Medicine by Alexandros G.Sfakianakis,Anapafseos 5 Agios Nikolaos,Crete 72100,Greece,tel :00302841026182 & 00306932607174
Τρίτη 8 Δεκεμβρίου 2015
Acceptable range for structural fire resistance in performance based design
Structural fire safety engineering is increasingly moving away from prescriptive design rules to what is generally referred to as Performance Based Design (PBD) in which the structure or structural components are designed to satisfy performance requirements. By taking into account the specific characteristics of the structure, a PBD can allow for more directed investments in safety, resulting in structures which are both more economical and safer compared to designs according to traditional prescriptive rules. Although stakeholders mostly agree that the structure should have a good fire performance, determining the specific performance requirements can prove difficult, especially when the opinions of stakeholders with respect to key design parameters diverge. In this paper a decision support tool for investments in Life Safety is introduced and applied to determine an Acceptable Range for the structural fire resistance time for concrete slabs. The support tool takes into account the uncertainty related to amongst other the fire load density and the mechanical properties of the structural element, and can be used as a tool for aligning potentially diverging positions of different stakeholders.
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Analyzing the Divide between FPGA Academic and Commercial Results
The pinnacle of success for academic work is often achieved by having impact on commercial products. In order to have a successful transfer bridge, academic evaluation flows need to provide representative results of similar quality to commercial flows. A majority of publications in FPGA research use the same set of known academic CAD tools and benchmarks to evaluate new architecture and tool ideas. However, it is not clear whether the claims in academic publications based on these tools and benchmarks translate to real benefits in commercial products. In this work we compare the latest Xilinx commercial tools and products with these well-known academic tools to identify the gap in the major figures of merit. Our results show that there is a significant 2.2X gap in speed-performance for similar process technology. We have also identified the area-efficiency and runtime divide between commercial and academic tools to be 5% and 2.2X, respectively. We show that it is possible to improve portions of the academic flow such as ABC logic optimization to match the quality of commercial tools at the expense of additional runtime. Our results also show that depth reduction, which is often used as the main figure of merit for logic optimization papers does not translate to post-routing timing improvements. We finally discuss the differences between academic and commercial benchmark designs. We explain the main differences and trends that may influence the topic choice and conclusions of academic research. This work emphasizes how difficult it is to identify the relevant FPGA academic work that can provide meaningful benefits for commercial products.
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Design, construction and testing of a COC 3D flow-over flow-through bioreactor for hepatic cell culture
In this poster, we present the joint development efforts for a 3D microfluidic bioreactor for hepatic cell cultures. Cyclic Olefin Copolymer (COC) was selected for constructing the bioreactor, since the material has good chemical resistance, low adsorption and good optical properties, including low auto-fluorescence. A downside of COC is that it is much more difficult to structure than more traditional microfluidic materials, such as PDMS, PMMA, … Two parallel approaches were developed for structuring the COC. In a first approach, mechanical micro-milling of the channels allows for extremely fast manufacturing of new design variations, at the expense of difficulties in scalability to mass-production and a channel surface that requires post-processing to achieve sufficient optical quality. In a second approach, hot embossing using epoxy molds allows for direct structuring of optical grade channels and is scalable to mass production, at the expense of longer cycle time in the development of new channel designs. To facilitate the handling of the bioreactor, a holder was designed to provide the fluidic connections to a pump,ensuring medium exchange and sampling to down-stream sensors connected to the outlets. The design of the bioreactor was intended to maintain and expose pre-formed hepatic co-culture spheroids to toxicants for more than a week. Once seeded, spheroids rest on a polycarbonate membrane with 12 µm pore size, allowing the medium to flow-through, while flow-over is maintained to avoid an excess pressure on the cells. In a single bioreactor, 9 wells are connected to a common inlet to provide the cells with fresh culture medium or test compounds. On a first cell culture trial, it was possible to visually detect the spheroids in the wells after seeding, however, after 1 week of culture there was no possibility to accurately detect the presence and viability of the cells. In the framework of HeMiBio, significant progress has been made towards producing a 3D COC-based bioreactor for hepatic cell culture, and most technological hurdles in producing prototype reactors have been overcome. Further testing is needed to see which improvements to the reactor or the flow conditions should be made to ensure cell viability.
