel candidate genes for further investigation. Methods We evaluated 116,204 SNPs in 40 CFS and 40 nonfatigued control subjects along with mRNA expression of 20,160 genes in a subset of these subjects (35 CFS subjects and 27 controls) derived from a population-based study. Results Sixty-five SNPs were nominally associated with CFS (p < 0.001), and 165 genes were differentially expressed (≥4-fold; p ≤ 0.05) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of CFS subjects. Two genes, glutamate receptor, ionotropic, kinase 2 (GRIK2) and neuronal PAS domain protein 2 (NPAS2), were identified by both SNP and gene expression analyses. Subjects with the G allele of rs2247215 (GRIK2) were more likely to have CFS (p = 0.0005), and CFS subjects showed decreased GRIK2 expression (10-fold; p = 0.015). Subjects with the T allele of rs356653 (NPAS2) were more likely to have CFS (p = 0.0007), and NPAS2 expression was increased (10-fold; p = 0.027) in those with CFS. Conclusion Using an integrated genomic strategy, this study suggests a possible role for genes involved in glutamatergic neurotransmission and circadian rhythm in CFS and supports further study of novel candidate genes in independent populations of CFS subjects. PMID:21912186

Influence of specific muscle training on pain, activity limitation and kinesiophobia in women with back pain post-partum--a 'single-subject research design'.

PubMed

Gustafsson, Johanna; Nilsson-Wikmar, Lena

2008-03-01

Many women suffer from back pain and experience activity limitation post-partum. To our knowledge the physiological factors and physiotherapy related to back pain post-partum have received limited evaluation and the effectiveness of specific physiotherapeutic approaches to exercise should be tested. In addition, there has been limited research on kinesiophobia in women with back pain post-partum. The purpose of the current study was to test the influence of specific trunk muscle training on pain, activity limitation and kinesiophobia in 10 subjects with back pain post-partum. The treatment consisted of specific deep muscle training of the transversus abdominus and multifidus muscles. Pain was rated based on the visual analogue scale (VAS) and pain drawings. Activity limitation was recorded using the Disability Rating Index. Kinesiophobia was evaluated using the Swedish version of the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia. An A-B-A single-subject research design was used and a number of measurements were obtained during each phase. The analysis consisted of a visual inspection and a two standard deviation band test (2-SD). The visual analysis showed a trend towards reduced pain and activity limitation for all 10 subjects. The 2-SD test showed mixed results among all subjects. In addition, all subjects reported kinesiophobia before and after treatment. Individual specific deep muscle training of the transversus abdominus and multifidus muscles reduced pain and activity limitation in women with back pain post-partum. Further research is needed to determine more precisely how kinesiophobia affects women with back pain post-partum.

Typographic influences on reading.

PubMed

Lewis, C; Walker, P

1989-05-01

The research reported here comprises an empirical investigation of the phenomenon of typographic allusion. In a preliminary study, subjects rated the perceptual qualities possessed by different typefaces (e.g. heavy-light, fast-slow). The results indicated that subjects agreed as to typeface characteristics and that typefaces were distinguished by such qualities. In Expt 1, subjects undertook a speeded decision task in which they responded according to which one of four adjectives appeared tachistoscopically. Each word appeared in a typeface whose qualities were either consistent or inconsistent with its meaning. Reaction times for inconsistent stimuli were significantly slower than those for consistent trials. In preparation for Expt 2, the same rating procedure was used to elicit subjects' judgements of the attributes of different animals. Subjects agreed as to animals' qualities and such qualities reliably distinguished between the animals. The names of these animals were then used as targets in a binary decision task and each one appeared in a typeface possessing qualities which were either congruent or incongruent with those of the animal. Subjects responded according to whether they considered the animal presented on each trial to be heavy or light, or fast or slow moving. Responses on trials in which the animal and typeface possessed conflicting attributes were significantly slower than responses when animal and typeface qualities were congruent. These results are discussed in relation to current views regarding the processing of written English. We argue that typographic features of words are able to access a semantic code and that this code can interact with the derivation of a linguistic code specifying a word's meaning and/or with post-lexical access decision processes.

Investigation of the Effect of Training on the Development of High School Teachers' Attitudes towards Scientific Research and Project Competitions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Akçöltekin, Alptürk

2016-01-01

The main purpose of this study is to develop positive attitudes in high school teachers towards scientific research and project competitions by training them in scientific research and project preparation subjects. The study group consists of 90 high school teachers. As a result of the study, a significant difference was found in favor of…

Teaching Career Education in Social Studies, Grades 10-12. World Culture, Ancient and Medieval History, Modern History. Resource Manual No. 314.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Strain, Mary Pat; Berninger, Roger

Activities and teaching strategies proposed in this resource manual are intended to help social studies teachers at the high school level in adapting the career education philosophy to the classroom. The manual consists of two parts. Part 1 identifies goals and objectives of career education and various social studies subjects (world culture,…

Gender Differences in Memory for Objects and Their Locations: A Study on Automatic versus Controlled Encoding and Retrieval Contexts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

De Goede, Maartje; Postma, Albert

2008-01-01

Object-location memory is the only spatial task where female subjects have been shown to outperform males. This result is not consistent across all studies, and may be due to the combination of the multi-component structure of object location memory with the conditions under which different studies were done. Possible gender differences in object…

Adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction use for radiation dose reduction in pediatric lower-extremity CT: impact on diagnostic image quality.

PubMed

Shah, Amisha; Rees, Mitchell; Kar, Erica; Bolton, Kimberly; Lee, Vincent; Panigrahy, Ashok

2018-06-01

For the past several years, increased levels of imaging radiation and cumulative radiation to children has been a significant concern. Although several measures have been taken to reduce radiation dose during computed tomography (CT) scan, the newer dose reduction software adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) has been an effective technique in reducing radiation dose. To our knowledge, no studies are published that assess the effect of ASIR on extremity CT scans in children. To compare radiation dose, image noise, and subjective image quality in pediatric lower extremity CT scans acquired with and without ASIR. The study group consisted of 53 patients imaged on a CT scanner equipped with ASIR software. The control group consisted of 37 patients whose CT images were acquired without ASIR. Image noise, Computed Tomography Dose Index (CTDI) and dose length product (DLP) were measured. Two pediatric radiologists rated the studies in subjective categories: image sharpness, noise, diagnostic acceptability, and artifacts. The CTDI (p value = 0.0184) and DLP (p value <0.0002) were significantly decreased with the use of ASIR compared with non-ASIR studies. However, the subjective ratings for sharpness (p < 0.0001) and diagnostic acceptability of the ASIR images (p < 0.0128) were decreased compared with standard, non-ASIR CT studies. Adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction reduces radiation dose for lower extremity CTs in children, but at the expense of diagnostic imaging quality. Further studies are warranted to determine the specific utility of ASIR for pediatric musculoskeletal CT imaging.

Toll-like receptor 3 polymorphism rs3775291 is not associated with choroidal neovascularization or polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy in Chinese subjects.

PubMed

Sng, Chelvin C A; Cackett, Peter D; Yeo, Ian Y; Thalamuthu, Anbupalam; Venkatraman, Anandalakshmi; Venkataraman, Divya; Koh, Adrian H; Tai, E-Shyong; Wong, Tien Y; Aung, Tin; Vithana, Eranga N

2011-01-01

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of visual impairment. A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP; rs3775291) in the Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) gene has recently been implicated in the pathogenesis of AMD in Caucasian populations. The aim of this study was to examine this association in Chinese persons with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to AMD and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). This was an observational cross-sectional study in Singapore. Study subjects were of Chinese ethnicity and included patients with exudative maculopathy and normal control subjects. The diagnoses of CNV and PCV were made based on fundus examination, fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green angiography findings. Genomic DNA was extracted, and genotypes were determined by bidirectional DNA sequencing. We compared the allele and genotype frequencies between subjects with CNV and PCV with controls using the software PLINK. A total of 246 subjects with exudative maculopathy (consisting of 126 with CNV and 120 with PCV) and 274 normal control subjects were recruited. The distribution of rs3775291 SNP genotypes for CNV and PCV was not significantly different from that for normal controls. This study indicates that the TLR3 rs3775291 gene polymorphism is not associated with CNV and PCV in Singaporean Chinese patients. Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Practice of preventive dentistry for nursing staff in primary care

PubMed Central

Acuña-Reyes, Raquel; Cigarroa-Martínez, Didier; Ureña-Bogarín, Enrique; Orgaz-Fernández, Jose David

2014-01-01

Objectives: Determine the domain of preventive dentistry in nursing personnel assigned to a primary care unit. Methods: Prospective descriptive study, questionnaire validation, and prevalence study. In the first stage, the questionnaire for the practice of preventive dentistry (CPEP, for the term in Spanish) was validated; consistency and reliability were measured by Cronbach's alpha, Pearson's correlation, factor analysis with intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). In the second stage, the domain in preventive dental nurses was explored. Results: The overall internal consistency of CPEP is α= 0.66, ICC= 0.64, CI95%: 0.29-0.87 (p >0.01). Twenty-one subjects in the study, average age 43, 81.0% female, average seniority of 12.5 were included. A total of 71.5% showed weak domain, 28.5% regular domain, and there was no questionnaire with good domain result. The older the subjects were, the smaller the domain; female nurses showed greater mastery of preventive dentistry (29%, CI95%: 0.1-15.1) than male nurses. Public health nurses showed greater mastery with respect to other categories (50%, CI95%: 0.56-2.8). Conclusions: The CDEP has enough consistency to explore the domain of preventive dentistry in health-care staff. The domain of preventive dentistry in primary care nursing is poor, required to strengthen to provide education in preventive dentistry to the insured population. PMID:25386037

Life Satisfaction and the Pursuit of Happiness on Twitter.

PubMed

Yang, Chao; Srinivasan, Padmini

2016-01-01

Life satisfaction refers to a somewhat stable cognitive assessment of one's own life. Life satisfaction is an important component of subjective well being, the scientific term for happiness. The other component is affect: the balance between the presence of positive and negative emotions in daily life. While affect has been studied using social media datasets (particularly from Twitter), life satisfaction has received little to no attention. Here, we examine trends in posts about life satisfaction from a two-year sample of Twitter data. We apply a surveillance methodology to extract expressions of both satisfaction and dissatisfaction with life. A noteworthy result is that consistent with their definitions trends in life satisfaction posts are immune to external events (political, seasonal etc.) unlike affect trends reported by previous researchers. Comparing users we find differences between satisfied and dissatisfied users in several linguistic, psychosocial and other features. For example the latter post more tweets expressing anger, anxiety, depression, sadness and on death. We also study users who change their status over time from satisfied with life to dissatisfied or vice versa. Noteworthy is that the psychosocial tweet features of users who change from satisfied to dissatisfied are quite different from those who stay satisfied over time. Overall, the observations we make are consistent with intuition and consistent with observations in the social science research. This research contributes to the study of the subjective well being of individuals through social media.

Mortality Prediction in the Oldest Old with Five Different Equations to Estimate Glomerular Filtration Rate: The Health and Anemia Population-based Study

PubMed Central

Mandelli, Sara; Riva, Emma; Tettamanti, Mauro; Detoma, Paolo; Giacomin, Adriano; Lucca, Ugo

2015-01-01

Background Kidney function declines considerably with age, but little is known about its clinical significance in the oldest-old. Objectives To study the association between reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimated according to five equations with mortality in the oldest-old. Design Prospective population-based study. Setting Municipality of Biella, Piedmont, Italy. Participants 700 subjects aged 85 and older participating in the “Health and Anemia” Study in 2007–2008. Measurements GFR was estimated using five creatinine-based equations: the Cockcroft-Gault (C-G), Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD), MAYO Clinic, Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) and Berlin Initiative Study-1 (BIS-1). Survival analysis was used to study mortality in subjects with reduced eGFR (<60 mL/min/1.73m2) compared to subjects with eGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73m2. Results Prevalence of reduced GFR was 90.7% with the C-G, 48.1% with MDRD, 23.3% with MAYO, 53.6% with CKD-EPI and 84.4% with BIS-1. After adjustment for confounders, two-year mortality was significantly increased in subjects with reduced eGFR using BIS-1 and C-G equations (adjusted HRs: 2.88 and 3.30, respectively). Five-year mortality was significantly increased in subjects with eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73m2 using MAYO, CKD-EPI and, in a graduated fashion in reduced eGFR categories, MDRD. After 5 years, oldest old with an eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73m2 showed a significantly higher risk of death whichever equation was used (adjusted HRs between 2.04 and 2.70). Conclusion In the oldest old, prevalence of reduced eGFR varies noticeably depending on the equation used. In this population, risk of mortality was significantly higher for reduced GFR estimated with the BIS-1 and C-G equations over the short term. Though after five years the MDRD appeared on the whole a more consistent predictor, differences in mortality prediction among equations over the long term were less apparent. Noteworthy, subjects with a severely reduced GFR were consistently at higher risk of death regardless of the equation used to estimate GFR. PMID:26317988

Mortality Prediction in the Oldest Old with Five Different Equations to Estimate Glomerular Filtration Rate: The Health and Anemia Population-based Study.

PubMed

Mandelli, Sara; Riva, Emma; Tettamanti, Mauro; Detoma, Paolo; Giacomin, Adriano; Lucca, Ugo

2015-01-01

Kidney function declines considerably with age, but little is known about its clinical significance in the oldest-old. To study the association between reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimated according to five equations with mortality in the oldest-old. Prospective population-based study. Municipality of Biella, Piedmont, Italy. 700 subjects aged 85 and older participating in the "Health and Anemia" Study in 2007-2008. GFR was estimated using five creatinine-based equations: the Cockcroft-Gault (C-G), Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD), MAYO Clinic, Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) and Berlin Initiative Study-1 (BIS-1). Survival analysis was used to study mortality in subjects with reduced eGFR (<60 mL/min/1.73 m(2)) compared to subjects with eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2). Prevalence of reduced GFR was 90.7% with the C-G, 48.1% with MDRD, 23.3% with MAYO, 53.6% with CKD-EPI and 84.4% with BIS-1. After adjustment for confounders, two-year mortality was significantly increased in subjects with reduced eGFR using BIS-1 and C-G equations (adjusted HRs: 2.88 and 3.30, respectively). Five-year mortality was significantly increased in subjects with eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) using MAYO, CKD-EPI and, in a graduated fashion in reduced eGFR categories, MDRD. After 5 years, oldest old with an eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m(2) showed a significantly higher risk of death whichever equation was used (adjusted HRs between 2.04 and 2.70). In the oldest old, prevalence of reduced eGFR varies noticeably depending on the equation used. In this population, risk of mortality was significantly higher for reduced GFR estimated with the BIS-1 and C-G equations over the short term. Though after five years the MDRD appeared on the whole a more consistent predictor, differences in mortality prediction among equations over the long term were less apparent. Noteworthy, subjects with a severely reduced GFR were consistently at higher risk of death regardless of the equation used to estimate GFR.

Comparative analysis of rationale used by dentists and patient for final esthetic outcome of dental treatment.

PubMed

Reddy, S Varalakshmi; Madineni, Praveen Kumar; Sudheer, A; Gujjarlapudi, Manmohan Choudary; Sreedevi, B; Reddy, Patelu Sunil Kumar

2013-05-01

To compare and evaluate the perceptions of esthetics among dentists and patients regarding the final esthetic outcome of a dental treatment. Esthetics is a matter of perception and is associated with the way different people look at an object. What constitutes esthetic for a particular person may not be acceptable for another. Hence it is subjective in nature. This becomes more obvious during the post-treatment evaluation of esthetics by dentist and the concerned patient. Opinion seldom matches. Hence, the study is a necessary part of the process of understanding the mind of dentist and patient regarding what constitutes esthetics. A survey has been conducted by means of a questionnaire consisting of 10 questions, on two groups of people. First group consists of 100 dentists picked at random in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, India. Second group consisted of 100 patients who required complete denture prosthesis. The second group was divided into two subgroups A and B. Subgroup A consisting of 50 men and subgroup B consisting of 50 women. In each subgroup 25 patients were selected in age group of 40 to 50 and 25 patients were selected in the age group of 50 to 60. The questionnaire was given to both the groups and asked to fill up, which was then statistically analyzed to look for patterns of thought process among them. Results were subjected to statistical analysis by Student's t-test. Perceptions of esthetics differs from dentist who is educated regarding esthetic principles of treatment and a patient who is not subjected to such education. Since, the questions were formulated such that patients could better understand the underlying problem, the final outcome of survey is a proof that dentists need to take into account what the patient regards as esthetics in order to provide a satisfactory treatment. CLINICAL AND ACADEMIC SIGNIFICANCE: The current study helps the dentist to better educate the patient regarding esthetics so that patient appreciates the final scientifically based esthetic outcome of treatment. It also helps the dental students to understand the underlying patient's thought process regarding esthetics.

Making instruction and assessment responsive to diverse students' progress: group-administered dynamic assessment in teaching mathematics.

PubMed

Jeltova, Ida; Birney, Damian; Fredine, Nancy; Jarvin, Linda; Sternberg, Robert J; Grigorenko, Elena L

2011-01-01

This study entailed a 3 (instructional intervention) × 2 (assessment-type) between-subjects experimental design employing a pretest-intervention-posttest methodology. The instructional interventions were administered between subjects in three conditions: (a) dynamic instruction, (b) triarchic or theory of successful intelligence-control instruction, and (c) standard-control instruction. The assessment-type consisted between subjects of either (a) a group-administered dynamic posttest or (b) the same group-administered posttest interspersed with a control filler activity. Performance in different mathematics content areas taught in fourth grade was investigated. In total, 1,332 students and 63 classroom teachers in 24 schools across six school districts participated in the study. The results indicate the advantages of using dynamic instruction and assessment in regular classrooms while teaching mathematics, especially when the student body is highly ethnically diverse.

Coherence and phase synchrony analyses of EEG signals in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI): A study of functional brain connectivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Handayani, Nita; Haryanto, Freddy; Khotimah, Siti Nurul; Arif, Idam; Taruno, Warsito Purwo

2018-03-01

This paper presents an EEG study for coherence and phase synchrony in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subjects. MCI is characterized by cognitive decline, which is an early stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is a neurodegenerative disorder with symptoms such as memory loss and cognitive impairment. EEG coherence is a statistical measure of correlation between signals from electrodes spatially separated on the scalp. The magnitude of phase synchrony is expressed in the phase locking value (PLV), a statistical measure of neuronal connectivity in the human brain. Brain signals were recorded using an Emotiv Epoc 14-channel wireless EEG at a sampling frequency of 128 Hz. In this study, we used 22 elderly subjects consisted of 10 MCI subjects and 12 healthy subjects as control group. The coherence between each electrode pair was measured for all frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha and beta). In the MCI subjects, the value of coherence and phase synchrony was generally lower than in the healthy subjects especially in the beta frequency. A decline of intrahemisphere coherence in the MCI subjects occurred in the left temporo-parietal-occipital region. The pattern of decline in MCI coherence is associated with decreased cholinergic connectivity along the path that connects the temporal, occipital, and parietal areas of the brain to the frontal area of the brain. EEG coherence and phase synchrony are able to distinguish persons who suffer AD in the early stages from healthy elderly subjects.

