Relative importance of variables in determination of practice location: A pilot study

1976 ◽  
Vol 10 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 559-563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A. Diseker ◽  
James A. Chappell
1979 ◽  
Vol 41 (02) ◽  
pp. 365-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Kluft

SummaryEffects due to plasma plasminogen activators and proactivators are usually studied in assay systems where inhibitors influence the activity and where the degree of activation of proactivators is unknown. Quantitative information on activator and proactivator levels in plasma is therefore not availableStudies on the precipitating and activating properties of dextran sulphate in euglobulin fractionation presented in this paper resulted in the preparation of a fraction in which there was optimal recovery and optimal activation of a number of plasminogen activators and proactivators from human plasma. The quantitative assay of these activators on plasminogen-rich fibrin plates required the addition of flufenamate to eliminate inhibitors. The response on the fibrin plates (lysed zones) could be coverted to arbitrary blood activator units (BAU). Consequently, a new activator assay which enables one to quantitatively determine the plasma level of plasminogen activators and proactivators together is introduced.Two different contributions could be distinguished: an activity originating from extrinsic activator and one originating from intrinsic proactivators. The former could be assayed separately by means of its resistance to inhibition by Cl-inactivator. Considering the relative concentrations of extrinsic and intrinsic activators, an impression of the pattern of activator content in plasma was gained. In morning plasma with baseline levels of fibrinolysis, the amount of extrinsic activator was negligible as compared to the level of potentially active intrinsic activators. Consequently, the new assay nearly exclusively determines the level of intrinsic activators in morning plasma. A pilot study gave a fairly stable level of 100 ± 15 BAU/ml (n = 50). When fibrinolysis was stimulated by venous occlusion (15 min), the amount of extrinsic activator was greatly increased, reaching a total activator level of 249 ± 27 BAU/ml (n = 7).


1982 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-164
Author(s):  
Glenn L. Falkowski ◽  
Arthur M. Guilford ◽  
Jack Sandler

Utilizing airflow therapy, Schwartz (1976) has claimed an 89% success rate with stutterers following treatment and an 83% success rate at one year follow-up. Such claims have yet to be documented in the scientific literature. The purposes of this study were: (a) to investigate the effectiveness of a modified version of airflow therapy; (b) to examine the relative importance of its two main components—passive airflow and elongation of the first vowel spoken. The speech of two adult male stutterers with a lengthy history of stuttering, was assessed with spontaneous speaking and reading tasks. Results indicated marked improvement in both subjects' speech on the reading task was maintained at follow-up 10 weeks later. For spontaneous speech, results were generally weaker and less durable. Effects of the two treatment components were cumulative and did not allow determination of any differential effectiveness between components. Implications of these findings were considered and directions for future research discussed.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Choaping Ng ◽  
Felicity J Rose ◽  
Sahar Keshvari ◽  
Marina M Reeves ◽  
Goce Dimeski ◽  
...  

<p>Adiponectin is a beneficial adipocyte-secreted hormone, which circulates in a variety of multimeric forms termed low and high molecular weight (LMW/HMW). Effectiveness of clinical therapeutic trials which target adiponectin rely on accurate determination of circulating total and HMW adiponectin levels but the accuracy may be influenced by variations in sample handling processes. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the effects of delayed processing of blood samples on the concentration of total and HMW adiponectin.</p><p>Materials and Methods: Fasting blood samples were collected for analysis of total and HMW adiponectin concentrations in EDTA plasma and serum from eight healthy participants.  Samples were centrifuged post 15 min storage at 4<sup>o</sup>C as the comparative ‘ideal’ method or after up to 72 h of refrigerated storage or 6 h at room temperature. Total and HMW adiponectin concentrations were measured by ELISA.</p><p>Results: Under ideal handling conditions measurements of total and HMW adiponectin concentrations were significantly higher in serum than in plasma (mean difference: -1.3 µg/mL [95% CI: -1.6, -1.0], p&lt;0.001; and, -0.6 µg/mL [95% CI: -0.7, -0.5], p&lt;0.001, respectively).  Storage of blood samples at 4<sup>o</sup>C for 72 h resulted in significant reductions in concentration of total adiponectin in serum (mean difference: -1.4 µg/mL [95% CI: -2.0, -0.8], p=0.001) and HMW adiponectin in plasma (mean difference: -0.6 µg/mL [95%CI: -0.9, -0.2], p=0.007), compared with ideal conditions.  Further analysis of serum samples showed a significant decrease in total adiponectin concentration after 6 h storage at 4<sup>o</sup>C (mean difference: -1.4 µg/mL [95% CI: -2.0, -0.8], p=0.001) compared with ideal conditions.</p><p>Conclusions: Delayed processing of samples may have differential effects on the concentration of total and HMW adiponectin in serum or plasma. Larger studies are warranted for clinical intervention trials.</p>


2018 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 238-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta Pacifici ◽  
Simona Pichini ◽  
Manuela Pellegrini ◽  
Roberta Tittarelli ◽  
Flaminia Pantano ◽  
...  