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Flexibility and extracellular opening determine the interaction between ligands and insect sulfakinin receptors
Despite their fundamental importance for growth, the mechanisms that regulate food intake are poorly understood. Our previous work demonstrated that insect sulfakinin (SK) signaling is involved in inhibiting feeding in an important model and pest insect, the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum. Because the interaction of SK peptide and SK receptors (SKR) initiates the SK signaling, we have special interest on the structural factors that influence the SK-SKR interaction. First, the three-dimensional structures of the two T. castaneum SKRs (TcSKR1 and TcSKR2) were generated from molecular modeling and they displayed significance in terms of the outer opening of the cavity and protein flexibility. TcSKR1 contained a larger outer opening of the cavity than that in TcSKR2, which allows ligands a deep access into the cavity through cell membrane. Second, normal mode analysis revealed that TcSKR1 was more flexible than TcSKR2 during receptor-ligand interaction. Third, the sulfated SK (sSK) and sSK-related peptides were more potent than the nonsulfated SK, suggesting the importance of the sulfate moiety.
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De betekenis van producent Jean Van Raemdonck voor de Vlaamse film
Drawing on original archival research, collected press articles and interviews, this article examines the art documentary, television and film production activities of Jean Van Raemdonck. As head of the production company Art et Cinéma or Kunst en Kino, he made an important contribution to the professionalization of the Belgian audiovisual industry in general and the Flemish film sector in particular. Van Raemdonck's professional enthusiasm was also revealed in his strong personal commitment to his productions. This points at the complexity of the question of creative authority. Van Raemdonck's biggest professional talent definitely was attracting funding for his projects. This is clearly illustrated by his difficult, but ever profitable relation with the Flemish film support system.
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Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Relapse Presenting With CNS Blast Crisis and Bilateral Optic Nerve Infiltration.
Bilateral, simultaneous optic nerve sheath infiltration as a manifestation of leukemia relapse is very rare. A 45-year-old woman with chronic myelogenous leukemia was successfully treated to cytogenetic bone marrow remission 1 year previously and maintained on imatinib. She developed total bilateral blindness with marked, bilateral optic disc edema and evidence of bilateral optic nerve infiltration on magnetic resonance imaging. Cerebrospinal fluid cytology confirmed central nervous system (CNS) blast crisis. She recovered visual acuity of 20/20 in the right eye, and 20/25 in the left eye with salvage systemic and intrathecal chemotherapy before radiation therapy. Our report underscores the importance of timely and aggressive intervention of blast crisis of the CNS and the need for CNS penetrating induction and maintenance therapy. (C) 2015 by North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society
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Factors Affecting Visual Field Outcomes in the Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial.
Background: To determine the prevalence of visual field (VF) performance failures (PF) and treatment failures (TFs), and identify factors associated with PFs in the Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial (IIHTT). Methods: A total of 165 participants from 38 sites with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and mild visual loss were randomized to either acetazolamide-plus diet or placebo-plus diet. The IIHTT Visual Field Reading Center evaluated 2950 Swedish Interactive Threshold Algorithm Standard 24-2 VFs from the enrolled participants. A TF was defined when the participant's VF mean deviation (MD) worsened >=2 to 3 dB from the average baseline MD (range of -2 to -7 dB) with a second retest confirming the visual deterioration. A PF was determined when the participant's: 1) VF results met TF criteria but were not confirmed on retest, 2) deterioration was confirmed on retest but the IIHTT Adjudication Committee concluded a TF was clinically unlikely. Results: TF was detected in 7/165 (4%) of the participants and PF was detected in 35/165 (21%) of the participants on at least 1 examination. Four of the 35 PFs were adjudicated for TF, however based on clinical review by the adjudication committee and a third retest, they were judged as PFs. Of the 2,950 total IIHTT VF examinations, 2.7% met PF criteria. Conclusions: PF was confirmed in 21% of subjects and in 2.7% of the total number of VF examinations and was reversible on repeat testing. We recommend retesting when perimetric worsening occurs in otherwise clinically stable or improving IIH patients. (C) 2015 by North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society
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Acetazolamide-Induced Nephrolithiasis in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Patients.
Background: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a neurological disorder characterized by elevated intracranial pressure of unknown cause. Acetazolamide is widely used as the initial treatment option; however, previously published evidence suggests that this drug may also increase the risk of nephrolithiasis. The purpose of this study was to examine daily acetazolamide use and its relationship to nephrolithiasis and compare clinical presentation of IIH between those with and without nephrolithiasis. Methods: We conducted a case-control study using patient data collected by the Intracranial Hypertension Registry. A total of 670 patients were identified as potential study participants, 19 meeting the case definition of developing a stone during acetazolamide treatment for IIH. From the remaining pool of eligible participants, 40 controls were randomly selected. Two-sampled t tests, Fisher exact testing, and exact logistic regression were used to examine differences between cases and controls and to ascertain associations with IIH clinical features and mean daily acetazolamide dosage. Results: Among all eligible patients, 19 (2.8%) developed a stone during acetazolamide treatment for IIH. Among these patients, 17 (89.5%) developed a stone within 1.5 years of initial acetazolamide treatment. Daily acetazolamide use was not significantly related to stone development (odds ratio = 0.95; 95% confidence intervals: 0.86-1.05). Additionally, the relationship between the clinical presentation of IIH at the time of diagnosis (signs and symptoms) and stone development did not reach statistical significance (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that: 1) stone formation during acetazolamide treatment is a relatively infrequent occurrence within the IIH population; 2) among patients who develop a stone, formation is likely to occur within the first year and half; 3) there is no evidence to support the association between acetazolamide daily dosage and stone development; and 4) no unique IIH disease features at the time of diagnosis are associated with stone development. Treatment with acetazolamide should be administered to IIH patients with caution and closely monitored for stone development especially within the first year and a half of treatment. (C) 2015 by North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society
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Safety and Tolerability of Acetazolamide in the Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial.