Five-year immunity persistence following immunization with inactivated enterovirus 71 type (EV71) vaccine in healthy children: A further observation.

PubMed

Hu, Yuemei; Zeng, Gang; Chu, Kai; Zhang, Jing; Han, Weixiao; Zhang, Ying; Li, Jing; Zhu, Fengcai

2018-02-26

The longevity of antibodies induced by inactivated enterovirus 71 type (EV71) vaccine is not well studied. To estimate the immunity persistence following two-dose vaccination of EV71 vaccine, a five-year follow-up study was conducted as an extension of a Phase III clinical trial. In this study, a sub-cohort of volunteers who was eligible for enrollment and randomly administrated either 2 dose EV71 vaccine or placebo in the phase III clinical trial was selected, and then further observed 64 months post the 1st vaccination. 211 Subjects (106 vaccine subjects and 105 placebo subjects) who provided a full series of blood samples (at all the sampling points) were included in the final analyzed population. Seropositive rate (SR) and geometric mean titer (GMT) of the neutralizing antibodies (NAb) was calculated to detect the dynamic profiles of EV71 vaccine-induced immunogenicity. SR at the 5th year remained 94.34% in the vaccine subjects, with a GMT of 141.42. The SR was 71.43% in the placebo subjects, with a GMT of 71.83. Despite natural infection consistently promoted the NAb increase in the placebo subjects, the SR and GMT in vaccine subjects remained significantly higher than that in the placebo subjects at all the sampling points. The inactivated EV71 vaccine-induced immunity had a good persistence, within 5 years following the primary vaccination.

Learning to control an SSVEP-based BCI speller in naïve subjects.

PubMed

Zhihua Tang; Yijun Wang; Guoya Dong; Weihua Pei; Hongda Chen

2017-07-01

High-speed steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP)-based brain-computer interface (BCI) has been demonstrated in several recent studies. This study aimed to investigate some issues regarding feasibility of learning to control an SSVEP-based BCI speller in naïve subjects. An experiment with new BCI users was designed to answer the following questions: (1) How many people can use the SSVEP-BCI speller? (2) How much time is required to train the user? (3) Does continuous system use lead to user fatigue and deteriorated BCI performance? The experiment consisted of three tasks including a 40-class BCI spelling task, a psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) task, and a test of sleepiness scale. Subjects' reaction time (RT) in the PVT task and the fatigue rank in the sleepiness scale test were used as objective and subjective parameters to evaluate subjects' alertness level. Among 11 naïve subjects, 10 of them fulfilled the 9-block experiment. Four of them showed clear learning effects (i.e., an increasing trend of classification accuracy and information transfer rate (ITR)) over time. The remaining subjects showed stable BCI performance during the whole experiment. The results of RT and fatigue rank showed a gradually increasing trend, which is not significant across blocks. In summary, the results of this study suggest that controlling an SSVEP-based BCI speller is in general feasible to learn by naïve subjects after a short training procedure, showing no clear performance deterioration related to fatigue.

Ensemble clustering in visual working memory biases location memories and reduces the Weber noise of relative positions.

PubMed

Lew, Timothy F; Vul, Edward

2015-01-01

People seem to compute the ensemble statistics of objects and use this information to support the recall of individual objects in visual working memory. However, there are many different ways that hierarchical structure might be encoded. We examined the format of structured memories by asking subjects to recall the locations of objects arranged in different spatial clustering structures. Consistent with previous investigations of structured visual memory, subjects recalled objects biased toward the center of their clusters. Subjects also recalled locations more accurately when they were arranged in fewer clusters containing more objects, suggesting that subjects used the clustering structure of objects to aid recall. Furthermore, subjects had more difficulty recalling larger relative distances, consistent with subjects encoding the positions of objects relative to clusters and recalling them with magnitude-proportional (Weber) noise. Our results suggest that clustering improved the fidelity of recall by biasing the recall of locations toward cluster centers to compensate for uncertainty and by reducing the magnitude of encoded relative distances.

Precision of the anchor influences the amount of adjustment.

PubMed

Janiszewski, Chris; Uy, Dan

2008-02-01

The anchoring-and-adjustment heuristic has been used to account for a wide variety of numerical judgments. Five studies show that adjustment away from a numerical anchor is smaller if the anchor is precise than if it is rounded. Evidence suggests that precise anchors, compared with rounded anchors, are represented on a subjective scale with a finer resolution. If adjustment consists of a series of iterative mental movements along a subjective scale, then an adjustment from a precise anchor should result in a smaller overall correction than an adjustment from a rounded anchor.

Strategies for Walking on a Laterally Oscillating Treadmill

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Peters, Brian T.; Brady, Rachel A.; Bloomberg, Jacob, J.

2008-01-01

Most people use a variety of gait patterns each day. These changes can come about by voluntary actions, such as a decision to walk faster when running late. They can also be a result of both conscious and subconscious changes made to account for variation in the environmental conditions. Many factors can play a role in determining the optimal gait patterns, but the relative importance of each could vary between subjects. A goal of this study was to investigate whether subjects used consistent gait strategies when walking on an unstable support surface.

The errors of metacognitive evaluation on metacognitive failure of students in mathematical problem solving

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huda, Nizlel; Sutawidjaja, Akbar; Subanji; Rahardjo, Swasono

2018-04-01

Metacognitive activity is very important in mathematical problems solving. Metacognitive activity consists of metacognitive awareness, metacognitive evaluation and metacognitive regulation. This study aimed to reveal the errors of metacognitive evaluation in students’ metacognitive failure in solving mathematical problems. 20 students taken as research subjects were grouped into three groups: the first group was students who experienced one metacognitive failure, the second group was students who experienced two metacognitive failures and the third group was students who experienced three metacognitive failures. One person was taken from each group as the reasearch subject. The research data was collected from worksheets done using think aload then followed by interviewing the research subjects based on the results’ of subject work. The findings in this study were students who experienced metacognitive failure in solving mathematical problems tends to miscalculate metacognitive evaluation in considering the effectiveness and limitations of their thinking and the effectiveness of their chosen strategy of completion.

[Inter-Occupational Cooperation Levels in a Day Care Service and Its Subjects - From the Viewpoint of Multiple Occupations].

PubMed

Ugai, Chizuru; Hata, Kiyomi

2016-12-01

We clarified the role of cooperation of nursing personnel who work in day care services, to precede our examination of inter-occupational cooperation. The study results revealed that there were four cooperation levels. Subjects for the cooperation included:"difficulty in sharing information,"difficulty in understanding the whole picture,"difficulty in finding directions, "and"difficulty in dealing with emergency cases."The purpose of this study was to clarify the inter-occupational cooperation levels in a day care service and its subjects. We also conducted semi-structured interviews with 13 persons of differing occupations(other than nurses), and who worked in day-care services in A prefecture. As a result, it was revealed that there were three inter-occupational cooperation levels and its subjects included:"difficulty in sharing information" (which was answered the same as the nurses),"difficulty in sharing goals"(which were different among individual occupations), "lack of consistency in care,"necessity of learning because of insufficient knowledge,"and"hesitation to notify."

Associations of knee muscle force, bone malalignment, and knee-joint laxity with osteoarthritis in elderly people.

PubMed

Nakagawa, Kazumasa; Maeda, Misako

2017-03-01

[Purpose] From the viewpoint of prevention of knee osteoarthritis, the aim of this study was to verify how muscle strength and joint laxity are related to knee osteoarthritis. [Subjects and Methods] The study subjects consisted of 90 community-dwelling elderly people aged more than 60 years (22 males, 68 females). Femorotibial angle alignment, knee joint laxity, knee extensors and flexor muscle strengths were measured in all subjects. In addition, the subjects were divided into four groups based on the presence of laxity and knee joint deformation, and the muscle strength values were compared. [Results] There was no significant difference in knee extensor muscle strength among the four groups. However, there was significant weakness of the knee flexor muscle in the group with deformation and laxity was compared with the group without deformation and laxity. [Conclusion] Decreased knee flexor muscle strengths may be involved in knee joint deformation. The importance of muscle strength balance was also considered.

Development of CRIS: Measure of community reintegration of injured service members

PubMed Central

Resnik, Linda; Plow, Matthew; Jette, Alan

2012-01-01

Identification and prevention of community reintegration problems of veterans is an important public health mandate. However, no veteran-specific measure exists. Study purposes were to (1) develop the Community Reintegration for Service Members (CRIS) measure and (2) test the validity and reliability of the measure. Formative research identified challenges in community reintegration postdeployment. The World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health participation domain guided item-bank development. Items were refined through cognitive interviews and clinician consultation. Pilot studies with 126 veterans examined unidimensionality, internal consistency, reliability, and construct validity. Three unidimensional CRIS scales were developed. Working subjects had better CRIS scores then unemployed subjects. Subjects with posttraumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, or mental health problems had worse scores than subjects without these conditions. The correlations between the CRIS and the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey scales of role physical, role emotional, and social functioning were 0.44–0.80. CRIS has strong reliability, conceptual integrity, and construct validity. PMID:19882482

Subjective and physiological emotional response in euthymic bipolar patients: a pilot study.

PubMed

Lemaire, Mathieu; Aguillon-Hernandez, Nadia; Bonnet-Brilhault, Frédérique; Martineau, Joëlle; El-Hage, Wissam

2014-12-15

The euthymic phase of bipolar disorders may be associated with residual emotional and/or subsyndromal symptoms. The aim of this study was to compare subjective and physiologic emotional response to negative, neutral and positive emotion eliciting pictures between euthymic bipolar patients (n=26) and healthy controls (n=30). We evaluated emotional response using an emotional induction method with emotional pictures from the International Affective Picture System. We measured subjective emotional response with the Self-Assessment Manikin and physiological emotional response by measuring pupil size. No difference was found between euthymic bipolar patients and controls regarding subjective emotional response. However, upon viewing positive pictures, pupil dilation was significantly lower in euthymic bipolar patients compared to controls. This finding suggests that euthymic bipolar phase may be associated with reduced physiologic emotional response to positive valence, which is consistent with a more general negative emotional bias or can be understood as a residual emotional subsyndromal symptom. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Clinical Utility of Serologic Testing for Celiac Disease in Asymptomatic Patients

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Executive Summary Objective The objective of this evidence-based analysis was to evaluate the clinical utility of serologic testing for celiac disease in asymptomatic individuals presenting with one of the non-gastrointestinal conditions evaluated in this report. The clinical utility was based on the effects of a gluten-free diet (GFD) on outcomes specific to each of these conditions. The prevalence of celiac disease in asymptomatic individuals and one of these non-gastrointestinal conditions was also evaluated. Clinical Need and Target Population Celiac Disease Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease characterized by a chronic inflammatory state of the proximal small bowel mucosa accompanied by structural and functional changes. Technology Under Evaluation Serologic Tests for Celiac Disease There are a number of serologic tests for celiac disease available. Serologic tests are automated with the exception of the anti-endomysial antibody test, which is more time-consuming and operator-dependent than the other tests. Research Questions What is the prevalence of asymptomatic celiac disease in patients presenting with one of the non-gastrointestinal conditions evaluated? What is the effect of the gluten-free diet on condition-specific outcomes in patients with asymptomatic celiac disease presenting with one of the non-gastrointestinal conditions evaluated? What is the clinical utility of serologic testing for celiac disease in asymptomatic patients presenting with one of the non-gastrointestinal conditions evaluated? The clinical utility was defined as the impact of the GFD on disease specific outcomes. What is the risk of all-cause mortality and lymphoma in individuals with asymptomatic celiac disease? What is the budget impact of serologic testing for celiac disease in asymptomatic subjects presenting with one of the non-gastrointestinal conditions evaluated? Research Methods Study Population The study population consisted of individuals with newly diagnosed celiac disease without any symptoms consistent with the disease presenting with one of the non-gastrointestinal conditions evaluated. When evaluating the risk of lymphoma and all-cause mortality, the study population consisted of asymptomatic individuals with a positive celiac disease serologic test and/or small bowel biopsy. Literature Search Search Strategy Literature searches were performed for each disease/condition evaluated between December 2010 and March 2011 using OVID MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, and the International Agency for Health Technology Assessment (INAHTA). No restrictions for start date of search were used. Abstracts were reviewed by a single reviewer and, for those studies meeting the eligibility criteria, full-text articles were obtained. Reference lists were also examined for any additional relevant studies not identified through the search. Articles with an unknown eligibility were reviewed with a second clinical epidemiologist and then a group of epidemiologists until consensus was established. Inclusion Criteria Studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses that assessed the effects of a GFD in patients with newly diagnosed asymptomatic celiac disease presenting with one of the non-gastrointestinal conditions evaluated. If symptoms were not reported in the study but subjects were identified through screening for celiac disease the study was included. Studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses that assessed the prevalence of newly diagnosed asymptomatic celiac disease in patients with one of the non-gastrointestinal conditions evaluated. If symptoms were not reported in the study but subjects were identified through screening for celiac disease the study was included. Studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses that evaluated the risk of all-cause mortality or lymphoma in individuals with asymptomatic celiac disease. Sample size ≥ 10. Publications in English. Exclusion Criteria Studies that retrospectively assessed the prevalence of asymptomatic celiac disease. Studies that reported the prevalence of one of the non-gastrointestinal conditions evaluated in subjects already diagnosed with celiac disease. Studies in individuals with one of the non-gastrointestinal conditions evaluated if the condition could be explained by other causes. Studies in subjects with celiac disease and symptoms consistent with the disease. If the study included individuals with and without symptoms consistent with celiac disease and their results were analysed separately, the results in individuals without symptoms were included in the analysis. Studies in which individuals did not report any symptoms consistent with celiac disease at study start but that either retrospectively reported the presence of such symptoms after following a GFD, or that previously presented with symptoms consistent with celiac disease. Study results published in letters to the editor or comments about other studies. Studies with a sample size ≥ 10, however, in which less than 10 patients were included in the analysis. Outcomes of Interest The effects of a GFD on disease-specific outcomes for each condition evaluated in patients with asymptomatic celiac disease was assessed. The prevalence of asymptomatic celiac disease in patients presenting with one of the conditions evaluated was also assessed. Results of Evidence-Based Analysis Three eligible observational studies evaluated the effects of GFD on growth parameters in subjects with asymptomatic celiac disease and idiopathic short stature. Four eligible observational studies evaluated the effects of GFD on metabolic control in subjects with asymptomatic celiac disease and type 1 diabetes. Five eligible observational studies evaluated the risk of all-cause mortality and five eligible observational studies evaluated the risk of lymphoma in subjects with asymptomatic celiac disease. No eligible studies on the effects of the GFD for the other conditions evaluated were identified. Twenty-three eligible studies measured the prevalence of asymptomatic celiac disease in subjects presenting with one of the conditions evaluated. Prevalence of Celiac Disease in Asymptomatic Patients The prevalence of celiac disease in asymptomatic patients presenting with one of the conditions evaluated was analysed. Most studies also included a control group that generally consisted of individuals randomly selected from the general population. Although there was a trend to a higher prevalence of asymptomatic celiac disease in individuals with the conditions evaluated compared to the controls, it only reached statistical significance in type 1 diabetes. No eligible prevalence studies were identified in patients with amenorrhea, delayed puberty, alopecia, and depression. The Effects of a Gluten-Free Diet on Disease-Specific Outcomes in Patients with Asymptomatic Celiac Disease The effects of GFD on metabolic control in patients with asymptomatic celiac disease and Type 1 Diabetes The effects of a GFD on metabolic control (HbA1c, number of hypoglycemic episodes, and changes in insulin dosage) in subjects with asymptomatic celiac disease and type 1 diabetes were evaluated. One prospective case-control study reported an increase in HbA1c levels in cases with type 1 diabetes and asymptomatic celiac disease after the introduction of a GFD, however, the clinical significance of this change is unclear. Only one eligible retrospective case-control study evaluated the effects of a GFD on hypoglycemia episodes and since there were inadequate details in the study about both the ascertainment and severity of hypoglycemia episodes in both cases and controls, it is not possible to draw conclusions regarding the effects of a GFD on hypoglycemia episodes based on this study. One prospective case-control study did not show a statistically significant change in insulin dosage between cases with type 1 diabetes and asymptomatic celiac disease and controls with type 1 diabetes either before or after the introduction of a GFD. No eligible studies that evaluated the effects of a GFD on the long-term outcomes of type 1 diabetes such as cardiovascular or renal events in patients with asymptomatic celiac disease were identified. The effects of a Gluten-Free Diet in Patients with Idiopathic Short Stature and Asymptomatic Celiac Disease A total of 3 eligible studies were identified. All studies consisted of case series that compared growth parameters in subjects with asymptomatic celiac disease and idiopathic short stature before and after the celiac disease was diagnosed and the GFD was instituted. Most subjects included in the studies demonstrated an improvement in growth parameters. Compliance with the GFD was not reported in the studies. The results of the studies suggest an increase in growth velocity in pediatric patients with asymptomatic celiac disease and idiopathic short stature once a GFD is introduced. Risk of lymphoma in patients with asymptomatic celiac disease One retrospective cohort study evaluated the risk of lymphoma in patients with asymptomatic celiac disease. The authors concluded that the number of events identified was low during the long follow-up period and that the risk of overall malignancies was not increased among patients with asymptomatic celiac disease. Risk of Asymptomatic Celiac Disease in Patients with Lymphoma Four case-control studies, one of which retrospective, evaluated the risk of asymptomatic celiac disease in patients newly diagnosed with lymphoma. One retrospective cohort study did not show an increase in the risk of lymphoma among subjects with asymptomatic celiac disease. Three prospective case-control studies did not find a statistically significant risk of asymptomatic celiac disease in patients with newly diagnosed lymphoma. Risk of All-Cause Mortality in Patients with Asymptomatic Celiac Disease A total of 5 studies that evaluated the risk of all-cause mortality in asymptomatic patients with celiac disease were identified. There were 5 cohort studies, 2 prospective and 3 retrospective. The two prospective studies did not show an increased risk of all-cause mortality in subjects with asymptomatic celiac disease. Grading of Evidence The quality of the evidence for each serologic tests evaluated based on the GRADE Working Group criteria. Overall, the quality of the evidence ranged from low to very low depending on the outcome evaluated. The Clinical Utility of Serologic Testing for Celiac Disease in Asymptomatic Subjects Eligible studies that evaluated the effects of a GFD on disease-specific outcomes were only identified for two of the conditions evaluated, type 1 diabetes and idiopathic short stature. The clinical utility of serologic testing for celiac disease in patients with type 1 diabetes without symptoms consistent with celiac disease was not demonstrated since the studies identified did not provide evidence of the impact of the GFD on either metabolic control or long-term outcomes in these patients. The clinical utility of serologic testing for celiac disease in patients with idiopathic short stature without symptoms consistent with celiac disease was demonstrated since the studies identified showed an acceleration in growth once the diagnosis of celiac disease was made and a GFD was introduced. The Budget Impact of Serologic Testing for Celiac Disease in Asymptomatic Patients The budget impact of serologic testing for celiac disease in asymptomatic patients was calculated for the conditions for which clinical utility for serologic testing was demonstrated. The budget impact in patients with idiopathic short stature without symptoms consistent with celiac disease was estimated as C$552,000 as calculated by multiplying the number of individuals in Ontario with idiopathic short stature that may be eligible for the test by the cost of the serologic test for celiac disease. Conclusions Based on a review of the literature, there is an increased risk of asymptomatic celiac disease in patients with type 1 diabetes. Based on low quality evidence, in patients with idiopathic short stature and asymptomatic celiac disease there is an acceleration in growth once a gluten-free diet is introduced. With the exception of idiopathic short stature, there was no published evidence of clinical utility of celiac disease testing in asymptomatic patients with respect to a gluten-free diet intervention in the other conditions evaluated. Based on low to very low quality evidence, asymptomatic celiac disease does not confer an increased risk of lymphoma or mortality. Similarly, in patients with lymphoma there is no increased risk of asymptomatic celiac disease. PMID:23074415

Age-related disappearance of Mayer-like heart rate waves

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jarisch, W. R.; Ferguson, J. J.; Shannon, R. P.; Wei, J. Y.; Goldberger, A. L.