Abstract Background In those countries where cannabis use is still illegal, some manufacturers started producing and selling “light cannabis”: dried flowering tops containing the psychoactive principle Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) at concentrations lower than 0.2% together with variable concentration of cannabidiol (CBD). We here report a pilot study on the determination of cannabinoids in the oral fluid and urine of six individuals after smoking 1 g of “light cannabis”. Methods On site screening for oral fluid samples was performed, as a laboratory immunoassay test for urine samples. A validated gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method was then applied to quantify THC and CBD, independently from results of screening tests. Results On site screening for oral fluid samples, with a THC cut-off of 25 ng/mL gave negative results for all the individuals at different times after smoking. Similarly, negative results for urine samples screening from all the individuals were obtained. Confirmation analyses showed that oral fluid THC was in the concentration range from 2.5 to 21.5 ng/mL in the first 30 min after smoking and then values slowly decreased. CBD values were usually one order of magnitude higher than those of THC. THC-COOH, the principal urinary THC metabolite, presented the maximum urinary value of 1.8 ng/mL, while urinary CBD had a value of 15.1 ng/mL. Conclusions Consumers of a single 1 g dose of “light cannabis” did not result as positive in urine screening, assessing recent consumption, so that confirmation would not be required. Conversely, they might result as positive to oral fluid testing with some on-site kits, with THC cut-off lower than 25 ng/mL, at least in the first hour after smoking and hence confirmation analysis can be then required. No conclusions can be drawn of eventual chronic users.


2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-67
Author(s):  
Alejandro Caña-Pino ◽  
Maria Dolores Apolo-Arenas ◽  
Javier Moral-Blanco ◽  
Ernesto De la Cruz-Sánchez ◽  
Luis Espejo-Antúnez

1962 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 234-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward J. Olsen

AbstractThe X-ray spectrometer method as an archaeological tool is discussed with special reference to its limitations as a chemical analytical instrument. Qualitative results are presented for six North American copper samples, one European trade brass, and nine artifacts from the Great Lakes region. From this pilot study it is concluded that the most fruitful results in the problem of the determination of provenance of copper artifacts will be obtained from semi-quantitative optical spectographic analyses of carefully collected artifacts and raw materials. The largest inherent error in this problem is that of meaningful sampling techniques. The only recourse is to treat such chemical data statistically and determine the probabilities that given specimens came from the various possible sources.


2016 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 66-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krishna Prasad Rai ◽  
Hasta Bahadur Rai ◽  
Santosh Dahal ◽  
Saroj Chaudhary ◽  
Suraj Shrestha

Energy drinks are non-alcoholic beverage intended to enhance the psycho-physiological responses in human, which is especially popular among young generation in Nepal. It is normally high caffeinated drink added with other ingredients such as carbohydrates, amino acids, B-group of vitamins etc. In this study, 10 brands of energy drink available in Nepalese markets were taken then analyzed for quantitative determination of Caffeine and Taurine by HPLC-UV method. From the result obtained, pH and TSS values of energy drinks were found in the range of 2.96-3.81 and 6.64-18.21 respectively. Likewise, the Caffeine and Taurine content in same samples were found in the range of not detected (ND) to 35.78 mg/100 ml and ND to 387.5 mg/100 ml respectively. Only the 6 samples out of 10 were confi rmed caffeine content as per claimed in label, while only 3 samples were confi rmed for Taurine content as per label claimed. Based on this pilot study, the majority of samples did not meet the label claims in term of Caffeine and Taurine, which apparently indicated the misbranding of such drinks. Since, there is no any regulation for such energy drinks in Nepal, it seems to be a great challenge for regulation of their safety and misbranding.


Development ◽  
1967 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 283-292
Author(s):  
W. L. Howe ◽  
P. A. Parsons

Numerous minor skeletal variants have been described in the mouse (Grüneberg, 1963), other small mammals (Berry & Searle, 1963) and in man (Comas, 1960; Brothwell, 1963; Grüneberg, 1963). In genetically heterogeneous material such as man it is very difficult to sort out the factors causing these variants. However, in experimental animals such as the mouse the use of inbred strains and crosses derived from them permits a more detailed understanding of these factors, in particular the relative importance of heredity and environment. Grüneberg (1963) cites numerous references showing very great differences in the percentage incidence of many minor variants in mice between inbred strains and in some cases between hybrids. The conclusion is that much of this variation is genetic in origin. Even so, certain environmental factors have been shown to be of importance, such as maternal age, parity, maternal weight and maternal diet.


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