Objective: To examine the tolerability and adverse events reported in the Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial (IIHTT). Methods: Randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Trial participants (n = 165) with mild visual loss concurrently receiving low-sodium weight-reduction diet plus the maximally tolerated dosage of acetazolamide (up to 4 g/d) or placebo for 6 months. Main outcomes measures: adverse events (AEs), assessment of clinical and laboratory findings at study visits. Results: Thirty-eight of 86 participants randomized to the acetazolamide group (44.1%) tolerated the maximum allowed dosage of 4 g/d. The average time to achieve maximum study dosage in the acetazolamide group was 13 weeks (median 12 weeks; range 10-24 weeks). A total of 676 AEs (acetazolamide, n = 480; placebo, n = 196) and 9 serious AEs (acetazolamide, n = 6; placebo, n = 3) were reported. Notably, the percentages of participants reporting at least 1 AE in the nervous, gastrointestinal, metabolic, and renal organ systems were significantly higher in the acetazolamide group (P
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A 29-Year-Old Nurse With Fatigue, Anxiety, and Depression.
No abstract available
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The Optic Canal Size Is Associated With the Severity of Papilledema and Poor Visual Function in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension.
Background: To determine whether the size of the bony optic canal is associated with the severity of papilledema and poor visual function in idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). Methods: We performed a retrospective review of definite patients with IIH with requisite brain magnetic resonance imaging allowing for optic canal measurement. Clinical characteristics and automated (Humphrey) visual field results were reviewed; papilledema was graded according to the modified Frisen scale. Cross-sectional area of the optic canals was measured independently by 2 readers and averaged for each canal. Logistic regression modeling was applied. Results: Sixty-nine patients with IIH were included (mean age: 33; 91% women; 65% black). Controlling for age, sex, body mass index, race, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) opening pressure, each mm2 increase in canal size was associated with a 0.50 dB reduction in Humphrey visual field mean deviation (P = 0.006); this was likely mediated by the increased odds of Grade 4-5 papilledema or optic atrophy in patients with larger canals (odds ratio: 1.30 [95% CI: 1.10-1.55; P = 0.003] for Grade 4-5 papilledema or atrophy vs grade
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Optic Nerve Sheath Melanoma Presenting as a Central Retinal Vein Occlusion.
A 64-year-old woman, with a history of diabetes and melanoma, developed a central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) in her left eye. On exam, she had severe disc edema with retinal nerve fiber layer thickening, and anterior deformation of the peripapillary retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)/Bruch membrane layer (ppRPE/BM) toward the vitreous on spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) suggesting an optic nerve sheath (ONS) meningioma. Magnetic resonance imaging findings and ONS biopsy later confirmed a metastatic melanoma. This case demonstrates that the shape of the RPE/BM on SD-OCT may aid in the decision to consider imaging in patients with isolated CRVO. (C) 2015 by North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society
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Suprasellar Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor in an Adult.
Primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET) of the central nervous system (CNS) are a heterogeneous group of embryonal malignancies that are composed of undifferentiated or poorly differentiated neuroepithelial cells. Supratentorial PNET is the second most common CNS embryonal malignancy in children, but it is rare in adults. We report the case of a 31-year-old woman with bilateral vision loss and a bitemporal hemianopia. Neuroimaging revealed a suprasellar mass, and pathology was consistent with PNET. After surgical debulking of the tumor followed by radiation therapy and chemotherapy, the patient had significant visual recovery and remained stable over 14 months of follow-up. (C) 2015 by North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society
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Enhanced Optical Transmission through MacEtch-Fabricated Buried Metal Gratings
Metallic films with subwavelength apertures, integrated into a semiconductor by metal-assisted chemical etch (MacEtch), demonstrate enhanced transmission when compared to bare semiconductor surfaces. The resulting "buried" metallic structures are characterized spectroscopically and modeled using rigorous coupled wave analysis. These composite materials offer potential integration with optoelectronic devices, for simultaneous near-uniform electrical contact and strong optical coupling to free space.