1987-01-01

The effect of age on the principal spectral components of heart rate obtained immediately after passive upright tilt was investigated in human subjects who underwent a 60-deg tilt over 9 sec. Two groups were examined, the first of which consisting of healthy male subjects aged 22-26 years, while the second was comprised of subjects aged 65-84 years on no medication; radiograms were recorded continuously beginning just prior to tilt until 3 min posttilt. The results of spectral analysis showed that elderly subjects did not exhibit the Mayer-like heart rate waves (the 0.07-0.09 Hz oscillations) that were present in the spectra of young subjects immediately after passive upright tilt. The findings are consistent with the concept of a 'dysautonomia of aging'. It is suggested that postural stress testing with spectral analysis of heart rate fluctuations may provide a useful way of assessing physiologic vs chronologic age.

A preliminary study to evaluate postural improvement in subjects with scoliosis: active therapeutic movement version 2 device and home exercises using the Mulligan's mobilization-with-movement concept.

PubMed

Lewis, Clare; Diaz, Rafael; Lopez, Geoff; Marki, Nicholas; Olivio, Ben

2014-09-01

The purpose of this preliminary study was to determine if the use of Active Therapeutic Movement Version 2 (ATM2) device and home exercises using the Mulligan's mobilization-with-movement concept by subjects with scoliosis would result in postural improvement and to document any changes in trunk range of motion and quality of life. Forty-three subjects between the ages of 12 to 75 years were recruited for the study. Each subject underwent a low back evaluation along with specific measurements for their scoliosis. Subjects participated in a 4-week intervention, 2 times a week consisting of treatment utilizing the ATM2 and were also given a home exercise program to mimic the specific movement(s) they performed on the ATM2. Photographic assessment of posture was taken before and after the intervention. Subjects were surveyed during the initial assessment and again at the final intervention using the following outcome measures: Fear Avoidance Belief Questionnaire, Short-Form Health Survey-36, Oswestry Disability Index, and a Numeric Pain Rating Scale. Results were significant for most of the variables measured. Subjects gained improvement in spinal ranges of motion for all directions except for flexion and extension (most subjects had reference range of flexion and extension at the beginning of the study). Most subjects had improved pelvic alignment after the intervention. Before and after photographs demonstrated improved posture. Subjective measurements of pain, disability, and quality of life improved. Results of this preliminary study showed improvement for selected variables. The use of ATM2 and home exercises using the Mulligan's mobilization-with-movement concept by subjects with scoliosis appears to be a potentially viable conservative treatment alternative to address various findings associated with scoliosis, including posture improvement. Copyright © 2014 National University of Health Sciences. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Prefrontal responses to Stroop tasks in subjects with post-traumatic stress disorder assessed by functional near infrared spectroscopy.

PubMed

Yennu, Amarnath; Tian, Fenghua; Smith-Osborne, Alexa; J Gatchel, Robert; Woon, Fu Lye; Liu, Hanli

2016-07-25

Studies on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) showing attentional deficits have implicated abnormal activities in the frontal lobe. In this study, we utilized multichannel functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to investigate selective attention-related hemodynamic activity in the prefrontal cortex among 15 combat-exposed war-zone veterans with PTSD and 13 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. While performing the incongruent Stroop task, healthy controls showed significant activations in the left lateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC) compared to baseline readings. This observation is consistent with previously reported results. In comparison, subjects with PTSD failed to activate left LPFC during the same Stroop task. Our observations may implicate that subjects with PTSD experienced difficulty in overcoming Stroop interference. We also observed significant negative correlation between task reaction times and hemodynamic responses from left LPFC during the incongruent Stroop task in the PTSD group. Regarding the methodology used in this study, we have learned that an appropriate design of Stroop paradigms is important for meeting an optimal cognitive load which can lead to better brain image contrasts in response to Stroop interference between healthy versus PTSD subjects. Overall, the feasibility of fNIRS for studying and mapping neural correlates of selective attention and interference in subjects with PTSD is reported.

Prefrontal responses to Stroop tasks in subjects with post-traumatic stress disorder assessed by functional near infrared spectroscopy

PubMed Central

Yennu, Amarnath; Tian, Fenghua; Smith-Osborne, Alexa; J. Gatchel, Robert; Woon, Fu Lye; Liu, Hanli

2016-01-01

Studies on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) showing attentional deficits have implicated abnormal activities in the frontal lobe. In this study, we utilized multichannel functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to investigate selective attention-related hemodynamic activity in the prefrontal cortex among 15 combat-exposed war-zone veterans with PTSD and 13 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. While performing the incongruent Stroop task, healthy controls showed significant activations in the left lateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC) compared to baseline readings. This observation is consistent with previously reported results. In comparison, subjects with PTSD failed to activate left LPFC during the same Stroop task. Our observations may implicate that subjects with PTSD experienced difficulty in overcoming Stroop interference. We also observed significant negative correlation between task reaction times and hemodynamic responses from left LPFC during the incongruent Stroop task in the PTSD group. Regarding the methodology used in this study, we have learned that an appropriate design of Stroop paradigms is important for meeting an optimal cognitive load which can lead to better brain image contrasts in response to Stroop interference between healthy versus PTSD subjects. Overall, the feasibility of fNIRS for studying and mapping neural correlates of selective attention and interference in subjects with PTSD is reported. PMID:27452397

Prefrontal responses to Stroop tasks in subjects with post-traumatic stress disorder assessed by functional near infrared spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yennu, Amarnath; Tian, Fenghua; Smith-Osborne, Alexa; J. Gatchel, Robert; Woon, Fu Lye; Liu, Hanli

2016-07-01

Studies on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) showing attentional deficits have implicated abnormal activities in the frontal lobe. In this study, we utilized multichannel functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to investigate selective attention-related hemodynamic activity in the prefrontal cortex among 15 combat-exposed war-zone veterans with PTSD and 13 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. While performing the incongruent Stroop task, healthy controls showed significant activations in the left lateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC) compared to baseline readings. This observation is consistent with previously reported results. In comparison, subjects with PTSD failed to activate left LPFC during the same Stroop task. Our observations may implicate that subjects with PTSD experienced difficulty in overcoming Stroop interference. We also observed significant negative correlation between task reaction times and hemodynamic responses from left LPFC during the incongruent Stroop task in the PTSD group. Regarding the methodology used in this study, we have learned that an appropriate design of Stroop paradigms is important for meeting an optimal cognitive load which can lead to better brain image contrasts in response to Stroop interference between healthy versus PTSD subjects. Overall, the feasibility of fNIRS for studying and mapping neural correlates of selective attention and interference in subjects with PTSD is reported.

USE OF NEW AUDIO-VISUAL TECHNIQUES TO TEACH MENTALLY-RETARDED CHILDREN.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

ROSS, DOROTHEA M.

DEPENDENCY LEARNING, THE ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONAL INTERRELATIONSHIP VALUES, WAS STUDIED AS A TECHNIQUE FOR FOSTERING AUDIOVISUAL ACADEMIC LEARNING AMONG 54 YOUNG, EDUCABLE MENTAL RETARDATES. SOME OF THESE SUBJECTS WERE TAUGHT TO VALUE SIMULATED DEPENDENCY MODELS. THESE MODELS WERE CONSISTENTLY PAIRED WITH SUCH REWARDING STIMULI AS…

Decision Making and Confidence Given Uncertain Advice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Michael D.; Dry, Matthew J.

2006-01-01

We study human decision making in a simple forced-choice task that manipulates the frequency and accuracy of available information. Empirically, we find that people make decisions consistent with the advice provided, but that their subjective confidence in their decisions shows 2 interesting properties. First, people's confidence does not depend…

Testing Based on Understanding: Implications from Studies of Spatial Ability.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Egan, Dennis E.

1979-01-01

The information-processing approach and results of research on spatial ability are analyzed. Performance consists of a sequence of distinct mental operations that seem general across subjects, and can be individually measured. New interpretations for some classical concepts in psychological testing and procedures for abilities are suggested.…

Subjective Response to Road Traffic Noise.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Griffiths, I. D.; Langdon, F. J.

A study consisting of acoustic measurements at fourteen sites in the London area and 1200 interviews dealing with the effects of the noise conditions prevailing at each of these sites has been carried out with the object of developing acceptability criteria for traffic noise from roads in residential areas. Dissatisfaction with the noise…

Composition as Management Science: Toward a University without a WPA.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bousquet, Marc

2002-01-01

Surveys the degree to which the managerial subjectivity predominates in composition studies, distorting the field's understanding of "materialism" and "critique" to the point that it consistently attempts to offer "solutions" to its "labor problem" without accounting for the historical reality of organized academic labor. Claims that "change" in…

A Transfer of Training Study of Control Loader Dynamics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cardullo, Frank M.; Stanco, Anthony A.; Kelly, Lon C.; Houck, Jacob A.; Grube, Richard C.

2011-01-01

The control inceptor used in a simulated vehicle is an important part in maintaining the fidelity of a simulation. The force feedback provided by the control inceptor gives the operator important cues to maintain adequate performance. The dynamics of a control inceptor are typically based on a second order spring mass damper system with damping, force gradient, breakout force, and natural frequency parameters. Changing these parameters can have a great effect on pilot or driver control of the vehicle. The neuromuscular system has a very important role in manipulating the control inceptor within a vehicle. Many studies by McRuer, Aponso, and Hess have dealt with modeling the neuromuscular system and quantifying the effects of a high fidelity control loader as compared to a low fidelity control loader. Humans are adaptive in nature and their control behavior changes based on different control loader dynamics. Humans will change their control behavior to maintain tracking bandwidth and minimize tracking error. This paper reports on a quasi-transfer of training experiment which was performed at the NASA Langley Research Center. The quasi transfer of training study used a high fidelity control loader and a low fidelity control loader. Subjects trained in both simulations and then were transferred to the high fidelity control loader simulation. The parameters for the high fidelity control loader were determined from the literature. The low fidelity control loader parameters were found through testing of a simple computer joystick. A disturbance compensatory task is employed. The compensatory task involves implementing a simple horizon out the window display. A disturbance consisting of a sum of sines is used. The task consists of the subject compensating for the disturbance on the roll angle of the aircraft. The vehicle dynamics are represented as 1/s and 1/s2. The subject will try to maintain level flight throughout the experiment. The subjects consist of non-pilots to remove any effects of pilot experience. First, this paper discusses the implementation of the disturbance compensation task. Second, the high and low fidelity parameters used within the experiment are presented. Finally, an explanation of results from the experiments is presented.

Estimation and correlation of salivary thiocyanate levels in periodontally healthy subjects, smokers, nonsmokers, and gutka-chewers with chronic periodontitis.

PubMed

Hegde, Shashikanth; Chatterjee, Elashri; Rajesh, K S; Kumar, M S Arun

2016-01-01

This study was conducted to estimate and correlate salivary thiocyanate (SCN) levels in periodontally healthy subjects, smokers, nonsmokers, and gutka-chewers with chronic periodontitis. The study population consisted of 40 systemically healthy subjects in the age group of 18-55 years that was further divided into four groups: Control, smokers, nonsmokers, and gutka-chewers with chronic periodontitis. Gingival index (GI) (Loe and Silness-1963), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment loss was assessed. Estimation of SCN was performed by ultraviolet spectrophotometer at 447 nm wavelength. Statistical analysis was performed using the one-way ANOVAs Welch test and Pearson's correlation test using SPSS version 17 software. Results showed statistically significant increase in SCN levels in smokers as compared to gutka-chewers with chronic periodontitis, control, and nonsmokers with chronic periodontitis subjects. Significantly higher PD and loss of attachment were seen in smokers group compared with other groups. A negative correlation observed between the GI and thiocyanate levels. The present study revealed a significant increase in SCN levels in smokers with periodontitis as compared to nonsmokers.

Associations between spontaneous meal initiations and blood glucose dynamics in overweight men in negative energy balance.

PubMed

Kovacs, Eva M R; Westerterp-Plantenga, Margriet S; Saris, Wim H M; Melanson, Kathleen J; Goossens, Ine; Geurten, Peter; Brouns, Fred

2002-01-01

The aim of the present study was to investigate associations between spontaneous meal initiations and blood glucose dynamics in overweight male subjects in negative energy balance. In a randomized crossover design, fifteen overweight male subjects (BMI 28.6 (SD 1.8 kg/m2) participated in three treatments, each of which consisted of 2 weeks consuming a low-energy diet followed by a test of voluntary food ingestion in the absence of time-related cues. The low-energy diet consisted of three daily meals (947 kJ) which were either semi-solid with or without 2.5 g guar gum, or solid, and a dinner of subject's own choice. During the time-blinded test, on the first, second, and third meal initiation subjects ingested a low-energy meal corresponding to that used during the preceding weeks. Changes in blood glucose were monitored on-line. Associations between spontaneous meal initiations and blood glucose dynamics were determined using the chi2 test. No difference was found between treatments in the occurrence of postabsorptive and postprandial declines in blood glucose or in associations between meal initiations and blood glucose dynamics. Postprandial dynamic blood glucose declines were associated with meal initiation (chi2 26 8, P<0.00 1), but postabsorptive and postprandial transient declines were not. In overweight subjects, the usual association between transient declines and spontaneous meal initiation was completely absent in negative energy balance.

Transient cardio-respiratory responses to visually induced tilt illusions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wood, S. J.; Ramsdell, C. D.; Mullen, T. J.; Oman, C. M.; Harm, D. L.; Paloski, W. H.

2000-01-01

Although the orthostatic cardio-respiratory response is primarily mediated by the baroreflex, studies have shown that vestibular cues also contribute in both humans and animals. We have demonstrated a visually mediated response to illusory tilt in some human subjects. Blood pressure, heart and respiration rate, and lung volume were monitored in 16 supine human subjects during two types of visual stimulation, and compared with responses to real passive whole body tilt from supine to head 80 degrees upright. Visual tilt stimuli consisted of either a static scene from an overhead mirror or constant velocity scene motion along different body axes generated by an ultra-wide dome projection system. Visual vertical cues were initially aligned with the longitudinal body axis. Subjective tilt and self-motion were reported verbally. Although significant changes in cardio-respiratory parameters to illusory tilts could not be demonstrated for the entire group, several subjects showed significant transient decreases in mean blood pressure resembling their initial response to passive head-up tilt. Changes in pulse pressure and a slight elevation in heart rate were noted. These transient responses are consistent with the hypothesis that visual-vestibular input contributes to the initial cardiovascular adjustment to a change in posture in humans. On average the static scene elicited perceived tilt without rotation. Dome scene pitch and yaw elicited perceived tilt and rotation, and dome roll motion elicited perceived rotation without tilt. A significant correlation between the magnitude of physiological and subjective reports could not be demonstrated.

Exploring the Motivations for Punishment: Framing and Country-Level Effects.

PubMed

Bone, Jonathan E; McAuliffe, Katherine; Raihani, Nichola J

2016-01-01

Identifying the motives underpinning punishment is crucial for understanding its evolved function. In principle, punishment of distributional inequality could be motivated by the desire to reciprocate losses ('revenge') or by the desire to reduce payoff asymmetries between the punisher and the target ('inequality aversion'). By separating these two possible motivations, recent work suggests that punishment is more likely to be motivated by disadvantageous inequality aversion than by a desire for revenge. Nevertheless, these findings have not consistently replicated across different studies. Here, we suggest that considering country of origin-previously overlooked as a possible source of variation in responses-is important for understanding when and why individuals punish one another. We conducted a two-player stealing game with punishment, using data from 2,400 subjects recruited from the USA and India. US-based subjects punished in response to losses and disadvantageous inequality, but seldom invested in antisocial punishment (defined here as punishment of non-stealing partners). India-based subjects, on the other hand, punished at higher levels than US-based subjects and, so long as they did not experience disadvantageous inequality, punished stealing and non-stealing partners indiscriminately. Nevertheless, as in the USA, when stealing resulted in disadvantageous inequality, India-based subjects punished stealing partners more than non-stealing partners. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that variation in punitive behavior varies across societies, and support the idea that punishment might sometimes function to improve relative status, rather than to enforce cooperation.

A Computer Assisted Application in Preschool Education: Seasons and Their Characteristics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Akçay, Nilufer Okur

2016-01-01

In this study, it is aimed to determine the effect of computer-assisted instruction while teaching the subject seasons to preschool students on the academic success. The sample of the study consists of 86 children from the nursery classes of private and official schools in Agri city center. As data collecting tools General Achievement Test used as…

Determining Which Introductory Physics Topics Pre-Service Physics Teachers Have Difficulty Understanding and What Accounts for These Difficulties

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sahin, Esin; Yagbasan, Rahmi

2012-01-01

This study aims at diagnosing which subjects pre-service physics teachers have difficulty understanding in introductory physics courses and what accounts for these difficulties. A questionnaire consisting of two qualitative questions was used to collect data for this study. The questionnaire was administered to 101 pre-service physics teachers who…

Performance of Hispanic Educable Mentally Retarded, Learning Disabled, and Nonclassified Students on the WISC-RM, SOMPA, and S-KABC: Short-Term Study One. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rueda, Robert; And Others

The study examined performance of limited-English proficient Hispanic students on a battery of psychometric instruments designed to appropriately assess linguistic minority students. Subjects consisted of three groups: 44 nonhandicapped, 45 learning-disabled, and 39 mildly mentally retarded elementary-level students. Instruments included the…

Activities in Mathematics Education and Teaching Interactions. The Construction of the Measurement of Capacity in Pre-Schoolers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zacharos, Konstantinos; Antonopoulos, Konstantinos; Ravanis, Konstantinos

2011-01-01

In this study we attempted to highlight the pedagogical role of activities to familiarize pre-schoolers with the measurement processes of container capacity. The sample of the study consisted of 20 subjects aged five-six, all coming from two Greek state kindergartens of the same area, bearing the same middle socioeconomic background. The research…

The Relationship of Student Influence and Teacher Efficacy on the Behaviors of Mid-Atlantic High School Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McGowan, Jessica

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships of teacher efficacy and student influence to teacher behaviors within the classroom among mid-Atlantic high school teachers. The population studied consisted of secondary teachers who instructed multiple subject areas within grades 9 through 12. A survey was conducted to collect…

The Effects of Using Concept Cartoons in Astronomy Subjects on Critical Thinking Skills among Seventh Grade Student

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Demirci, Filiz; Özyürek, Cengiz

2017-01-01

The objective of this study is to research the effects of using concept cartoons in the "Solar System and Beyond" unit, which is included in seventh grade science lessons, on students' critical thinking skills. The study group consisted of 58 students, selected using an appropriate sampling method, who were students in a state secondary…

Laboratory tests for mumps vaccines.

PubMed

Minor, P D

1997-03-01

The action of live attenuated vaccines against mumps is poorly understood although their clinical efficacy is beyond doubt. The attenuated character of the vaccine is assured by consistency of production related to clinical trials, and limited studies of vaccine seeds in primates. Potency is assessed by infectivity in vitro and is subject to poorly understood sources of variation. Molecular biological studies are at an early stage.

Effectiveness of Conceptual Change Text Oriented Instruction on Students' Understanding of Cellular Respiration Concepts.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cakir, Ozlem S.; Yuruk, Nejla; Geban, Omer

The purpose of the study is to compare the effectiveness of conceptual change text oriented instruction and traditional instruction on students' understanding of cellular respiration concepts and their attitudes toward biology as a school subject. The sample of this study consisted of 84 eleventh-grade students from the 4 classes of a high school.…

The Effect of Cooperative Learning Approach Based on Conceptual Change Condition on Students' Understanding of Chemical Equilibrium Concepts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bilgin, Ibrahim; Geban, Omer

2006-01-01

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of the cooperative learning approach based on conceptual change conditions over traditional instruction on 10th grade students' conceptual understanding and achievement of computational problems related to chemical equilibrium concepts. The subjects of this study consisted of 87 tenth grade…

The Initial Response of Secondary Mathematics Teachers to a One-to-One Laptop Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zuber, Edward Nordin; Anderson, Judy

2013-01-01

Studies of one-to-one programs consistently report lower use of laptops in mathematics classrooms compared to other subjects but do not elaborate reasons for these observations. This mixed-method study investigated the experiences and beliefs of 28 mathematics teachers at five secondary schools during the second year of the New South Wales Digital…

Comparison of Blood Lipids, Blood Pressures and Left Ventricular Cavity Dimension between Soccer Players and Non-Athletes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gokhan, Ismail; Kurkcu, Recep; Cekin, Resul

2013-01-01

In this study, it was aimed to compare the investigate the effects of regular exercise on blood lipids, blood pressure and left ventricular cavity dimensions function between soccer players and non-athletes in football players. This study consisted included a total of 30 subjects, including an experimental group including 18 soccer players…

The Effect of Cognitive Learning Style-Based Reading Program on the Achievement of Jordanian Freshmen English Majors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Al-Hajaya, Nail; Al-Khresheh, Taisir

2012-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate cognitive learning style-based reading program on the achievement of Jordanian freshmen English majors. The subjects of the study consisted of 104 freshmen English majors enrolled for Reading Skills 1 in Tafila Technical University in Jordan in the fall semester 2007/2008. Students' learning styles,…

New Prof Omeje Pornography Addiction as Correlate of Psychosocial and Academic Adjustment of Students in Universities in Lagos State

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ohuakanwa, Chijioke Ephraim; Omeje, Joachim Chinweike; Eskay, Michael

2012-01-01

The study sought to investigate the relationship between pornography addiction and psychosocial and academic adjustment of students in universities in Lagos State. In order to achieve this objective, five research questions were formulated and two hypotheses postulated. The subjects for the study consisted of 616 full-time third-year undergraduate…

Stool patterns of Malaysian adults with functional constipation: association with diet and physical activity.

PubMed

Mazlyn, Mena M; Nagarajah, Lee H L; Fatimah, A; Norimah, A K; Goh, K L

2013-04-01

Diet and lifestyle modification is commonly used in constipation management. As there is a dearth of studies on this topic in Malaysia, we aim to elucidate the relations between stool patterns, dietary intake and physical activity levels among adults with functional constipation. From a database collected via surveys at public events, a convenience sample of 100 adults diagnosed with Rome II-defined functional constipation was enrolled in this cross-sectional study. After severity assessment using the Chinese Constipation Questionnaire, subjects completed 2-week bowel movement diaries to determine stool frequency, consistency and output. Dietary intake and physical activity levels were assessed twice using three-day 24-hour diet recalls and International Physical Activity Questionnaire, respectively. Ninety subjects who completed the study were included in the analysis. Mean weekly stool frequency was 3.9 +/- 1.9 times, consistency score was 2.6 +/- 0.6 (range 1.0-4.0), output was 11.0 +/- 6.3 balls (40 mm diameter) and severity score was 10.3 +/- 3.3 (range 5.0-22.0). Mean daily dietary intakes were: energy 1,719 +/- 427kcal, dietary fibre 15.0 +/- 4.9g and fluid 2.5 +/- 0.8L. The majority of subjects were physically inactive. Stool frequency and output were positively associated with dietary fibre (r(s) = 0.278, P < 0.01; r(s) = 0.226, P < 0.05) and fluid intake (r(s) = 0.257, P < 0.05; OR = 3.571, 95% CI [1.202-10.609]). Constipation severity was associated with higher physical activity levels (OR = 2.467, 95% CI [1.054-5.777]). Insufficient intake of dietary fibre and fluid are associated with aggravated constipation symptoms. Further studies are necessary to confirm usefulness of dietary intervention in treatment of constipation as dietary factors alone may not influence overall severity and stool consistency, an integral element of constipation.

Gains following perceptual learning are closely linked to the initial visual acuity.

PubMed

Yehezkel, Oren; Sterkin, Anna; Lev, Maria; Levi, Dennis M; Polat, Uri

2016-04-28

The goal of the present study was to evaluate the dependence of perceptual learning gains on initial visual acuity (VA), in a large sample of subjects with a wide range of VAs. A large sample of normally sighted and presbyopic subjects (N = 119; aged 40 to 63) with a wide range of uncorrected near visual acuities (VA, -0.12 to 0.8 LogMAR), underwent perceptual learning. Training consisted of detecting briefly presented Gabor stimuli under spatial and temporal masking conditions. Consistent with previous findings, perceptual learning induced a significant improvement in near VA and reading speed under conditions of limited exposure duration. Our results show that the improvements in VA and reading speed observed following perceptual learning are closely linked to the initial VA, with only a minor fraction of the observed improvement that may be attributed to the additional sessions performed by those with the worse VA.

Developing Ill-defined problem-solving for the context of “South Sumatera”

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arifin, S.; Zulkardi; Putri, R. I. I.; Hartono, Y.; Susanti, E.

2017-12-01

This study aims to produce a valid and practical ill-defined problem-solving for context South Sumatera. The subject of the research is three students of the first semester of undergraduate students in the mathematics department of Raden Fatah State Islamic University. This study use development studies that consist of preliminary and prototyping. In preliminary stage have been analysis content curricula, indicator, and strategies of problem-solving. Meanwhile, in prototyping stage only consist of self-evaluation, expert review, and one-to-one. The data were collected through a walkthrough, interview, and test. The data were validated using expert review, but in practice, the data were obtained from test and interview to subject of the research. This studies produced two valid and practical problem-solving. The first problem is about “Benteng Kuto Besak”, and the second problem is about “Monpera”. From the expert review, the conclusion can be drawn that two problems which are developing are ill-defined problem-solving, and valid from content, construct, and its language. Besides that, the problems are practical because all students know and understand what the problems goal, but not the solutions.

Cannabis use and violent behaviour: a psychiatric patients cohort study in Southern Italy.

PubMed

Carabellese, Felice; Candelli, Chiara; Martinelli, Domenico; La Tegola, Donatella; Catanesi, Roberto

2013-01-01

An ample volume of research evidence supports the conclusion that drug use/abuse is correlated with violent behavior. Some studies have shown that co-morbidity also appears to be predictive of violent behavior. The research evidence indicates gender differences, while socio-economic and familial factors play a role, too. We conducted a retrospective study of the clinical files of four public psychiatric outpatient facilities during five years. The objectives of the research were to identify and analyze relationships between: a) cannabis use/abuse and violent behavior and b) cannabis use/abuse, psychopathology, and violent behavior. The study sample consisted of 1,582 subjects. The data, gathered in a dedicated database, were processed by applying univariate and multivariate analysis models. Subjects who used/abused cannabis showed a high prevalence of violent behavior, Regardless of the type of psychiatric disorder, the use of cannabis appears to be an evident risk factor. Significant correlations also emerged between cannabis use/abuse and the type of violent behavior, especially self-inflicted injury. Evidence also emerged that other factors are implicated. This is consistent with the current literature proposing multi-casual explanations of violent behavior.

Validation of a Novel Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band Simulator

PubMed Central

Sankaranarayanan, Ganesh; Adair, James D.; Halic, Tansel; Gromski, Mark A.; Lu, Zhonghua; Ahn, Woojin; Jones, Daniel B.; De, Suvranu

2011-01-01

Background Morbid obesity accounts for more than 90,000 deaths per year in the United States. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is the second most common weight loss procedure performed in the US and the most common in Europe and Australia. Simulation in surgical training is a rapidly advancing field that has been adopted by many to prepare surgeons for surgical techniques and procedures. Study Aim The aim of our study was to determine face, construct and content validity for a novel virtual reality laparoscopic adjustable gastric band simulator. Methods Twenty-eight subjects were categorized into two groups (Expert and Novice), determined by their skill level in laparoscopic surgery. Experts consisted of subjects who had at least four years of laparoscopic training and operative experience. Novices consisted of subjects with medical training, but with less than four years of laparoscopic training. The subjects performed the virtual reality laparoscopic adjustable band surgery simulator. They were automatically scored, according to various tasks. The subjects then completed a questionnaire to evaluate face and content validity. Results On a 5-point Likert scale (1 – lowest score, 5 – highest score), the mean score for visual realism was 4.00 ± 0.67 and the mean score for realism of the interface and tool movements was 4.07 ± 0.77 [Face Validity]. There were significant differences in the performance of the two subject groups (Expert and Novice), based on total scores (p<0.001) [Construct Validity]. Mean scores for utility of the simulator, as addressed by the Expert group, was 4.50 ± 0.71 [Content Validity]. Conclusion We created a virtual reality laparoscopic adjustable gastric band simulator. Our initial results demonstrate excellent face, construct and content validity findings. To our knowledge, this is the first virtual reality simulator with haptic feedback for training residents and surgeons in the laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding procedure. PMID:20734069

Knowledge-Guided Robust MRI Brain Extraction for Diverse Large-Scale Neuroimaging Studies on Humans and Non-Human Primates

PubMed Central

Wang, Yaping; Nie, Jingxin; Yap, Pew-Thian; Li, Gang; Shi, Feng; Geng, Xiujuan; Guo, Lei; Shen, Dinggang

2014-01-01

Accurate and robust brain extraction is a critical step in most neuroimaging analysis pipelines. In particular, for the large-scale multi-site neuroimaging studies involving a significant number of subjects with diverse age and diagnostic groups, accurate and robust extraction of the brain automatically and consistently is highly desirable. In this paper, we introduce population-specific probability maps to guide the brain extraction of diverse subject groups, including both healthy and diseased adult human populations, both developing and aging human populations, as well as non-human primates. Specifically, the proposed method combines an atlas-based approach, for coarse skull-stripping, with a deformable-surface-based approach that is guided by local intensity information and population-specific prior information learned from a set of real brain images for more localized refinement. Comprehensive quantitative evaluations were performed on the diverse large-scale populations of ADNI dataset with over 800 subjects (55∼90 years of age, multi-site, various diagnosis groups), OASIS dataset with over 400 subjects (18∼96 years of age, wide age range, various diagnosis groups), and NIH pediatrics dataset with 150 subjects (5∼18 years of age, multi-site, wide age range as a complementary age group to the adult dataset). The results demonstrate that our method consistently yields the best overall results across almost the entire human life span, with only a single set of parameters. To demonstrate its capability to work on non-human primates, the proposed method is further evaluated using a rhesus macaque dataset with 20 subjects. Quantitative comparisons with popularly used state-of-the-art methods, including BET, Two-pass BET, BET-B, BSE, HWA, ROBEX and AFNI, demonstrate that the proposed method performs favorably with superior performance on all testing datasets, indicating its robustness and effectiveness. PMID:24489639

Design and validation of a comprehensive fecal incontinence questionnaire.

PubMed

Macmillan, Alexandra K; Merrie, Arend E H; Marshall, Roger J; Parry, Bryan R

2008-10-01

Fecal incontinence can have a profound effect on quality of life. Its prevalence remains uncertain because of stigma, lack of consistent definition, and dearth of validated measures. This study was designed to develop a valid clinical and epidemiologic questionnaire, building on current literature and expertise. Patients and experts undertook face validity testing. Construct validity, criterion validity, and test-retest reliability was undertaken. Construct validity comprised factor analysis and internal consistency of the quality of life scale. The validity of known groups was tested against 77 control subjects by using regression models. Questionnaire results were compared with a stool diary for criterion validity. Test-retest reliability was calculated from repeated questionnaire completion. The questionnaire achieved good face validity. It was completed by 104 patients. The quality of life scale had four underlying traits (factor analysis) and high internal consistency (overall Cronbach alpha = 0.97). Patients and control subjects answered the questionnaire significantly differently (P < 0.01) in known-groups validity testing. Criterion validity assessment found mean differences close to zero. Median reliability for the whole questionnaire was 0.79 (range, 0.35-1). This questionnaire compares favorably with other available instruments, although the interpretation of stool consistency requires further research. Its sensitivity to treatment still needs to be investigated.

Treatment of resistant glomerular diseases with adrenocorticotropic hormone gel: a prospective trial.

PubMed

Bomback, Andrew S; Canetta, Pietro A; Beck, Laurence H; Ayalon, Rivka; Radhakrishnan, Jai; Appel, Gerald B

2012-01-01

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) has shown promising results in glomerular diseases resistant to conventional therapies, but the reported data have solely been from retrospective, observational studies. In this prospective, open-label study (NCT01129284), 15 subjects with resistant glomerular diseases were treated with ACTH gel (80 units subcutaneously twice weekly) for 6 months. Resistant membranous nephropathy (MN), minimal change disease (MCD), and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) were defined as failure to achieve sustained remission of proteinuria off immunosuppressive therapy with at least 2 treatment regimens; resistant IgA nephropathy was defined as >1 g/g urine protein:creatinine ratio despite maximally tolerated RAAS blockade. Remission was defined as stable or improved renal function with ≥50% reduction in proteinuria to <0.5 g/g (complete remission) or 0.5-3.5 g/g (partial remission). The study included 5 subjects with resistant idiopathic MN, 5 subjects with resistant MCD (n = 2)/FSGS (n = 3), and 5 subjects with resistant IgA nephropathy. Two resistant MN subjects achieved partial remission on ACTH therapy, although 3 achieved immunologic remission of disease (PLA(2)R antibody disappeared by 4 months of therapy). One subject with resistant FSGS achieved complete remission on ACTH; one subject with resistant MCD achieved partial remission but relapsed within 4 weeks of stopping ACTH. Two subjects with resistant IgA nephropathy demonstrated >50% reductions in proteinuria while on ACTH, with proteinuria consistently <1 g/g by 6 months. Three of 15 subjects reported significant steroid-like adverse effects with ACTH, including weight gain and hyperglycemia, prompting early termination of therapy without any clinical response. ACTH gel is a promising treatment for resistant glomerular diseases and should be studied further in controlled trials against currently available therapies for resistant disease. Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.

The Unintentional Procrastination Scale.

PubMed

Fernie, Bruce A; Bharucha, Zinnia; Nikčević, Ana V; Spada, Marcantonio M

2017-01-01

Procrastination refers to the delay or postponement of a task or decision and is often conceptualised as a failure of self-regulation. Recent research has suggested that procrastination could be delineated into two domains: intentional and unintentional. In this two-study paper, we aimed to develop a measure of unintentional procrastination (named the Unintentional Procrastination Scale or the 'UPS') and test whether this would be a stronger marker of psychopathology than intentional and general procrastination. In Study 1, a community sample of 139 participants completed a questionnaire that consisted of several items pertaining to unintentional procrastination that had been derived from theory, previous research, and clinical experience. Responses were subjected to a principle components analysis and assessment of internal consistency. In Study 2, a community sample of 155 participants completed the newly developed scale, along with measures of general and intentional procrastination, metacognitions about procrastination, and negative affect. Data from the UPS were subjected to confirmatory factor analysis and revised accordingly. The UPS was then validated using correlation and regression analyses. The six-item UPS possesses construct and divergent validity and good internal consistency. The UPS appears to be a stronger marker of psychopathology than the pre-existing measures of procrastination used in this study. Results from the regression models suggest that both negative affect and metacognitions about procrastination differentiate between general, intentional, and unintentional procrastination. The UPS is brief, has good psychometric properties, and has strong associations with negative affect, suggesting it has value as a research and clinical tool.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BODY MASS INDEX AND SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING - THE MODERATING ROLE OF BODY DISSATISFACTION.

PubMed

Brdarić, Dragana; Jovanović, Veljko; Gavrilov Jerković, Vesna

2015-01-01

Excess bodyweight and obesity are widespread health problems throughout the world. In Serbia, over 50% of the adult population is overweight and the Province of Vojvodina is one of the regions with the highest percentage of obesity. The relationship between obesity and health complications has been consistently demonstrated. However, research on the relationship between obesity and subjective well-being has not provided clear results. Body dissatisfaction is considered to be an important factor for understanding this relationship. The main objective of this study was to investigate the moderating effect of body dissatisfaction in the relationship between body mass index and subjective well-being. The study sample included 731 respondents (72.6% women), with the mean age 28.93 years (SD = 8.47) from the Province of Vojvodina who had completed an online set of tests consisting of Body Shape Questionnaire, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Scale of Positive and Negative Experience and a self-assessment of bodyweight and body height. The results indicate that the moderating effect of body dissatisfaction in the relationship between body mass index and indicators of subjective well-being is statistically significant in both sexes. Specifically, the women with higher body mass index values who expressed lower body dissatisfaction reported lower levels of emotional distress and higher levels of pleasant emotions than those with lower body mass index. On the other hand, the men with higher bodyweight preoccupation and low body mass index reported significantly higher levels of pleasant emotions than those with higher body mass index values. These results suggest the necessity of a more detailed study of this relationship on both clinical and general population samples from Serbia.

Consistency between subjectively and objectively measured hazard perception skills among young male drivers.