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The imbalance of masticatory muscle activity affects the asymmetric growth of condylar cartilage and subchondral bone in rats
Publication date: March 2016
Source:Archives of Oral Biology, Volume 63
Author(s): Mutsumi Miyazaki, Ikuo Yonemitsu, Maki Takei, Ikuko Kure-Hattori, Takashi Ono
ObjectiveTo examine the effects of imbalance of masticatory muscle activity of the rat mandible on the condylar cartilage and subchondral bone during the growth period.DesignForty 5-week-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into experimental (n=20) and control (n=20) groups. In the experimental group, the left masseter muscles were resected. The rats were sacrificed at 7 or 9 weeks of age in both groups. Microcomputed tomography was used to determine the three-dimensional morphology and cancellous bone structure. For histological and histochemical examination, 5-μm-thick serial frontal sections of the condyle were stained with toluidine blue and immunostained with asporin and TGF-β1 to evaluate the promotion and inhibition of chondrogenesis.ResultsIn the experimental group, microcomputed tomography analysis showed asymmetric growth; the resected side condyles showed degenerative changes. Histological analysis showed that the total cartilage in the central region of the resected side was significantly thinner than in the non-resected side in the experimental group, as well as in the control group. Compared with the control group, the expression of asporin was significantly higher in the resected side, and significantly lower in the non-resected side. In contrast, the expression of TGF-β1-immunopositive cells in the non-resected side was significantly higher than in the resected side and the control group.ConclusionsThese findings imply that lateral imbalance of masseter muscle activity lead to inhibition of chondrogenesis and induce asymmetric formation of the condyle during the growth period.
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Pallet to Palate: Extending Shelf Life and Safety in Microgreens with PCR
For producers of perishables with limited shelf life, shaving even a few days from on-site food safety procedures and getting the product into the hands of customers faster is a valuable goal. And that's exactly what Florida Urban Organics has done by implementing real-time PCR into their pathogen screening workflow. Florida Urban Organics is an innovative, certified Read the rest of this article
The post Pallet to Palate: Extending Shelf Life and Safety in Microgreens with PCR appeared first on Accelerating Science.
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Use of Dried Plasma Spots for HIV-1 Viral Load Determination and Drug Resistance Genotyping in Mexican Patients
Monitoring antiretroviral therapy using measurements of viral load (VL) and the genotyping of resistance mutations is not routinely performed in low- to middle-income countries because of the high costs of the commercial assays that are used. The analysis of dried plasma spot (DPS) samples on filter paper may represent an alternative for resource-limited settings. Therefore, we evaluated the usefulness of analyzing DPS samples to determine VL and identify drug resistance mutations (DRM) in a group of HIV-1 patients. The VL was measured from 22 paired plasma and DPS samples. In these samples, the average VL was 4.7 log10 copies/mL in liquid plasma and 4.1 log10 copies/mL in DPS, with a correlation coefficient of = 0.83. A 1.1 kb fragment of HIV pol could be amplified in 14/22 (63.6%) of the DPS samples and the same value was amplified in plasma samples. A collection of ten paired DPS and liquid plasma samples was evaluated for the presence of DRM; an excellent correlation was found in the identification of DRM between the paired samples. All HIV-1 pol sequences that were obtained corresponded to HIV subtype B. The analysis of DPS samples offers an attractive alternative for monitoring ARV therapy in resource-limited settings.
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Toxins, Vol. 7, Pages 5320-5321: Preface Biological Toxins—Ancient Molecules Posing a Current Threat
n/a
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Toxins, Vol. 7, Pages 5308-5319: Superantigen-Producing Staphylococcus aureus Elicits Systemic Immune Activation in a Murine Wound Colonization Model
Staphylococcus aureus, the most common cause of wound infection, produces several exotoxins, including superantigens (SAgs). SAgs are the potent activators of the immune system. Given this unique property, we hypothesized that SAgs produced by S. aureus in wounds would have local, as well as systemic immunologic effects. We tested our hypothesis using a novel staphylococcal skin wound infection model in transgenic mice expressing HLA-DR3. Skin wounds were left uninfected or colonized with S. aureus strains producing SAgs or an isogenic strain not producing any SAg. Animals with wounds challenged with SAg-producing S. aureus had increased morbidity and lower serum IL-17 levels compared to those challenged with the SAg non-producing S. aureus (p = 0.027 and p = 0.032, respectively). At Day 8 following microbial challenge, compared to mice with uninfected wounds, the proportion of Vβ8+CD4+ T cells was increased, while the proportion of Vβ8+CD8+ T cells was decreased only in the spleens of mice challenged with SAg-producing S. aureus (p < 0.001). No such changes were measured in mice challenged with SAg non-producing S. aureus. Lungs, livers and kidneys from mice challenged with SAg-producing, but not SAg non-producing, S. aureus showed inflammatory changes. Overall, SAg-mediated systemic immune activation in wounds harboring S. aureus may have clinical implications.