PubMed

Ābele, Līva; Haustein, Sonja; Møller, Mette; Martinussen, Laila M

2018-03-01

Young male drivers have lower hazard perception skills (HPS) than older and more experienced drivers and a tendency to overestimate their skills in hazardous situations. Both factors contribute to an over-representation in traffic accidents. Based on a sample of 63 drivers aged 18-24, this study compares the consistency of HPS measured by objective and subjective measures and the link between these measures is the key contribution of the study. Both visible and hidden hazards are included. Objective measures of HPS include responsiveness and eye movements while driving in a driving simulator. Subjective measures of HPS include self-reports derived based on the Hazard Perception Questionnaire (HPQ), Driving Skill Questionnaire (DSQ), and Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS). Results show that drivers who respond to the hazards on time, as compared to drivers who do not respond, have higher scores on subjective measures of HPS and higher driving skills in the visible but not in the hidden condition. Eye movement analysis confirms the difference and shows that response in time to hazards indicate higher HPS and young drivers are poor at detecting hidden hazards. Drivers with a response in time locate the hazard faster, have more fixations, but dwell less on the hazard. At the same time, those who do not respond have a later first fixation and fewer but longer fixations on the hazard. High sensation seeking drivers respond to visible hazards on time, suggesting that sensation seeking does not affect HPS negatively when the hazard is visible. To enhance the HPS among young drivers, the results of this study suggest that specific hazard perception training is relevant, especially for hazards that require more advanced HPS. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Corroboration of in vivo cartilage pressures with implications for synovial joint tribology and osteoarthritis causation.

PubMed

Morrell, Kjirste C; Hodge, W Andrew; Krebs, David E; Mann, Robert W

2005-10-11

Pressures on normal human acetabular cartilage have been collected from two implanted instrumented femoral head hemiprostheses. Despite significant differences in subjects' gender, morphology, mobility, and coordination, in vivo pressure measurements from both subjects covered similar ranges, with maximums of 5-6 MPa in gait, and as high as 18 MPa in other movements. Normalized for subject weight and height (nMPa), for free-speed walking the maximum pressure values were 25.2 for the female subject and 24.5 for the male subject. The overall maximum nMPa values were 76.2 for the female subject during rising from a chair at 11 months postoperative and 82.3 for the male subject while descending steps at 9 months postoperative. These unique in vivo data are consistent with corresponding cadaver experiments and model analyses. The collective results, in vitro data, model studies, and now corroborating in vivo data support the self-pressurizing "weeping" theory of synovial joint lubrication and provide unique information to evaluate the influence of in vivo pressure regimes on osteoarthritis causation and the efficacy of augmentations to, and substitutions for, natural cartilage.

Condition-dependent functional connectivity: syntax networks in bilinguals

PubMed Central

Dodel, Silke; Golestani, Narly; Pallier, Christophe; ElKouby, Vincent; Le Bihan, Denis; Poline, Jean-Baptiste

2005-01-01

This paper introduces a method to study the variation of brain functional connectivity networks with respect to experimental conditions in fMRI data. It is related to the psychophysiological interaction technique introduced by Friston et al. and extends to networks of correlation modulation (CM networks). Extended networks containing several dozens of nodes are determined in which the links correspond to consistent correlation modulation across subjects. In addition, we assess inter-subject variability and determine networks in which the condition-dependent functional interactions can be explained by a subject-dependent variable. We applied the technique to data from a study on syntactical production in bilinguals and analysed functional interactions differentially across tasks (word reading or sentence production) and across languages. We find an extended network of consistent functional interaction modulation across tasks, whereas the network comparing languages shows fewer links. Interestingly, there is evidence for a specific network in which the differences in functional interaction across subjects can be explained by differences in the subjects' syntactical proficiency. Specifically, we find that regions, including ones that have previously been shown to be involved in syntax and in language production, such as the left inferior frontal gyrus, putamen, insula, precentral gyrus, as well as the supplementary motor area, are more functionally linked during sentence production in the second, compared with the first, language in syntactically more proficient bilinguals than in syntactically less proficient ones. Our approach extends conventional activation analyses to the notion of networks, emphasizing functional interactions between regions independently of whether or not they are activated. On the one hand, it gives rise to testable hypotheses and allows an interpretation of the results in terms of the previous literature, and on the other hand, it provides a basis for studying the structure of functional interactions as a whole, and hence represents a further step towards the notion of large-scale networks in functional imaging. PMID:16087437

Preliminary findings on the correlation of saliva pH, buffering capacity, flow, Consistency and Streptococcus mutans in relation to cigarette smoking.

PubMed

Voelker, Marsha A; Simmer-Beck, Melanie; Cole, Molly; Keeven, Erin; Tira, Daniel

2013-02-01

The purpose of this preliminary study was to examine the relationship of caries risk, salivary buffering capacity, salivary pH, salivary quality (flow, consistency) and levels of Streptococcus mutans in relation to cigarette smoking. This clinical trial consisted of 53 volunteer patients receiving care in a university based dental hygiene clinic. Participants completed a questionnaire specific to their social history in regards to tobacco use, oral health and dietary history. Measurements of unstimulated saliva were collected followed by collection of stimulated saliva samples. These samples were used to measure salivary pH, buffering capacity and Streptococcus mutans levels. The subject's smoking status was significantly associated with caries risk (p= 0.001), with 25% of the variability of caries risk attributed to smoking. The smoking status was significantly associated with buffering capacity (p=0.025), with 9% of the variability of buffering status attributed to the smoking. Associations between smoking status and salivary pH were not statistically significant. The subject's caries risk was significantly associated with buffering capacity (p= 0.001), with 25% of the variability of caries risk attributed to the buffering capacity. The subject's caries risk was significantly associated with salivary pH (p= 0.031), with 9% of the variability of caries risk attributed to the salivary pH. The Streptococcus mutans test showed no statistical significance (p>0.05) possibly due to the number and low variance in the subjects. A relationship between caries risk and smoking, buffering capacity and smoking, and stimulated salivary pH and smoking were concluded. No significance difference (p>0.05) between caries risk and salivary pH, salivary quality and smoking, S. mutans and smoking were noted from the preliminary results.

Job Satisfaction and Subjective Well-Being Among Midwives: Analysis of a Multinational Cross-Sectional Survey.

PubMed

Jarosova, Darja; Gurkova, Elena; Ziakova, Katarina; Nedvedova, Daniela; Palese, Alvisa; Godeas, Gloria; Chan, Sally Wai-Chi; Song, Mi Sook; Lee, Jongwon; Cordeiro, Raul; Babiarczyk, Beata; Fras, Malgorzata

2017-03-01

There is a considerable amount of empirical evidence to indicate a positive association between an employee's subjective well-being and workplace performance and job satisfaction. Compared with nursing research, there is a relative lack of consistent scientific evidence concerning midwives' subjective well-being and its determinants related to domains of job satisfaction. The purpose of the study was to examine the association between the domains of job satisfaction and components of subjective well-being in hospital midwives. This cross-sectional descriptive study involved 1190 hospital midwives from 7 countries. Job satisfaction was measured by the McCloskey/Mueller Satisfaction Scale. Subjective well-being was conceptualized in the study by the 2 components (the affective and the cognitive component). The affective component of subjective well-being (ie, emotional well-being) was assessed by the Positive and the Negative Affect Scale. The cognitive component of subjective well-being (ie, life satisfaction) was measured by the Personal Well-Being Index. Pearson correlations and multiple regression analyses were used to determine associations between variables. Findings from correlation and regression analyses indicated an overall weak association between the domains of job satisfaction and components of subjective well-being. Satisfaction with extrinsic rewards, coworkers, and interaction opportunities accounted for only 13% of variance in the cognitive component (life satisfaction). The affective component (emotional well-being) was weakly associated with satisfaction with control and responsibility. The low amount of variance suggests that neither component of subjective well-being is influenced by the domains of job satisfaction. Further studies should focus on identifying other predictors of subjective well-being among midwives. A better understanding of how specific job facets are related to the subjective well-being of midwives might assist employers in the design of counseling and intervention programs for subjective well-being of midwives in the workplace and workplace performance. © 2016 by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.

[Usefulness of bifonazole for treatment of tinea pedis in the 20th year after approval].

PubMed

Mitsui, Hiroshi; Kanda, Naoko; Ohnishi, Takamitsu; Nakai, Kenji; Suzuki, Taku; Watanabe, Shinichi

2009-04-01

We studied the usefulness of Mycospor Cream 1% (hereinafter referred to as "bifonazole cream"), which was approved 20 years ago in Japan, with once-daily application in 16 patients with tinea pedis (plantar tinea pedis, n = 8; interdigital tinea pedis, n = 8). One of them discontinued after 2 weeks of study treatment due to aggravation of skin symptoms. This subject was excluded from assessment of mycological activity and skin-symptom improvement at 4 weeks after initiation of treatment, but included in overall clinical efficacy rating and usefulness rating as an "ineffective" and "useless" case. The mean (+/- SD) duration of study treatment among the 15 subjects (excluding the discontinued subject) was 26.5 +/- 2.3 days (range: 21 to 28 days). The mycological eradication rate at Week 4 was 100% (15/15 subjects). The scores on all skin symptoms (itching, redness, papules, blisters, pustules, maceration, and scaling) at Week 4 significantly improved from the respective baseline scores (p<0.05), and almost all skin symptoms disappeared. The skin-symptom improvement rate was 93% (14/15 subjects). The overall clinical efficacy rate, which was assessed based on mycological efficacy and skin-symptom improvement rating, was 81% (13/16 subjects). No adverse reaction was observed in any of the subjects. The usefulness rate, which was assessed based on overall clinical efficacy and safety rating, was 88% (14/16 subjects). In this study, we confirmed that the usefulness of bifonazole cream for the treatment of tinea pedis was consistent with the results of studies performed before approval and 10 years after approval. About 20 years have passed since its launch, but bifonazole cream still remains a useful antifungal drug for topical treatment of tinea pedis.

Where we used to live: validating retrospective measures of childhood neighborhood context for life course epidemiologic studies.

PubMed

Osypuk, Theresa L; Kehm, Rebecca; Misra, Dawn P

2015-01-01

Early life exposures influence numerous social determinants of health, as distal causes or confounders of later health outcomes. Although a growing literature is documenting how early life socioeconomic position affects later life health, few epidemiologic studies have tested measures for operationalizing early life neighborhood context, or examined their effects on later life health. In the Life-course Influences on Fetal Environments (LIFE) Study, a retrospective cohort study among Black women in Southfield, Michigan (71% response rate), we tested the validity and reliability of retrospectively-reported survey-based subjective measures of early life neighborhood context(N=693). We compared 3 subjective childhood neighborhood measures (disorder, informal social control, victimization), with 3 objective childhood neighborhood measures derived from 4 decades of historical census tract data 1970-2000, linked through geocoded residential histories (tract % poverty, tract % black, tract deprivation score derived from principal components analysis), as well as with 2 subjective neighborhood measures in adulthood. Our results documented that internal consistency reliability was high for the subjective childhood neighborhood scales (Cronbach's α =0.89, 0.93). Comparison of subjective with objective childhood neighborhood measures found moderate associations in hypothesized directions. Associations with objective variables were strongest for neighborhood disorder (rhos=.40), as opposed to with social control or victimization. Associations between subjective neighborhood context in childhood versus adulthood were moderate and stronger for residentially-stable populations. We lastly formally tested for, but found little evidence of, recall bias of the retrospective subjective reports of childhood context. These results provide evidence that retrospective reports of subjective neighborhood context may be a cost-effective, valid, and reliable method to operationalize early life context for health studies.

A new metabolomic signature in type-2 diabetes mellitus and its pathophysiology.

PubMed

Padberg, Inken; Peter, Erik; González-Maldonado, Sandra; Witt, Henning; Mueller, Matthias; Weis, Tanja; Bethan, Bianca; Liebenberg, Volker; Wiemer, Jan; Katus, Hugo A; Rein, Dietrich; Schatz, Philipp

2014-01-01

The objective of the current study was to find a metabolic signature associated with the early manifestations of type-2 diabetes mellitus. Modern metabolic profiling technology (MxP™ Broad Profiling) was applied to find early alterations in the plasma metabolome of type-2 diabetic patients. The results were validated in an independent study. Eicosanoid and single inon monitoring analysis (MxP™ Eicosanoid and MxP™ SIM analysis) were performed in subsets of samples. A metabolic signature including significantly increased levels of glyoxylate as a potential novel marker for early detection of type-2 diabetes mellitus was identified in an initial study (Study1). The signature was significantly altered in fasted diabetic and pre-diabetic subjects and in non-fasted subjects up to three years prior to the diagnosis of type-2 diabetes; most alterations were also consistently found in an independent patient group (Study 2). In Study 2 diabetic and most control subjects suffered from heart failure. In Study 1 a subgroup of diabetic subjects, with a history of use of anti-hypertensive medication further showed a more pronounced increase of glyoxylate levels, compared to a non-diabetic control group when tested in a hyperglycemic state. In the context of a prior history of anti-hypertensive medication, alterations in hexosamine and eicosanoid levels were also found. A metabolic signature including glyoxylate was associated with type-2 diabetes mellitus, independent of the fasting status and of occurrence of another major disease. The same signature was also found to be associated with pre-diabetic subjects. Glyoxylate levels further showed a specifically strong increase in a subgroup of diabetic subjects. It could represent a new marker for the detection of medical subgroups of diabetic subjects.

A New Metabolomic Signature in Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus and Its Pathophysiology

PubMed Central

Padberg, Inken; Peter, Erik; González-Maldonado, Sandra; Witt, Henning; Mueller, Matthias; Weis, Tanja; Bethan, Bianca; Liebenberg, Volker; Wiemer, Jan; Katus, Hugo A.; Rein, Dietrich; Schatz, Philipp

2014-01-01

Objective The objective of the current study was to find a metabolic signature associated with the early manifestations of type-2 diabetes mellitus. Research Design and Method Modern metabolic profiling technology (MxP™ Broad Profiling) was applied to find early alterations in the plasma metabolome of type-2 diabetic patients. The results were validated in an independent study. Eicosanoid and single inon monitoring analysis (MxP™ Eicosanoid and MxP™ SIM analysis) were performed in subsets of samples. Results A metabolic signature including significantly increased levels of glyoxylate as a potential novel marker for early detection of type-2 diabetes mellitus was identified in an initial study (Study1). The signature was significantly altered in fasted diabetic and pre-diabetic subjects and in non-fasted subjects up to three years prior to the diagnosis of type-2 diabetes; most alterations were also consistently found in an independent patient group (Study 2). In Study 2 diabetic and most control subjects suffered from heart failure. In Study 1 a subgroup of diabetic subjects, with a history of use of anti-hypertensive medication further showed a more pronounced increase of glyoxylate levels, compared to a non-diabetic control group when tested in a hyperglycemic state. In the context of a prior history of anti-hypertensive medication, alterations in hexosamine and eicosanoid levels were also found. Conclusion A metabolic signature including glyoxylate was associated with type-2 diabetes mellitus, independent of the fasting status and of occurrence of another major disease. The same signature was also found to be associated with pre-diabetic subjects. Glyoxylate levels further showed a specifically strong increase in a subgroup of diabetic subjects. It could represent a new marker for the detection of medical subgroups of diabetic subjects. PMID:24465478

Pressure topography metrics for high-resolution pharyngeal-esophageal manofluorography-a normative study of younger and older adults.

PubMed

Nativ-Zeltzer, N; Logemann, J A; Zecker, S G; Kahrilas, P J

2016-05-01

We aimed to define normative values for novel pressure topography metrics for high-resolution pharyngeal-esophageal manofluorography. The effects of age, gender, and bolus properties were examined. Concurrent high-resolution manometry (HRM) and videofluoroscopy data were collected from 22 younger (aged 21-40) and 22 older (aged 60-80) healthy subjects. Pressure topography was analyzed by correlating pressure domains with videofluoroscopic events. Nine pressure topography metrics of the pharyngeal and proximal esophageal swallow were extracted; four of these were also compared with previously obtained esophageal HRM studies to assess the effects of catheter diameter. Older individuals exhibited more vigorous contractility in the pharynx than did younger subjects with all bolus types, but the greatest values for both groups were with effortful swallow and on that measure the age groups were similar. Upper esophageal sphincter (UES) intrabolus pressure during sphincter opening was also greater in the older subjects. Some gender differences were observed, particularly related to proximal esophageal contractile vigor. Bolus consistency had no consistent effect. Studies using the larger catheter diameter resulted in significantly greater contractile vigor in the UES and proximal esophagus. Older adults exhibited more vigorous pharyngeal contractions than young adults, albeit within a similar range of capacity, perhaps reflecting a compensatory response to other age-related physiological changes. Greater UES intrabolus pressures observed during bolus transit in the older group likely reflect reduced UES compliance with age. Normative data on novel HRM metrics collected in this study can serve as a reference for future clinical studies. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Modeling the rate of HIV testing from repeated binary data amidst potential never-testers.

PubMed

Rice, John D; Johnson, Brent A; Strawderman, Robert L

2018-01-04

Many longitudinal studies with a binary outcome measure involve a fraction of subjects with a homogeneous response profile. In our motivating data set, a study on the rate of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) self-testing in a population of men who have sex with men (MSM), a substantial proportion of the subjects did not self-test during the follow-up study. The observed data in this context consist of a binary sequence for each subject indicating whether or not that subject experienced any events between consecutive observation time points, so subjects who never self-tested were observed to have a response vector consisting entirely of zeros. Conventional longitudinal analysis is not equipped to handle questions regarding the rate of events (as opposed to the odds, as in the classical logistic regression model). With the exception of discrete mixture models, such methods are also not equipped to handle settings in which there may exist a group of subjects for whom no events will ever occur, i.e. a so-called "never-responder" group. In this article, we model the observed data assuming that events occur according to some unobserved continuous-time stochastic process. In particular, we consider the underlying subject-specific processes to be Poisson conditional on some unobserved frailty, leading to a natural focus on modeling event rates. Specifically, we propose to use the power variance function (PVF) family of frailty distributions, which contains both the gamma and inverse Gaussian distributions as special cases and allows for the existence of a class of subjects having zero frailty. We generalize a computational algorithm developed for a log-gamma random intercept model (Conaway, 1990. A random effects model for binary data. Biometrics46, 317-328) to compute the exact marginal likelihood, which is then maximized to obtain estimates of model parameters. We conduct simulation studies, exploring the performance of the proposed method in comparison with competitors. Applying the PVF as well as a Gaussian random intercept model and a corresponding discrete mixture model to our motivating data set, we conclude that the group assigned to receive follow-up messages via SMS was self-testing at a significantly lower rate than the control group, but that there is no evidence to support the existence of a group of never-testers. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Diagnosis of autism through EEG processed by advanced computational algorithms: A pilot study.