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Toxins, Vol. 7, Pages 5301-5307: Alkaloid-Containing Plants Poisonous to Cattle and Horses in Europe
Alkaloids, nitrogen-containing secondary plant metabolites, are of major interest to veterinary toxicology because of their occurrence in plant species commonly involved in animal poisoning. Based on epidemiological data, the poisoning of cattle and horses by alkaloid-containing plants is a relatively common occurrence in Europe. Poisoning may occur when the plants contaminate hay or silage or when forage alternatives are unavailable. Cattle and horses are particularly at risk of poisoning by Colchicum autumnale (meadow saffron), Conium maculatum (poison hemlock), Datura stramonium (jimson weed), Equisetum palustre (marsh horsetail), Senecio spp. (ragwort and groundsel) and Taxus baccata (European yew). This review of poisonous alkaloid-containing plants describes the distribution of these plants, conditions under which poisoning occurs, active toxic principles involved and subsequent clinical signs observed.
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The Divided Cloak as Redemptio Militiae. Biblical Stylization and Hagiographical Intertextuality in Sulpicius Severus’ Vita Martini
Martin of Tours (ca. 317-397) became one of the most popular saints of all times but in his own lifetime he was a controversial figure, amongst other reasons because he had remained a soldier after his baptism, which was forbidden at the time for clerics. The Vita Martini is the first text of a comprehensive hagiographical dossier, the Martinellus, published by Sulpicius Severus (363-ca.425). This article interprets the famous division of the cloak as part of the apologetic nature of the vita martini: Sulpicius wanted to present Martinus as the perfect soldier of Christ (miles Christi) and as an imitator of Christ. The division of the cloak during his military service is interpreted here as an in version of what the soldiers did unto Christ in the passion narrative.
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Empowering science teachers using technology-enhanced scaffolding to improve inquiry learning
Inquiry learning in technology-enhanced learning (TEL) environments has potential to support science learning. The "symbiosis" between teachers and TEL environments is needed and, therefore, virtual assistants should be "taught" based on pedagogical theories. These assistants should be dynamically integrated with various learning environments to empower teachers and to provide effective scaffolding to every student during inquiry. Outcomes provided by the student or teacher could serve as input for the virtual assistant in addition to logging of student and teacher interactions. The virtual teacher assistant should be developed in collaboration between researchers and commercial software developers using joint research and development grants.
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Emotionally biased cognitive processes: the weakest link predicts prospective changes in depressive symptom severity
Emotional biases in attention, interpretation, and memory are predictive of future depressive symptoms. However, it remains unknown how these cognitive biases combine to predict depressive symptoms in the long-term. This study tested the predictive value of two integrative approaches that model relations between cognitive biases, namely the additive (i.e., cognitive biases have a cumulative effect) vs. the weakest link (i.e., the dominant bias is important) model. We also tested whether these integrative models interacted with perceived stress to predict prospective changes in depressive symptom severity. At Time 1, participants completed measures of depressive symptom severity and emotional biases in attention, interpretation, and memory. At Time 2, one year later, participants (n=53) were reassessed to determine depressive symptoms and perceived stress. Results revealed that the weakest link model had incremental validity over the additive model in predicting prospective changes in depressive symptoms, though both models explained a significant proportion of variance in the change in depressive symptoms from Time 1 to Time 2. None of the integrative models interacted with perceived stress to predict changes in depressive symptomatology. These findings suggest that the best cognitive marker of the evolution in depressive symptoms is the cognitive process that is dominantly biased toward negative material, which operates independent from experienced stress. This highlights the importance of considering idiographic cognitive profiles with multiple cognitive processes for understanding and modifying effects of cognitive biases in depression.
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The effect of oral administration of dsRNA on viral replication and mortality in Bombus terrestris
Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV), a single-stranded RNA virus, has a worldwide distribution and affects honeybees as well as other important pollinators. IAPV infection in honeybees has been successfully repressed by exploiting the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway of the insect's innate immune response with virus-specific double stranded RNA (dsRNA). Here we investigated the effect of IAPV infection in the bumblebee Bombus terrestris and its tissue tropism. B. terrestris is a common pollinator of wild flowers in Europe and is used for biological pollination in agriculture. Infection experiments demonstrated a similar pathology and tissue tropism in bumblebees as reported for honeybees. The effect of oral administration of virus-specific dsRNA was examined and resulted in an effective silencing of the virus, irrespective of the length. Interestingly, we observed that non-specific dsRNA was also efficient against IAPV. However further study is needed to clarify the precise mechanism behind this effect. Finally we believe that our data are indicative of the possibility to use dsRNA for a broad range viral protection in bumblebees.