PubMed

Grossi, Enzo; Olivieri, Chiara; Buscema, Massimo

2017-04-01

Multi-Scale Ranked Organizing Map coupled with Implicit Function as Squashing Time algorithm(MS-ROM/I-FAST) is a new, complex system based on Artificial Neural networks (ANNs) able to extract features of interest in computerized EEG through the analysis of few minutes of their EEG without any preliminary pre-processing. A proof of concept study previously published showed accuracy values ranging from 94%-98% in discerning subjects with Mild Cognitive Impairment and/or Alzheimer's Disease from healthy elderly people. The presence of deviant patterns in simple resting state EEG recordings in autism, consistent with the atypical organization of the cerebral cortex present, prompted us in applying this potent analytical systems in search of a EEG signature of the disease. The aim of the study is to assess how effectively this methodology distinguishes subjects with autism from typically developing ones. Fifteen definite ASD subjects (13 males; 2 females; age range 7-14; mean value = 10.4) and ten typically developing subjects (4 males; 6 females; age range 7-12; mean value 9.2) were included in the study. Patients received Autism diagnoses according to DSM-V criteria, subsequently confirmed by the ADOS scale. A segment of artefact-free EEG lasting 60 seconds was used to compute input values for subsequent analyses. MS-ROM/I-FAST coupled with a well-documented evolutionary system able to select predictive features (TWIST) created an invariant features vector input of EEG on which supervised machine learning systems acted as blind classifiers. The overall predictive capability of machine learning system in sorting out autistic cases from normal control amounted consistently to 100% with all kind of systems employed using training-testing protocol and to 84% - 92.8% using Leave One Out protocol. The similarities among the ANN weight matrixes measured with apposite algorithms were not affected by the age of the subjects. This suggests that the ANNs do not read age-related EEG patterns, but rather invariant features related to the brain's underlying disconnection signature. This pilot study seems to open up new avenues for the development of non-invasive diagnostic testing for the early detection of ASD. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

First experience with a wireless system incorporating physiologic assessments and direct confirmation of digital tablet ingestions in ambulatory patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

PubMed

Kane, John M; Perlis, Roy H; DiCarlo, Lorenzo A; Au-Yeung, Kityee; Duong, Jessie; Petrides, Georgios

2013-06-01

To characterize the feasibility and safety of a wireless networked system incorporating physiologic assessments and direct confirmation of digital tablet ingestions in ambulatory patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. In this 4-week observational study conducted between May 2010 and May 2011 at 2 US academic clinical study sites, 12 adults with bipolar disorder and 16 adults with schizophrenia (all diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria) utilized a digital health feedback system (DHFS). All subjects were on a stable regimen of oral medication. The DHFS utilized a digital tablet, consisting of an ingestion sensor that was embedded in a tablet containing nonpharmacologic excipients, which subjects coingested with their regularly prescribed medication. The formulation of this digital tablet allowed ingestion sensor separation and activation by stomach fluids after ingestion, followed by communication of a unique identifying signal from the ingestion sensor to an adhesive sensor worn on the torso, which automatically logged the date and time of each digital tablet ingestion. The wearable sensor also collected physiologic measures including activity and heart rate. The primary study objective was to compare the accuracy of DHFS in confirming digital tablet ingestion versus a method of directly observed ingestion; secondary aims included characterization of adherence and physiologic measures longitudinally in these cohorts. 27 of 28 subjects (96%) completed the study. The mean adherence rate was 74% (95% CI, 64%-86%), and 67% (95% CI, 55%-79%) of doses were taken within 2 hours of the prescribed dosing time. Activity consisted of 847 to 15,930 steps daily, and sleep duration ranged from 3.2 to 15.2 hours daily. For individual subjects, mean sleep disruption, defined as the amount of brief arousals and postural changes during sleep events (eg, subject sitting up during the night), was as low as 5% and as high as 43% for the entire study period. The most common adverse event was minor skin irritation that occurred at the site of the wearable sensor in 5 subjects (18%), which did not lead to early discontinuation. No adverse events occurred due to the ingestion sensor. No subjects developed worsening of psychosis attributable to use of the DHFS. Of the 27 subjects who completed the study, 19 (70%) found the DHFS concept easy to understand, 21 (78%) said they would like to receive reminders on their cell phone if they forgot to take their medications, and 24 (89%) thought the DHFS could be useful to them. The DHFS provided a novel means of confirming medication ingestion and tracking selected physiologic parameters, and it was generally well tolerated by patients. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01804257. © Copyright 2013 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.

Differential Modulation of Rhythmic Brain Activity in Healthy Adults by a T-Type Calcium Channel Blocker: An MEG Study

PubMed Central

Walton, Kerry D.; Maillet, Emeline L.; Garcia, John; Cardozo, Timothy; Galatzer-Levy, Isaac; Llinás, Rodolfo R.

2017-01-01

1-octanol is a therapeutic candidate for disorders involving the abnormal activation of the T-type calcium current since it blocks this current specifically. Such disorders include essential tremor and a group of neurological and psychiatric disorders resulting from thalamocortical dysrhythmia (TCD). For example, clinically, the observable phenotype in essential tremor is the tremor itself. The differential diagnostic of TCD is not based only on clinical signs and symptoms. Rather, TCD incorporates an electromagnetic biomarker, the presence of abnormal thalamocortical low frequency brain oscillations. The effect of 1-octanol on brain activity has not been tested. As a preliminary step to such a TCD study, we examined the short-term effects of a single dose of 1-octanol on resting brain activity in 32 healthy adults using magnetoencephalograpy. Visual inspection of baseline power spectra revealed that the subjects fell into those with strong low frequency activity (set 2, n = 11) and those without such activity, but dominated by an alpha peak (set 1, n = 22). Cross-validated linear discriminant analysis, using mean spectral density (MSD) in nine frequency bands as predictors, found overall that 82.5% of the subjects were classified as determined by visual inspection. The effect of 1-octanol on the MSD in narrow frequency bands differed between the two subject groups. In set 1 subjects the MSD increased in the 4.5-6.5Hz and 6.5–8.5 Hz bands. This was consistent with a widening of the alpha peak toward lower frequencies. In the set two subjects the MSD decrease in the 2.5–4.5 Hz and 4.5–6.5 Hz bands. This decreased power is consistent with the blocking effect of 1-octanol on T-type calcium channels. The subjects reported no adverse effects of the 1-octanol. Since stronger low frequency activity is characteristic of patients with TCD, 1-octanol and other T-type calcium channel blockers are good candidates for treatment of this group of disorders following a placebo-controlled study. PMID:28217089

Differential Modulation of Rhythmic Brain Activity in Healthy Adults by a T-Type Calcium Channel Blocker: An MEG Study.

PubMed

Walton, Kerry D; Maillet, Emeline L; Garcia, John; Cardozo, Timothy; Galatzer-Levy, Isaac; Llinás, Rodolfo R

2017-01-01

1-octanol is a therapeutic candidate for disorders involving the abnormal activation of the T-type calcium current since it blocks this current specifically. Such disorders include essential tremor and a group of neurological and psychiatric disorders resulting from thalamocortical dysrhythmia (TCD). For example, clinically, the observable phenotype in essential tremor is the tremor itself. The differential diagnostic of TCD is not based only on clinical signs and symptoms. Rather, TCD incorporates an electromagnetic biomarker, the presence of abnormal thalamocortical low frequency brain oscillations. The effect of 1-octanol on brain activity has not been tested. As a preliminary step to such a TCD study, we examined the short-term effects of a single dose of 1-octanol on resting brain activity in 32 healthy adults using magnetoencephalograpy. Visual inspection of baseline power spectra revealed that the subjects fell into those with strong low frequency activity (set 2, n = 11) and those without such activity, but dominated by an alpha peak (set 1, n = 22). Cross-validated linear discriminant analysis, using mean spectral density (MSD) in nine frequency bands as predictors, found overall that 82.5% of the subjects were classified as determined by visual inspection. The effect of 1-octanol on the MSD in narrow frequency bands differed between the two subject groups. In set 1 subjects the MSD increased in the 4.5-6.5Hz and 6.5-8.5 Hz bands. This was consistent with a widening of the alpha peak toward lower frequencies. In the set two subjects the MSD decrease in the 2.5-4.5 Hz and 4.5-6.5 Hz bands. This decreased power is consistent with the blocking effect of 1-octanol on T-type calcium channels. The subjects reported no adverse effects of the 1-octanol. Since stronger low frequency activity is characteristic of patients with TCD, 1-octanol and other T-type calcium channel blockers are good candidates for treatment of this group of disorders following a placebo-controlled study.

A Study of Changes in Dental Health Care Behavior of 4-H Youth in Selected Louisiana Parishes. R and T--Summary 51.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jones, Michael Alan

The effectiveness of the Dental Hygiene Education Program in changing the dental health care practices of 4-H club youth in four Louisiana parishes and youth knowledge of dental care principles were studied in this before-after experimental design. The study sample consisted of 258 youth from 10 4-H clubs. Subjects completed a four-item…

A pilot methodology study for the photographic assessment of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in patients treated with tretinoin.

PubMed

Rossi, A B; Leyden, J J; Pappert, A S; Ramaswamy, A; Nkengne, A; Ramaswamy, R; Nighland, M

2011-04-01

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is a common occurrence in patients with acne vulgaris, particularly in those with skin of colour. A previous study has demonstrated the benefit of tretinoin (retinoic acid) in the treatment of PIH; however, there is currently no standard protocol to evaluate change in PIH following treatment. Based on these findings, we performed a pilot, exploratory, blinded, intraindividual-controlled methodology study that consisted of a photographic assessment protocol with facial mapping.   The study was based on a secondary analysis of a phase 4, community-based trial of 544 acne patients who were treated with tretinoin gel microsphere 0.04% or 0.1%. Only patients with Fitzpatrick types III-V (skin of colour) were included in the study; subjects with Fitzpatrick skin type VI were excluded because the photographic assessment did not allow for proper evaluation. Despite the small number of subjects evaluated (n=25), the results revealed consistent assessment of improvement in PIH between two independent graders (weighted κ=0.84). Further study with a larger population is recommended to validate the accuracy of this method. © 2010 Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology © 2010 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.

The Psychosexual Profile of Sexual Assistants: An Internet-Based Explorative Study

PubMed Central

Limoncin, Erika; Galli, Debora; Ciocca, Giacomo; Gravina, Giovanni Luca; Carosa, Eleonora; Mollaioli, Daniele; Lenzi, Andrea; Jannini, Emmanuele A.

2014-01-01

Introduction Sexual assistance may have some aspects that resemble prostitution and others that might lead one to think of sexual assistants as similar to a group of subjects whose sexual object is disability (devotees). In this study, we investigate whether a rigorous selection and training process on the part of specialised organisations may reduce the risk of training subjects with an atypical sexual interest and behaviours resembling prostitution. Materials and Methods The study population consisted of 152 subjects defining themselves as sexual assistants. Subjects were initially contacted on websites specifically dedicated to sexual assistants and prostitutes. One hundred and twenty subjects were selected, by propensity score analysis, and studied by means of a modified version of a semi-structured questionnaire previously developed to investigate a population of subjects attracted by disability. Results The study group was composed of 80 trained and 40 untrained sexual assistants, with mean ages of 41.5 (SD +/−12.58) and 44.5 (SD +/−11.62), respectively. A significant number of untrained subjects affirmed that their motivation in carrying out sexual assistance was of a remunerative nature, while this number was lower among the trained assistants (p = 0.001). Nearly all untrained subjects claimed to do one or more of the following activities during sexual assistance: sexual intercourse, oral sex, and masturbation. Among the trained subjects, however, only 47.5% claimed to do one or more of these activities, which means that there is a significant gap between trained and untrained assistants (p<0.0001). The existence of an atypical sexual interest was more evident between untrained rather than between trained subjects (p<0.0001). Conclusions Sexual assistance represents a way through which people affected by disabilities may attain the right to explore their sexuality in a safe setting. This can be guaranteed only if sexual assistants are trained and carefully selected by specialised organisations. PMID:24919176

Flipping a Switch "Down" When Not Aligned with the Gravitational Vertical.

PubMed

Bock, Otmar; Bury, Nils

To flip a switch "down," our motor system can normally rely on concordant visual, gravitational, and egocentric cues about the vertical. However, divers must sometimes perform this task while visual cues are limited and gravitational cues are misaligned with egocentric cues. Astronauts must also flip switches "down" in absence of gravitational cues. Our study evaluates this ability using a laboratory simulation. The subjects were 24 healthy volunteers who were blindfolded, tilted into different angles of roll, and asked to silence an alarm by flipping a switch "down." The switch was constructed such that it could be flipped in any direction in the subjects' frontal plane. Two subjects deflected the switch in accordance with the direction of gravity, irrespective of their body orientation. Twenty subjects deflected it in accordance with their body orientation, irrespective of the direction of gravity. The remaining two persons could not be classified unequivocally. Notably, some egocentric responders deflected the rod consistently toward their feet, but others deflected it consistently toward other parts of their body. Since our findings disagree with perceptual studies where gravitational rather than egocentric cues predominated in the absence of vision, we posit that perception and action may access distinct internal representations of the vertical. On the practical side, our findings indicate that designers of spaceflight and underwater equipment should not rely on divers' intuitive knowledge on how to flip a switch "down." Bock O, Bury N. Flipping a switch "down" when not aligned with the gravitational vertical. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2016; 87(10):838-843.

A proposal on teaching methodology: cooperative learning by peer tutoring based on the case method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pozo, Antonio M.; Durbán, Juan J.; Salas, Carlos; del Mar Lázaro, M.

2014-07-01

The European Higher Education Area (EHEA) proposes substantial changes in the teaching-learning model, moving from a model based mainly on the activity of teachers to a model in which the true protagonist is the student. This new framework requires that students develop new abilities and acquire specific skills. This also implies that the teacher should incorporate new methodologies in class. In this work, we present a proposal on teaching methodology based on cooperative learning and peer tutoring by case study. A noteworthy aspect of the case-study method is that it presents situations that can occur in real life. Therefore, students can acquire certain skills that will be useful in their future professional practice. An innovative aspect in the teaching methodology that we propose is to form work groups consisting of students from different levels in the same major. In our case, the teaching of four subjects would be involved: one subject of the 4th year, one subject of the 3rd year, and two subjects of the 2nd year of the Degree in Optics and Optometry of the University of Granada, Spain. Each work group would consist of a professor and a student of the 4th year, a professor and a student of the 3rd year, and two professors and two students of the 2nd year. Each work group would have a tutoring process from each professor for the corresponding student, and a 4th-year student providing peer tutoring for the students of the 2nd and 3rd year.

Monitoring the athlete training response: subjective self-reported measures trump commonly used objective measures: a systematic review

PubMed Central

Saw, Anna E; Main, Luana C; Gastin, Paul B

2016-01-01

Background Monitoring athlete well-being is essential to guide training and to detect any progression towards negative health outcomes and associated poor performance. Objective (performance, physiological, biochemical) and subjective measures are all options for athlete monitoring. Objective We systematically reviewed objective and subjective measures of athlete well-being. Objective measures, including those taken at rest (eg, blood markers, heart rate) and during exercise (eg, oxygen consumption, heart rate response), were compared against subjective measures (eg, mood, perceived stress). All measures were also evaluated for their response to acute and chronic training load. Methods The databases Academic search complete, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus and PubMed were searched in May 2014. Fifty-six original studies reported concurrent subjective and objective measures of athlete well-being. The quality and strength of findings of each study were evaluated to determine overall levels of evidence. Results Subjective and objective measures of athlete well-being generally did not correlate. Subjective measures reflected acute and chronic training loads with superior sensitivity and consistency than objective measures. Subjective well-being was typically impaired with an acute increase in training load, and also with chronic training, while an acute decrease in training load improved subjective well-being. Summary This review provides further support for practitioners to use subjective measures to monitor changes in athlete well-being in response to training. Subjective measures may stand alone, or be incorporated into a mixed methods approach to athlete monitoring, as is current practice in many sport settings. PMID:26423706

Displacement activities as a behavioral measure of stress in nonhuman primates and human subjects.

PubMed

Troisi, Alfonso

2002-02-01

Traditionally, research on human stress has relied mostly on physiological and psychological measures with a relatively minor emphasis on the behavioral aspects of the phenomenon. Such an approach makes it difficult to develop valid animal models of the human stress syndrome. A promising approach to the study of the behavioral correlates of stress is to analyze those behavior patterns that ethologists have named displacement activities and that, in primates, consist mostly of self-directed behaviors. In both nonhuman primates and human subjects, displacement behavior appears in situations characterized by social tension and is likely to reflect increased autonomic arousal. Pharmacological studies of nonhuman primates have shown that the frequency of occurrence of displacement behavior is increased by anxiogenic compounds and decreased by anxiolytic drugs. Ethological studies of healthy persons and psychiatric patients during interviews have found that increased displacement behavior not only correlates with a subjective feeling state of anxiety and negative affect but also gives more veridical information about the subject's emotional state than verbal statements and facial expression. The measurement of displacement activities may be a useful complement to the physiological and psychological studies aimed at analyzing the correlates and consequences of stress.

Thin-plate spline analysis of craniofacial growth in Class I and Class II subjects.

PubMed

Franchi, Lorenzo; Baccetti, Tiziano; Stahl, Franka; McNamara, James A

2007-07-01

To compare the craniofacial growth characteristics of untreated subjects with Class II division 1 malocclusion with those of subjects with normal (Class I) occlusion from the prepubertal through the postpubertal stages of development. The Class II division 1 sample consisted of 17 subjects (11 boys and six girls). The Class I sample also consisted of 17 subjects (13 boys and four girls). Three craniofacial regions (cranial base, maxilla, and mandible) were analyzed on the lateral cephalograms of the subjects in both groups by means of thin-plate spline analysis at T1 (prepubertal) and T2 (postpubertal). Both cross-sectional and longitudinal comparisons were performed on both size and shape differences between the two groups. The results showed an increased cranial base angulation as a morphological feature of Class II malocclusion at the prepubertal developmental phase. Maxillary changes in either shape or size were not significant. Subjects with Class II malocclusion exhibited a significant deficiency in the size of the mandible at the completion of active craniofacial growth as compared with Class I subjects. A significant deficiency in the size of the mandible became apparent in Class II subjects during the circumpubertal period and it was still present at the completion of active craniofacial growth.

An Innovative Miniature Bite Force Recorder

PubMed Central

Utreja, Ashok K; Sandhu, Navreet; Dhaliwal, Yadvinder S

2011-01-01

In this study, a detailed description of development of a new novel bite force recorder (gnathodynamometer) using solid state components is vividly explained. This state of the art authenticated device can be used to assess the complex function of human bite force, which is the net resultant combination of functional response of various craniomandibular structures consisting of interrelated components, like the muscles of mastication, joints, teeth and the neuromuscular system. The consistency and accuracy of the bite force recorder was reaffirmed by doing a detailed laboratory calibration and clinical testing on 30 adult subjects. PMID:27672249

The Internet and Computer User Profile: a questionnaire for determining intervention targets in occupational therapy at mental health vocational centers.