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De korte weg van F. Hoe film een participatief onderszoeksmedium wordt
De korte weg van F. is een participerend videoportret over een kunstenares met een verstandelijke beperking. Deze film was een onderdeel van de masterthese van Marieke Vandecasteele. In dit artikel gaat ze nader in op het theoretisch kader-Disability Studies-en beschrijft ze uitvoerig de totstandkoming van de film, met aandacht voor ethische dilemma's.
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Relationships between attention and interpretation processes: New advances for the detection and modification of cognitive biases involved in depression
Depression is characterized by exaggerated attention to negative information and tendencies to interpret ambiguous situations as negative (e.g., Gotlib & Joormann, 2010). Importantly, these biases are interdependent. Recent studies have shown that depressed gaze patterns predict higher tendencies to interpret information as negative (Everaert et al., in press). These impaired processes are thought to be causally related to depression vulnerability. In our study, we aimed to clarify the role of depressive attention patterns in interpretation processes, in order to develop procedures to detect and modify these cognitive impairments. The study was conducted with a subclinical sample (n = 50). Depressive symptoms were evaluated with the BDI-II (Beck et al., 1996). Participants completed two sessions in which attention and interpretation were evaluated using a scramble sentence task (SST). The SST comprised 40 scrambled sentences (e.g., "looks the future bright very dismal"). Participants had to form grammatically correct sentences that could be resolved in positive or negative ways, while gaze patterns were recorded through a TOBII TX300 eye-tracker system. In Session 1 we analyzed relationships between attention and tendencies to interpret ambiguously emotional information. In Session 2, participants were instructed to unscramble sentences in a positive way to examine attentional processes subserving the ability to form positive meanings. Through this design we aimed to clarify: a) differences between the tendency and the ability to form positive meanings; b) the role of attention in each type of interpretation process; and c) the effects of depressive symptoms in attention-interpretation relationships. Results on the role of depression in attention patterns linked to interpretation impairments will be presented in the conference. An adequate identification and modification of these inter-related processes will be crucial given their role on emotional disturbances. Thus, new lines of cognitive bias modification will be proposed based on our findings.
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Attending to remember and remembering to attend in depression
Introduction. Numerous investigations on cognitive risk factors in depression indicate that emotional biases in attention and memory are closely related to one's emotional state. However, current insights into interactions between such biases in cognition are limited. Here we will present experiments testing how emotional attention may modulate what is remembered and how emotional long-term memory (LTM) may in turn guide attention. Method. Experiments were conducted in mixed samples of healthy and subclinically depressed individuals. In examining effects of attention biases at encoding and retrieval on memory, eye movements were recorded during encoding (e.g., scrambled sentences test) and retrieval (e.g., remember/know recognition decisions) tasks. Gaze behavior (e.g., fixation time/frequency) was inspected in relation to recollected material. In examining attentional guidance by LTM, stimuli from an affective learning phase were presented as task-irrelevant features in a subsequent visual search task. Performance on this task was inspected in relation to memory for acquired associations. Results. At encoding, sustained attention bias directly predicted recollection of negative vs. positive material, whereas biased selective orienting was indirectly related to emotional memory via interpretation. At retrieval, preliminary data suggests that selective orienting and sustained attention biases are associated with recollection of negative vs. positive material, but only during controlled and not automatic retrieval. Memory-guided attention was evident when positive –not negative– task-irrelevant material interfered with target detection during visual search, which was predicted by more accurate memory for positive associations. Discussion/Conclusion. This research contributes to our understanding of each individual cognitive bias and depression-linked distortions in cognitive functioning as a whole. Namely, the finding that emotional biases in attention may control and be controlled by emotional LTM points to highly interactive cognitive biases that cannot be regarded isolated, independent phenomena. This has important implications for the development and implementation of cognitive training procedures which will be discussed.