PubMed

Regev, Sivan; Hadas-Lidor, Noami; Rosenberg, Limor

2016-08-01

In this study, the assessment tool "Internet and Computer User Profile" questionnaire (ICUP) is presented and validated. It was developed in order to gather information for setting intervention goals to meet current demands. Sixty-eight subjects aged 23-68 participated in the study. The study group (n = 28) was sampled from two vocational centers. The control group consisted of 40 participants from the general population that were sampled by convenience sampling based on the demographics of the study group. Subjects from both groups answered the ICUP questionnaire. Subjects of the study group answered the General Self- Efficacy (GSE) questionnaire and performed the Assessment of Computer Task Performance (ACTP) test in order to examine the convergent validity of the ICUP. Twenty subjects from both groups retook the ICUP questionnaire in order to obtain test-retest results. Differences between groups were tested using multiple analysis of variance (MANOVA) tests. Pearson and Spearman's tests were used for calculating correlations. Cronbach's alpha coefficient and k equivalent were used to assess internal consistency. The results indicate that the questionnaire is valid and reliable. They emphasize that the layout of the ICUP items facilitates in making a comprehensive examination of the client's perception regarding his participation in computer and internet activities. Implications for Rehabiliation The assessment tool "Internet and Computer User Profile" (ICUP) questionnaire is a novel assessment tool that evaluates operative use and individual perception of computer activities. The questionnaire is valid and reliable for use with participants of vocational centers dealing with mental illness. It is essential to facilitate access to computers for people with mental illnesses, seeing that they express similar interest in computers and internet as people from the general population of the same age. Early intervention will be particularly effective for young adults dealing with mental illness, since the digital gap between them and young people in general is relatively small.

Cerebrospinal fluid GABA concentration: relationship with impulsivity and history of suicidal behavior, but not aggression, in human subjects.

PubMed

Lee, Royce; Petty, Frederick; Coccaro, Emil F

2009-01-01

The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and measures of impulsivity and related behaviors (aggression and suicidality) in healthy volunteer and personality disordered subjects. CSF GABA levels, and measures of impulsivity, aggression, and history of suicidal behavior were obtained by morning lumbar puncture in 57 healthy volunteer subjects and in subjects with personality disorder. CSF GABA levels were not found to correlate with measures of aggression but were found to correlate directly with measures of impulsivity; e.g., a composite measure of impulsivity in all subjects (r=0.35, df=46, P=0.015) and in personality disordered subjects examined separately (r=0.39, df=30, P=0.029). In the personality disorder group, CSF GABA levels were higher among subjects with a history of suicidal behavior compared with those without this history. These data suggest that central GABAergic function correlates directly with impulsiveness and history of suicidal behavior, but not aggressiveness, in personality disordered subjects. This may be consistent with observations that high doses of benzodiazepines can lead to "behavioral disinhibition" in human subjects. Further work assessing this and other aspects of the central GABA system in personality disordered subjects are warranted.

Routine screening for postnatal depression in a public health family service unit: a retrospective study of self-excluding women.

PubMed

Grussu, Pietro; Quatraro, Rosa Maria

2015-01-01

At this time, there is limited scientific knowledge about women who exclude themselves from screening programs for postnatal depression. In this retrospective descriptive study, we have sought to investigate the socio-demographic and psycho-social factors of women who withdraw from PND screening of their own accord. Study participants were 525 women attending antenatal classes who later took part in institutional routine screening for PND at the Consultorio Familiare Service of the National Health Service, Italy. The PND screening program consisted of the completion of the postpartum depression predictors inventory-revised and psychological well-being (PWB) questionnaires within eight to nine months of pregnancy, and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, GHQ-12 and PWB within six to eight weeks after childbirth. The Responders group was made up of 346 subjects - 65.9% of the total sample - who completed the entire program of screening for PND. The Non-Responders group, on the other hand, consisted of 179 subjects - 34.1% of the total sample - who, after childbirth, withdrew from the screening program. Compared to the Responders group, the Non-Responders group showed a greater number of subjects with marital dissatisfaction, and with unemployment as a stressful event. Health professionals who detect marital dissatisfaction and/or unemployment as a stressful event in pregnant women should bear in mind that these individuals, besides being at high risk for depression after delivery, will also tend to exclude themselves from screening for PND.

Diagnosis of major depressive disorder by combining multimodal information from heart rate dynamics and serum proteomics using machine-learning algorithm.

PubMed

Kim, Eun Young; Lee, Min Young; Kim, Se Hyun; Ha, Kyooseob; Kim, Kwang Pyo; Ahn, Yong Min

2017-06-02

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a systemic and multifactorial disorder that involves abnormalities in multiple biochemical pathways and the autonomic nervous system. This study applied a machine-learning method to classify MDD and control groups by incorporating data from serum proteomic analysis and heart rate variability (HRV) analysis for the identification of novel peripheral biomarkers. The study subjects consisted of 25 drug-free female MDD patients and 25 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. First, quantitative serum proteome profiles were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry using pooled serum samples from 10 patients and 10 controls. Next, candidate proteins were quantified with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) in 50 subjects. We also analyzed 22 linear and nonlinear HRV parameters in 50 subjects. Finally, we identified a combined biomarker panel consisting of proteins and HRV indexes using a support vector machine with recursive feature elimination. A separation between MDD and control groups was achieved using five parameters (apolipoprotein B, group-specific component, ceruloplasmin, RMSSD, and SampEn) at 80.1% classification accuracy. A combination of HRV and proteomic data achieved better classification accuracy. A high classification accuracy can be achieved by combining multimodal information from heart rate dynamics and serum proteomics in MDD. Our approach can be helpful for accurate clinical diagnosis of MDD. Further studies using larger, independent cohorts are needed to verify the role of these candidate biomarkers for MDD diagnosis. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The functional anatomy of suggested limb paralysis.

PubMed

Deeley, Quinton; Oakley, David A; Toone, Brian; Bell, Vaughan; Walsh, Eamonn; Marquand, Andre F; Giampietro, Vincent; Brammer, Michael J; Williams, Steven C R; Mehta, Mitul A; Halligan, Peter W

2013-02-01

Suggestions of limb paralysis in highly hypnotically suggestible subjects have been employed to successfully model conversion disorders, revealing similar patterns of brain activation associated with attempted movement of the affected limb. However, previous studies differ with regard to the executive regions involved during involuntary inhibition of the affected limb. This difference may have arisen as previous studies did not control for differences in hypnosis depth between conditions and/or include subjective measures to explore the experience of suggested paralysis. In the current study we employed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine the functional anatomy of left and right upper limb movements in eight healthy subjects selected for high hypnotic suggestibility during (i) hypnosis (NORMAL) and (ii) attempted movement following additional left upper limb paralysis suggestions (PARALYSIS). Contrast of left upper limb motor function during NORMAL relative to PARALYSIS conditions revealed greater activation of contralateral M1/S1 and ipsilateral cerebellum, consistent with the engagement of these regions in the completion of movements. By contrast, two significant observations were noted in PARALYSIS relative to NORMAL conditions. In conjunction with reports of attempts to move the paralysed limb, greater supplementary motor area (SMA) activation was observed, a finding consistent with the role of SMA in motor intention and planning. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC, BA 24) was also significantly more active in PARALYSIS relative to NORMAL conditions - suggesting that ACC (BA 24) may be implicated in involuntary, as well as voluntary inhibition of prepotent motor responses. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Mental Fatigue and Physical and Cognitive Performance During a 2-Bout Exercise Test.

PubMed

Vrijkotte, Susan; Meeusen, Romain; Vandervaeren, Cloe; Buyse, Luk; Cutsem, Jeroen van; Pattyn, Nathalie; Roelands, Bart

2018-04-01

The 2-bout exercise protocol has been developed to diagnose nonfunctional overreaching and the "overtraining syndrome." It consists of 2 maximal exercise bouts separated by 4 hours. Mental fatigue negatively influences performance, but the effects of its occurrence during the 2-bout exercise protocol have never been investigated. The aim of this study was to examine whether mental fatigue (induced during the rest period) influences physical and cognitive performance during/after the second exercise bout of the 2-bout exercise protocol. Nine healthy, well-trained male cyclists participated in a single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study. The intervention consisted of either 1.5-hour rest (control) or performing a computer-based Stroop task to induce mental fatigue. Cognitive (Eriksen Flanker task), physiological (lactate, maximum heart rate, and maximum wattage), and subjective data (mental fatigue-visual analog scale, Profile of Mood States, and rating of perceived exertion) were gathered. Ratings of fatigue, tension, and mental fatigue were affected in the mental fatigue condition (P < .05). Neither physiological nor cognitive differences were found between conditions. Ratings of mental fatigue were already affected after the first maximum exercise test (P < .05). Neither physical nor cognitive performance was affected by mental fatigue, but subjective ratings did reveal significant differences. It is recommended to exclude mentally challenging tasks during the 2-bout exercise protocol rest period to ascertain unaffected subjective test results. This study should be repeated in athletes diagnosed with nonfunctional overreaching/overtraining syndrome.

True self-alienation positively predicts reports of mindwandering.

PubMed

Vess, Matthew; Leal, Stephanie A; Hoeldtke, Russell T; Schlegel, Rebecca J; Hicks, Joshua A

2016-10-01

Two studies assessed the relationship between feelings of uncertainty about who one truly is (i.e., true self-alienation) and self-reported task-unrelated thoughts (i.e., mindwandering) during performance tasks. Because true self-alienation is conceptualized as the subjective disconnect between conscious awareness and actual experience, we hypothesized that greater feelings of true self-alienation would positively relate to subjective reports of mindwandering. Two convergent studies supported this hypothesis. Moreover, this relationship could not consistently be accounted for by the independent influence of other aspects of authenticity, negative mood, mindfulness, or broad personality dimensions. These findings suggest that individual differences in true self-alienation are reliably associated with subjective reports of mindwandering. The implications of these findings for the true self-alienation construct, the ways that personality relates to mindwandering, and future research directions focused on curtailing mindwandering and improving performance and achievement are discussed. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Peak velocity of elbow joint during hair combing activity for normal subject

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Che-Nan, Hasyatun; Rambely, Azmin Sham

2018-04-01

Study of upper limb movements is very important for clinical assessment and diagnosis purposes. Thus it requires the analysis of motion. Therefore this study intend to investigate peak velocity of elbow joint during hair-combing activity. Twenty healthy subjects with three trials and age range 20 - 59 years old (n = 60) performed a complete cycle of hand reaching, forward transport, combing, back transport and returning the hand to its initial position. This activity was analyzed using Vicon motion-analysis system, which consisted of three infra-red and high speed cameras. Mean total movement times was recorded at 5.2s for the whole phases. Peak velocities during reaching and forward transport were found to be decreasing in value for the healthy subject. This obtained results provide information on kinematic analysis especially on movement times and peak velocities for clinical, assessment and diagnosis purposes.

Fluid shifts and erythropoiesis - Relevance to the 'anemia' of space flight

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dunn, C. D. R.; Johnson, P. C.; Leach, C. S.

1982-01-01

To model the fluid shifts thought to occur in man during space flight, cephalic fluid shifts have been induced in man subjected to horizontal or headdown bedrest, in squirrel monkeys exposed to lower body positive pressure, and in rats subjected to antiorthostatic hypokinesia. The influence on erythropoiesis of such fluid redistribution has been studied. Only in man did a cephalic fluid shift consistently and significantly lead to a plasma volume reduction and an increased hematocrit. Although there was evidence for erythrosuppression and the subjects were 'anemic' at the end of the study, serum erythropoietin titers remained normal throughout bedrest. The erythrosuppression probably did not arise due to the increased hematocrit but may have been related to P50 shifts or the loss of body weight. Each model appeared to reproduce different parts of man's physiological response to weightlessness and promises to be useful in unraveling the etiology of the 'anemia' of space flight.

Investigational new drug safety reporting requirements for human drug and biological products and safety reporting requirements for bioavailability and bioequivalence studies in humans. Final rule.

PubMed

2010-09-29

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending its regulations governing safety reporting requirements for human drug and biological products subject to an investigational new drug application (IND). The final rule codifies the agency's expectations for timely review, evaluation, and submission of relevant and useful safety information and implements internationally harmonized definitions and reporting standards. The revisions will improve the utility of IND safety reports, reduce the number of reports that do not contribute in a meaningful way to the developing safety profile of the drug, expedite FDA's review of critical safety information, better protect human subjects enrolled in clinical trials, subject bioavailability and bioequivalence studies to safety reporting requirements, promote a consistent approach to safety reporting internationally, and enable the agency to better protect and promote public health.

Peripheral opioid analgesia in teeth with symptomatic inflamed pulps.

PubMed Central

Uhle, R. A.; Reader, A.; Nist, R.; Weaver, J.; Beck, M.; Meyers, W. J.

1997-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of low-dose fentanyl to produce analgesia when administered via the periodontal ligament injection in teeth with symptomatic, inflamed pulps. All subjects presented for emergency treatment with moderate to severe pain and had a posterior tooth with a clinical diagnosis of irreversible pulpitis. Twenty subjects randomly received either 10 micrograms fentanyl citrate or saline placebo via the periodontal ligament injection in a double-blind manner. The subjects rated their pain prior to injection and rated pain intensity and pain half gone for 59 min postinjection. Low-dose fentanyl delivered via the periodontal ligament injection in inflamed teeth provided significantly greater analgesia than the saline placebo (P < 0.05). Since the dose of fentanyl used was less than the dose required to provide analgesia by a central mechanism, the results of this study may be consistent with a peripheral opioid mechanism of action. PMID:9481968

A Phase IIIb, Multicentre, Randomised, Parallel-Group, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Study to Investigate the Efficacy and Safety of OROS Hydromorphone in Subjects with Moderate-to-Severe Chronic Pain Induced by Osteoarthritis of the Hip or the Knee

PubMed Central

Vojtaššák, Jozef; Vojtaššák, Jozef; Jacobs, Adam; Rynn, Leonie; Waechter, Sandra; Richarz, Ute

2011-01-01

Background. Opioid analgesics are included in treatment guidelines for the symptomatic management of osteoarthritis (OA). Starting with a low dose of opioid and slowly titrating to a higher dose may help avoid intolerable side effects. Methods. Subjects aged ≥40 years, with moderate to severe pain induced by OA of the hip or knee not adequately controlled by previous non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or paracetamol treatment, were enrolled. Subjects received OROS hydromorphone 4 mg or placebo once-daily. The dose was titrated every 3-4 days in case of unsatisfactory pain control during the 4-week titration phase. A 12 week maintenance phase followed. The primary efficacy endpoint was the change in “pain on average” measured on the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) scale from baseline to the end of the maintenance phase. Results. 139 subjects received OROS hydromorphone and 149 subjects received placebo. All efficacy endpoints showed similar improvements from baseline to end of study in the 2 groups. The safety results were consistent with the safety profile of OROS hydromorphone. Conclusion.The study did not meet the primary endpoint; although many subjects' pain was not adequately controlled at inclusion, their pain may have improved with continued paracetamol or NSAID treatment. PMID:22110921

Voluntary control of corticomuscular coherence through neurofeedback: a proof-of-principle study in healthy subjects.

PubMed

von Carlowitz-Ghori, K; Bayraktaroglu, Z; Waterstraat, G; Curio, G; Nikulin, V V

2015-04-02

Corticomuscular coherence (CMC) relates to synchronization between activity in the motor cortex and the muscle activity. The strength of CMC can be affected by motor behavior. In a proof-of-principle study, we examined whether independent of motor output parameters, healthy subjects are able to voluntarily modulate CMC in a neurofeedback paradigm. Subjects received visual online feedback of their instantaneous CMC strength, which was calculated between an optimized spatial projection of multichannel electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) in an individually defined target frequency range. The neurofeedback training consisted of either increasing or decreasing CMC strength using a self-chosen mental strategy while performing a simple motor task. Evaluation of instantaneous coherence showed that CMC strength was significantly larger when subjects had to increase than when to decrease CMC; this difference between the two task conditions did not depend on motor performance. The exclusion of confounding factors such as motor performance, attention and task complexity in study design provides evidence that subjects were able to voluntarily modify CMC independent of motor output parameters. Additional analysis further strengthened the assumption that the subjects' response was specifically shaped by the neurofeedback. In perspective, we suggest that CMC-based neurofeedback could provide a therapeutic approach in clinical conditions, such as motor stroke, where CMC is altered. Copyright © 2015 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Safety and Tolerability of Hyperpolarized 129Xe MR Imaging in Healthy Volunteers and Patients

PubMed Central

Martinez-Jimenez, Santiago; Cleveland, Zackary I.; Metz, Gregory M.; Beaver, Denise M.; Nouls, John C.; Kaushik, S. Sivaram; Firszt, Rafael; Willis, Christine; Kelly, Kevin T.; Wolber, Jan; Kraft, Monica; McAdams, H. Page

2012-01-01

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and tolerability of inhaling multiple 1-L volumes of undiluted hyperpolarized xenon 129 (129Xe) followed by up to a 16-second breath hold and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Materials and Methods: This study was approved by the institutional review board and was HIPAA compliant. Written informed consent was obtained. Forty-four subjects (19 men, 25 women; mean age, 46.1 years ± 18.8 [standard deviation]) were enrolled, consisting of 24 healthy volunteers, 10 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and 10 age-matched control subjects. All subjects received three or four 1-L volumes of undiluted hyperpolarized 129Xe, followed by breath-hold MR imaging. Oxygen saturation, heart rate and rhythm, and blood pressure were continuously monitored. These parameters, along with respiratory rate and subjective symptoms, were assessed after each dose. Subjects’ serum biochemistry and hematology were recorded at screening and at 24-hour follow-up. A 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) was obtained at these times and also within 2 hours prior to and 1 hour after 129Xe MR imaging. Xenon-related symptoms were evaluated for relationship to subject group by using a χ2 test and to subject age by using logistic regression. Changes in vital signs were tested for significance across subject group and time by using a repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance test. Results: The 44 subjects tolerated all xenon inhalations, no subjects withdrew, and no serious adverse events occurred. No significant changes in vital signs (P > .27) were observed, and no subjects exhibited changes in laboratory test or ECG results at follow-up that were deemed clinically important or required intervention. Most subjects (91%) did experience transient xenon-related symptoms, most commonly dizziness (59%), paresthesia (34%), euphoria (30%), and hypoesthesia (30%). All symptoms resolved without clinical intervention in 1.6 minutes ± 0.9. Conclusion: Inhalation of hyperpolarized 129Xe is well tolerated in healthy subjects and in those with mild or moderate COPD. Subjects do experience mild, transient, xenon-related symptoms, consistent with its known anesthetic properties. © RSNA, 2011 Supplemental material: http://radiology.rsna.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1148/radiol.11102172/-/DC1 PMID:22056683

15 CFR 930.154 - Listing activities subject to routine interstate consistency review.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... information to the Director that coastal effects from listed activities occurring within the geographic area... COMMERCE OCEAN AND COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT FEDERAL CONSISTENCY WITH APPROVED COASTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS Consistency of Federal Activities Having Interstate Coastal Effects § 930.154 Listing activities...

Selective activation around the left occipito-temporal sulcus for words relative to pictures: individual variability or false positives?

PubMed

Wright, Nicholas D; Mechelli, Andrea; Noppeney, Uta; Veltman, Dick J; Rombouts, Serge A R B; Glensman, Janice; Haynes, John-Dylan; Price, Cathy J

2008-08-01

We used high-resolution fMRI to investigate claims that learning to read results in greater left occipito-temporal (OT) activation for written words relative to pictures of objects. In the first experiment, 9/16 subjects performing a one-back task showed activation in > or =1 left OT voxel for words relative to pictures (P < 0.05 uncorrected). In a second experiment, another 9/15 subjects performing a semantic decision task activated > or =1 left OT voxel for words relative to pictures. However, at this low statistical threshold false positives need to be excluded. The semantic decision paradigm was therefore repeated, within subject, in two different scanners (1.5 and 3 T). Both scanners consistently localised left OT activation for words relative to fixation and pictures relative to words, but there were no consistent effects for words relative to pictures. Finally, in a third experiment, we minimised the voxel size (1.5 x 1.5 x 1.5 mm(3)) and demonstrated a striking concordance between the voxels activated for words and pictures, irrespective of task (naming vs. one-back) or script (English vs. Hebrew). In summary, although we detected differential activation for words relative to pictures, these effects: (i) do not withstand statistical rigour; (ii) do not replicate within or between subjects; and (iii) are observed in voxels that also respond to pictures of objects. Our findings have implications for the role of left OT activation during reading. More generally, they show that studies using low statistical thresholds in single subject analyses should correct the statistical threshold for the number of comparisons made or replicate effects within subject. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Robot-assisted training of the kinesthetic sense: enhancing proprioception after stroke.

PubMed

De Santis, Dalia; Zenzeri, Jacopo; Casadio, Maura; Masia, Lorenzo; Riva, Assunta; Morasso, Pietro; Squeri, Valentina

2014-01-01

Proprioception has a crucial role in promoting or hindering motor learning. In particular, an intact position sense strongly correlates with the chances of recovery after stroke. A great majority of neurological patients present both motor dysfunctions and impairments in kinesthesia, but traditional robot and virtual reality training techniques focus either in recovering motor functions or in assessing proprioceptive deficits. An open challenge is to implement effective and reliable tests and training protocols for proprioception that go beyond the mere position sense evaluation and exploit the intrinsic bidirectionality of the kinesthetic sense, which refers to both sense of position and sense of movement. Modulated haptic interaction has a leading role in promoting sensorimotor integration, and it is a natural way to enhance volitional effort. Therefore, we designed a preliminary clinical study to test a new proprioception-based motor training technique for augmenting kinesthetic awareness via haptic feedback. The feedback was provided by a robotic manipulandum and the test involved seven chronic hemiparetic subjects over 3 weeks. The protocol included evaluation sessions that consisted of a psychometric estimate of the subject's kinesthetic sensation, and training sessions, in which the subject executed planar reaching movements in the absence of vision and under a minimally assistive haptic guidance made by sequences of graded force pulses. The bidirectional haptic interaction between the subject and the robot was optimally adapted to each participant in order to achieve a uniform task difficulty over the workspace. All the subjects consistently improved in the perceptual scores as a consequence of training. Moreover, they could minimize the level of haptic guidance in time. Results suggest that the proposed method is effective in enhancing kinesthetic acuity, but the level of impairment may affect the ability of subjects to retain their improvement in time.

Selective Activation Around the Left Occipito-Temporal Sulcus for Words Relative to Pictures: Individual Variability or False Positives?

PubMed Central

Wright, Nicholas D; Mechelli, Andrea; Noppeney, Uta; Veltman, Dick J; Rombouts, Serge ARB; Glensman, Janice; Haynes, John-Dylan; Price, Cathy J

2008-01-01

We used high-resolution fMRI to investigate claims that learning to read results in greater left occipito-temporal (OT) activation for written words relative to pictures of objects. In the first experiment, 9/16 subjects performing a one-back task showed activation in ≥1 left OT voxel for words relative to pictures (P < 0.05 uncorrected). In a second experiment, another 9/15 subjects performing a semantic decision task activated ≥1 left OT voxel for words relative to pictures. However, at this low statistical threshold false positives need to be excluded. The semantic decision paradigm was therefore repeated, within subject, in two different scanners (1.5 and 3 T). Both scanners consistently localised left OT activation for words relative to fixation and pictures relative to words, but there were no consistent effects for words relative to pictures. Finally, in a third experiment, we minimised the voxel size (1.5 × 1.5 × 1.5 mm3) and demonstrated a striking concordance between the voxels activated for words and pictures, irrespective of task (naming vs. one-back) or script (English vs. Hebrew). In summary, although we detected differential activation for words relative to pictures, these effects: (i) do not withstand statistical rigour; (ii) do not replicate within or between subjects; and (iii) are observed in voxels that also respond to pictures of objects. Our findings have implications for the role of left OT activation during reading. More generally, they show that studies using low statistical thresholds in single subject analyses should correct the statistical threshold for the number of comparisons made or replicate effects within subject. Hum Brain Mapp 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. PMID:17712786

Verification on the use of the Inoue method for precisely determining glomerular filtration rate in Philippine pediatrics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Magcase, M. J. D. J.; Duyan, A. Q.; Carpio, J.; Carbonell, C. A.; Trono, J. D.

2015-06-01

The objective of this study is to validate the Inoue method so that it would be the preferential choice in determining glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in Philippine pediatrics. The study consisted of 36 patients ranging from ages 2 months to 19 years old. The subjects used were those who were previously subjected to in-vitro method. The scintigrams of the invitro method was obtained and processed for split percentage uptake and for parameters needed to obtain Inoue GFR. The result of this paper correlates the Inoue GFR and In-vitro method (r = 0.926). Thus, Inoue method is a viable, simple, and practical technique in determining GFR in pediatric patients.

Usefulness of 2D fusion of postmortem CT and antemortem chest radiography studies for human identification.

PubMed

Shinkawa, Norihiro; Hirai, Toshinori; Nishii, Ryuichi; Yukawa, Nobuhiro

2017-06-01

To determine the feasibility of human identification through the two-dimensional (2D) fusion of postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) and antemortem chest radiography. The study population consisted of 15 subjects who had undergone chest radiography studies more than 12 months before death. Fused images in which a chest radiograph was fused with a PMCT image were obtained for those subjects using a workstation, and the minimum distance gaps between corresponding anatomical landmarks (located at soft tissue and bone sites) in the images obtained with the two modalities were calculated. For each fused image, the mean of all these minimum distance gaps was recorded as the mean distance gap (MDG). For each subject, the MDG obtained for the same-subject fused image (i.e., where both of the images that were fused derived from that subject) was compared with the MDGs for different-subject fused images (i.e., where only one of the images that were fused derived from that subject; the other image derived from a different subject) in order to determine whether same-subject fused images can be reliably distinguished from different-subject fused images. The MDGs of the same-subject fused images were found to be significantly smaller than the MDGs of the different-subject fused images (p < 0.01). When bone landmarks were used, the same-subject fused image was found to be the fused image with the lowest MDG for 33.3% of the subjects, the fused image with the lowest or second-lowest MDG for 73.3% of the subjects, and the fused image with the lowest, second-lowest, or third-lowest MDG for 86.7% of the subjects. The application of bone landmarks rather than soft-tissue landmarks made it significantly more likely that, for each subject, the same-subject fused image would have the lowest MDG (or one of the lowest MDGs) of all the fused images compared (p < 0.05). The 2D fusion of antemortem chest radiography and postmortem CT images may assist in human identification.

Isokinetic Testing in Evaluation Rehabilitation Outcome After ACL Reconstruction

PubMed Central

Cvjetkovic, Dragana Dragicevic; Bijeljac, Sinisa; Palija, Stanislav; Talic, Goran; Radulovic, Tatjana Nozica; Kosanovic, Milkica Glogovac; Manojlovic, Slavko

2015-01-01

Introduction: Numerous rehab protocols have been used in rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction. Isokinetic testing is an objective way to evaluate dynamic stability of the knee joint that estimates the quality of rehabilitation outcome after ACL reconstruction. Our investigation goal was to show importance of isokinetic testing in evaluation thigh muscle strength in patients which underwent ACL reconstruction and rehabilitation protocol. Subjects and methods: In prospective study, we evaluated 40 subjects which were divided into two groups. Experimental group consisted of 20 recreational males which underwent ACL reconstruction with hamstring tendon and rehabilitation protocol 6 months before isokinetic testing. Control group (20 subjects) consisted of healthy recreational males. In all subjects knee muscle testing was performed on a Biodex System 4 Pro isokinetic dynamo-meter et velocities of 60°/s and 180°/s. We followed average peak torque to body weight (PT/BW) and classic H/Q ratio. In statistical analysis Student’s T test was used. Results: There were statistically significant differences between groups in all evaluated parameters except of the mean value of PT/BW of the quadriceps et velocity of 60°/s (p>0.05). Conclusion: Isokinetic testing of dynamic stabilizers of the knee is need in diagnostic and treatment thigh muscle imbalance. We believe that isokinetic testing is an objective parameter for return to sport activities after ACL reconstruction. PMID:25870471

Analysis of bioelectric records and fabrication of phototype sleep analysis equipment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kellaway, P.

1972-01-01

A computer-analysis technique was used to evaluate the changes in the waking EEGs of 5 normal subjects which occurred during the oral administration of flurazepam hydrochloride (Dalmane). While the subjects were receiving the drug, there was an increase in the amount of beta (14-38 c/sec) activity in fronto-central EEG leads in all 5 subjects. This increase in beta activity was characterized by a highly consistent increase in the number of waves that occurred during an EEG recording interval of fixed duration and by a less consistent increase in average wave amplitude. There was no detectable change in mean EEG wavelength (frequency) within the beta frequency range. The EEG patterns reverted to their baseline condition during 2-3 weeks after withdrawal of the drug. Analysis of the alpha, theta and delta components of the EEG indicated no changes during or following administration of the drug. This study clearly illustrates the usefulness of specific computer-analysis techniques in the characterization and quantification of sleep-promoting drugs upon the EEG of the normal young adults in the waking state. Two preamplifiers and 150 EEG monitoring caps with electrodes were delivered to MSC.

Reconciling change blindness with long-term memory for objects.

PubMed

Wood, Katherine; Simons, Daniel J

2017-02-01

How can we reconcile remarkably precise long-term memory for thousands of images with failures to detect changes to similar images? We explored whether people can use detailed, long-term memory to improve change detection performance. Subjects studied a set of images of objects and then performed recognition and change detection tasks with those images. Recognition memory performance exceeded change detection performance, even when a single familiar object in the postchange display consistently indicated the change location. In fact, participants were no better when a familiar object predicted the change location than when the displays consisted of unfamiliar objects. When given an explicit strategy to search for a familiar object as a way to improve performance on the change detection task, they performed no better than in a 6-alternative recognition memory task. Subjects only benefited from the presence of familiar objects in the change detection task when they had more time to view the prechange array before it switched. Once the cost to using the change detection information decreased, subjects made use of it in conjunction with memory to boost performance on the familiar-item change detection task. This suggests that even useful information will go unused if it is sufficiently difficult to extract.

University Entrance Examinations and Performance Expectations. A Comparison of the Situation in the United States, Great Britain, France, and West Germany.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Farnham, Nicholas; And Others

Consisting of four papers, this study examines university entrance examinations in France, Great Britain, and West Germany and compares them to similar tests in the United States on the basis of three subjects: world history, language study, and biology. The first paper, "The Relationship of the Examinations to the Secondary School Age…

Effects of Reflection Category and Reflection Quality on Learning Outcomes during Web-Based Portfolio Assessment Process: A Case Study of High School Students in Computer Application Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chou, Pao-Nan; Chang, Chi-Cheng

2011-01-01

This study examines the effects of reflection category and reflection quality on learning outcomes during Web-based portfolio assessment process. Experimental subjects consist of forty-five eight-grade students in a "Computer Application" course. Through the Web-based portfolio assessment system, these students write reflection, and join…

Measuring Meaningful Work: The Work and Meaning Inventory (WAMI)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Steger, Michael F.; Dik, Bryan J.; Duffy, Ryan D.

2012-01-01

Many people desire work that is meaningful. However, research in this area has attracted diverse ideas about meaningful work (MW), accompanied by an equally disparate collection of ways of assessing MW. To further advance study in this area, the authors propose a multidimensional model of work as a subjectively meaningful experience consisting of…

Parent-Child Relations and Adolescent Self-Image Following Divorce: A 10-Year Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dunlop, Rosemary; Burns, Ailsa; Bermingham, Suzanne

2001-01-01

Explored links between self-image, family structure (divorced or intact), parent-child relations, and gender at 3 intervals over 10 years during adolescence to early adulthood. Results suggest a consistent relationship between high parental care, low overprotective control, and better self-image scores with a stronger effect among subjects from…

Sex, Income, and Achievement: Reward-Dualism in Academia.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fox, Mary Frank

A report is presented on an analysis of sex factors in academic income variation as determined by achieved, ascribed, and university location characteristics. The study group consisted of 5450 individuals at a major midwestern university as of June 1971. The subjects included 4541 men and 908 women research assistants and associates, deans and…

Accelerated aging of preservative-treated structural plywood

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C. Adam Senalik; Robert J. Ross; Samuel L. Zelinka; Stan T. Lebow; Zhiyong Cai

2017-01-01

In this study, the changes in physical properties and preservative retention of high-grade plywood when subjected to artificial aging processes were examined. The plywood was 15/32-in.-thick panels manufactured from southern yellow pine A and C grades of veneer. The artificial aging processes consisted of three primary mechanisms of degradation: thermal degradation,...

Milk Processing Plant Employee. Agricultural Cooperative Training. Vocational Agriculture.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blaschke, Nolan; Page, Foy

This course of study is designed for the vocational agricultural student enrolled in an agricultural cooperative part-time training program in the area of milk processing occupations. The course consists of 11 units, each with 4 to 13 individual topics that milk processing plant employees should know. Subjects covered by the units are the…

Promoting Physics Literacy through Enquiry-Based Learning Online

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ng, Wan; Angstmann, Elizabeth

2017-01-01

In Australia, as in a number of other countries, studies have consistently shown a low enrolment trend towards Physics by students in post-secondary years, due partly to the subject being perceived as conceptually difficult and abstract to grasp. In order to promote Physics literacy, continued opportunities such as online courses for students to…

Role of Omani Parents: Fostering Emergent Literacy Skills

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Al-Qaryouti, Ibrahim A.; Kilani, Hashem A.

2015-01-01

The purpose of this study is to document the significance of four practices employed by parents that contribute to such development. Those practices encompassed the availability of materials, activities at home, parent attitude and visits to their child's class. Subjects consisted of 314 male and female parents of kindergarten children in the…

Apprentice Heating Systems Specialist, 11-1. Military Curriculum Materials for Vocational and Technical Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ohio State Univ., Columbus. National Center for Research in Vocational Education.

This military-developed text consists of four volumes of materials for use by those studying to become apprentice heating system specialists. Covered in the individual volumes are the following topics: related subjects (basic electricity, electrical controls, pipe and copper tubing, the principles of heating, fuels, and fuel systems); heating…

Interaction Effects in Cross-National Studies of Achievement.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fletcher, Todd V.; Sabers, Darrell L.

1995-01-01

The Bateria Woodcock Psico-Educativa en Espanol was administered to urban children in grades 1, 3, 5, 8, and 11 in Spain, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Peru. Spain consistently ranked highest on all achievement clusters (subject areas). For the other countries, interactions of cluster by grade level preclude any interpretation of main…

Career Education in Appalachian Maryland: Awareness. Elementary Supplemental Activities Level 1.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maryland State Dept. of Education, Baltimore. Div. of Vocational-Technical Education.

Career education activities for use in Grade 1 are presented in the document. Behavioral objectives for the following subject areas are provided: art, homemaking, language arts, math, music, physical education, resource people, science, social studies, and workshop abilities. The bulk of the document consists of eight units of activities focusing…

Career Education in Appalachian Maryland: Awareness. Elementary Supplemental Activities Level 5.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maryland State Dept. of Education, Baltimore. Div. of Vocational-Technical Education.

Career education activities for use in Grade 5 are presented in the document. Behavioral objectives for the following subject areas are provided: art, homemaking, language arts, math, music, physical education, resource people, science, social studies, and workshop abilities. The bulk of the document consists of six units of activities focusing on…

Career Education in Appalachian Maryland: Awareness. Elementary Supplemental Activities Level 3.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maryland State Dept. of Education, Baltimore. Div. of Vocational-Technical Education.

Career education activities for use in Grade 3 are presented in the document. Behavioral objectives for the following subject areas are provided: art, homemaking, language arts, math, music, physical education, resource people, science, social studies, and workshop abilities. The bulk of the document consists of seven units of activities focusing…

Career Education in Appalachian Maryland: Awareness. Elementary Supplemental Activities Level 2.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maryland State Dept. of Education, Baltimore. Div. of Vocational-Technical Education.

Career education activities for use in Grade 2 are presented in the document. Behavioral objectives for the following subject areas are provided: art, homemaking, language arts, math, music, physical education, resource people, science, social studies, and workshop abilities. The bulk of the document consists of nine units of activities focusing…

Career Education in Appalachian Maryland: Awareness. Elementary Supplemental Activities Level 4.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maryland State Dept. of Education, Baltimore. Div. of Vocational-Technical Education.

Career education activities for use in Grade 4 are presented in the document. Behavioral objectives for the following subject areas are provided: art, homemaking, language arts, math, music, physical education, resource people, science, social studies, and workshop abilities. The bulk of the document consists of six units of activities focusing on…

Resources and Wastes. In-Service Package for Volunteer Workshop Leaders.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miiller, Marnie

Designed to be used as a supplementary teaching aid for subjects such as science, social studies, and environmental education, this packet of modules contains materials related to waste and waste management for secondary level students. Each of the eight modules consists of a teacher's page, background information, references, questions, projects,…

Brief Report: A Socio-Demographic Profile of Multiparous Teenage Mothers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

de Fatima Rato Padin, Maria; de Souza e Silva, Rebeca; Chalem, Elisa; Mitsuhiro, Sandro Sendin; Barros, Marina Moraes; Guinsburg, Ruth; Laranjeira, Ronaldo

2009-01-01

Objective: Delineate a socio-demographic profile of multiparous teenage mothers at a public hospital in Brazil. Method: This is a cross-sectional study consisting of 915 interviews with teenage girls, including 170 multiparous subjects whose babies were born alive. Results: The multiparous teenage mothers had the following average characteristics:…

Principles of Integrative Modelling at Studying of Plasma and Welding Processes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anakhov, Sergey V.; Perminov, Evgeniy ?.; Dzyubich, Denis K.; Yarushina, Maria A.; Tarasova, Yuliya A.

2016-01-01

The relevance of the problem subject to the research is conditioned by need for introduction of modern technologies into the educational process and insufficient adaptation of the higher school teachers to the applied information and automated procedures in education and science. The purpose of the publication consists in the analysis of automated…