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Attentional guidance by emotional long-term memories
Cognitive processes such as attention and memory are closely related to one's emotional state: Healthy individuals pay more attention to and better remember positively valenced stimuli, whereas anxious and depressed individuals are biased toward negatively valenced stimuli. Although such biases are well-documented, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here we examine how emotional associations in long-term memory guide spatial attention. In an initial encoding phase, distinct colors were consistently paired with faces depicting either happy, neutral, or angry expressions while participants performed a gender-discrimination cover task. In a subsequent test phase, two lines were presented on each trial, one tilted away from vertical (target) and the other vertical (distractor), and participants located the target's position. Colored disks framed each line: one color was associated with happy or angry faces and the other was associated with neutral faces. Colors associated with emotional faces framed the target (valid) and distractor (invalid) with equal probability, and target location was randomized — colors were thus completely task-irrelevant. Attentional capture was quantified as invalid minus valid RT for a given valence category. We found that attentional capture for colors associated with happy faces was significantly predicted by subsequent memory for these color-expression associations. This was not true for colors associated with angry faces, suggesting a dissociation between attentional guidance from positive vs. negative information. Interestingly, individual differences in depression and anxiety levels were negatively correlated with the degree of attentional capture by colors associated with happy faces (e.g., more depressed individuals showed less capture from stimuli with positive associations). Taken together, these findings contribute to our understanding of how basic cognitive processes are modulated by emotion in both healthy and clinical populations. Namely, negative biases in anxiety and depression do not merely reflect motivational or decisional factors, but partly arise from more automatic forms of attentional capture.
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The interplay between attention, interpretation and memory in dysphoria: an investigation of the combined cognitive bias hypothesis
Introduction. Cognitive accounts assert that emotionally biased information-processing mechanisms play a central role in the onset and maintenance of depression. Although research has yielded substantial empirical data demonstrating cognitive biases in depression, scientific understandings of interrelations among these biased cognitive processes remains limited in depressed samples. This study examined the interplay between attention, interpretation, and memory biases in dysphoria. It was hypothesized that different cognitive bias parameters would be correlated. To test whether cognitive biases would operate in isolation or in concert, path models including and excluding mutual relations among biases were evaluated in a theory-driven manner. Method. The sample consisted of 19 dysphoric and 37 non-dysphoric undergraduate students. Participants completed a computerized version of the scrambled sentences test while their eye movements were recorded. A subsequent incidental free recall task assessed memory for the unscrambled sentences. Results. Attention biases were indexed by the total fixation durations on negative vs. positive words within a scrambled sentence. Interpretation biases were assessed by the percentage of emotional sentences unscrambled negatively. Memory biases were measured by the percentage of emotional sentences recalled negatively. Dysphoric individuals demonstrated negative biases in attention (p=.07), interpretation (p<.01) and memory processes (p<.05) compared with non-dysphoric individuals. Significant positive correlations between all bias indices emerged (all p's <.05). Path analyses revealed an acceptable fit only for a model including interrelations among cognitive biases (χ²(3)=4.16, p=.24, CFI=0.98, TLI=0.96, RMSEA=0.08). Parameter estimates indicated that dysphoria group status predicted attention (p=.07) and interpretation biases (p<.001). Attention biases predicted interpretation biases (p=.05) which in turn predicted memory biases (p<.001). Discussion. The observed pattern of correlations among bias indices provides support for the broader construct of information-processing bias. Consistent with predictions by cognitive accounts, results suggest that biases rather operate in concert than in isolation and provide preliminary support for a cascading effect of attention bias on interpretation and memory biases. Implications for future research will be discussed.
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Gold Standard or Fool’s Gold? The Efficacy of Displacement Variables as Indicators of Energy Expenditure in Team Sports
Abstract
Over recent decades, the use of player tracking technology to monitor physical work output has become established practice in many team sports. Early tracking systems were manual in nature, relying on subjective assessments and arbitrary classifications of movement intensity. Poor spatial and temporal resolution meant that only gross displacement measures could be used to infer energy demands. However, the advent and evolution of automated systems, with higher sampling rates and improved accuracy, have enabled data collection to occur on a mass scale, and served as a catalyst for extensive research into the demands of team sport activity, including comparisons between different groups of athletes, and the effects of various interventions on performance. The inherent assumption with this research is that, based on steady-state models where energy cost is independent of speed, total distance and average speed are indicative of the amount and rate of work done, respectively. This assumption could be justified if the activity was performed at a constant speed in a straight line. However, team sport movement involves continual changes in both speed and direction, both of which increase energy cost. Accordingly, new models have emerged that incorporate both speed and acceleration to determine metabolic power. This provides a more complete measure of energy expenditure in intermittent activity, and is potentially more suitable than displacement variables for research into the demands of team sports.
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Arzneimittelnebenwirkungen im Alter
Zusammenfassung
Die Pharmakotherapie im Alter stellt Dermatologen vor besondere Herausforderungen im Hinblick auf Komorbiditäten, Arzneimittelinteraktionen und Compliance. Die im Alter nicht selten auftretende Multimorbidität kann zur Polypharmakotherapie führen, die das Risiko unerwünschter Arzneimittelwirkungen birgt. Entscheidende altersbedingte Veränderungen der Pharmakokinetik müssen bei der Auswahl von Arzneimitteln berücksichtigt werden, allen voran eine Abnahme des Körperwassers, ein verändertes Verhältnis von Muskel- zu Fettgewebe und eine reduzierte Nierenfunktion. Dieser Übersichtsartikel soll helfen, im Alter relevante Nebenwirkungen häufig eingesetzter systemischer Dermatotherapeutika zu identifizieren, und Empfehlungen für deren Einsatz bei geriatrischen Patienten geben.
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Methylator phenotype in colorectal cancer: a prognostic factor or not?
Publication date: Available online 7 December 2015
Source:Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology
Author(s): C. Gallois, P. Laurent-Puig, J. Taieb
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is due to different types of genetic alterations that are translated into different phenotypes. Among them, CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP+) is the most recently involved in carcinogenesis of some CRC. The malignant transformation is in this case mainly due to the transcriptional inactivation of tumor suppressor genes. CIMP+ are reported to be more frequently found in the elderly and in women. The tumors are more frequently located in the proximal part of the colon, BRAF mutated and are associated with microsatellite instability (MSI) phenotype. All sporadic MSI CRC belong to the methylator phenotype, however some non MSI CRC may also harbor a methylator phenotype. The prognostic value of CIMP is not well known. Most studies show a worse prognosis in CIMP+ CRC, and adjuvant treatments seem to be more efficient. We review here the current knowledge on prognostic and predictive values in CIMP+ CRC.
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The Prevalence of Airway Problems in Children with Down's Syndrome
Publication date: Available online 8 December 2015
Source:International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
Author(s): Jane Hamilton, May Maxime Corazon Yaneza, William Andrew Clement, Haytham Kubba
AimAirway disorders are common in children with Down's Syndrome. We report the findings on airway endoscopy in a birth cohort of children from a well-defined geographical area, in order to estimate true population prevalence of airway problems in children with Down's Syndrome.MethodRetrospective case note review over a 20-year period between 1993 and 2013 for all children in Greater Glasgow born with Down's Syndrome, identified through the hearing surveillance programme. All children undergoing airway endoscopy under general anaesthesia for investigation of potential airway symptoms (stridor, hoarseness, recurrent croup, difficulties with intubation/extubation) were studied in detail to identify the number with laryngeal, tracheal or bronchial pathology.ResultsAll 239 children (F:M=1.15:1) were reviewed. Of these, 39 (16.3%) underwent microlaryngoscopy-bronchoscopy under general anaesthesia for airway symptoms. The main presentations were stridor (9), extubation problems (12), exacerbations of recurrent croup (7). Thirty-three were found to have at least one airway diagnosis (13.8%) including trachaeobronchomalacia(17), laryngeal cleft (2), laryngomalacia (2), tracheal compression (2), vocal cord paralysis (1), acquired tracheal stenosis (2) and symptomatic subglottic stenosis (14).ConclusionLaryngo-tracheo-bronchial pathology is much more common in children with Down's syndrome than in the general population, particularly subglottic stenosis and tracheal problems.Ethical approval: Registered with Clinical Governance Committee
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Factors Related to Persisting Perforations after Ventilation Tube Insertion
Publication date: Available online 7 December 2015
Source:International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
Author(s): Ashley P. O'Connell Ferster, April Michelle Tanner, Kodjo Karikari, Christopher Roberts, Derek Wiltz, Michele M. Carr
ObjectiveOver a million ventilation tubes are placed annually in the United States, making this one of the most commonly performed procedures in the field of medicine. Certain factors increase the risk of persistent tympanic membrane perforation following the extrusion of short term ventilation tubes. Persistent perforations may fail to heal on their own necessitating surgical closure to avoid conductive hearing loss. It is important to detect factors that may predict children who are at increased risk for persistent perforations.Methods Outcomes Data and Statistical AnalysisThis study was a retrospective chart review that involved 757 patients between 2003 and 2008. The patients studied were ages 2 months to 17 years, and all had short term tubes placed. The chart data also included demographic information, comorbidities, and information related to tube insertion and follow-up care. Chi-square, t-test and multivariate logistic regression were conducted to compare variables between patients with perforations and those without.ResultsData from 757 patients was analyzed, showing that perforation rate is associated with rhinorrhea, operative tube removal, aural polyps and otorrhea (OR 1.72, 8.16, 4.69, and 1.72 respectively). The absence of otorrhea decreased the likelihood of TM perforations and no significant differences were found in gender, total number of sets of tubes, type of tube, use of nasal steroids, adenoidectomy or nasal congestion.ConclusionOur findings suggest that children with rhinorrhea, otorrhea, aural polyps or prolonged intubation requiring operative tube removal should be identified clinically as children at risk of persisting perforation.
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The Validation of an Algorithm for the Management of Paediatric Cervical Lymphadenopathy
Publication date: Available online 7 December 2015
Source:International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
Author(s): Richard Locke, Fiona MacGregor, Haytham Kubba
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