A Significant Variable in the Rat Hemidiaphragm Assay of Insulin

Summary Aim of this study was a characterization of radioiodine therapy (RIT) failures in Graves’ disease without simultaneous Carbimazole. Method: 226 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of Graves’ disease received 686.8 ± 376.4 MBq of iodine-131 orally for thyroid ablation. Target dose was 250 Gy. All patients were followed up for 6 months. Therapy failures were compared with successes regarding possible influencing variables initial thyroid volume, thyroid function, immune activity (TRAb), 1-131 uptake, effective half-life, absorbed energy dose, age and gender. Results: 212 of 226 patients (93.8%) were treated successfully, 14 (6.2%) showed a hyperthyroidism relapse within 6 months which required a second radioiodine therapy. A success rate of 92.5% (62/67) could also be achieved with 67 patients who were hyperthyroid at the time of RIT. Compared to the therapy successes, the 14 failures achieved significantly lower absorbed doses (223.8 ±76.6 Gyvs. 285.2 ±82.1 Gy, ρ <0.005), but with no significant differences regarding age, thyroid volume, function or TRAb (all ρ >0.2). Of the 14 failures, η = 8 reached an absorbed dose <200 Gy and η = 1 a dose <250 Gy, although 5 of the failures reached an absorbed dose of >250 Gy. Stepwise logistic regression revealed only absorbed energy dose as a variable significantly influencing therapy success (p <0.005), but no influence of initial thyroid volume, function, TRAb value, age (all ρ >0.2) or gender (p = 0.13). Two-tailed Fisher’s exact test showed no significant influence of gender on success rates (failures/successes: male 1 /36, female 13/176, ρ = 0.48). Conclusions: Except for the absorbed energy dose, no other significant variable influencing the outcome of radioiodine therapy in Graves’ disease without simultaneous Carbimazole could be found. It should be noted, though, that 5 therapy failures (2.2%) reached an absorbed energy dose of >250 Gy.

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Labour-use Efficiency of Assam Gramin Vikash Bank: Branch- and District-level Analysis

Studies in Microeconomics ◽

10.1177/23210222211024374 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 232102222110243

Author(s):

Mohuya Deb Purkayastha ◽

Joyeeta Deb ◽

Ram Pratap Sinha

Keyword(s):

Efficiency Score ◽

Significant Variable ◽

Data Envelopment ◽

Tobit Regression ◽

Second Stage ◽

Time Period ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

The Mean ◽

The Impact ◽

Observation Period

The present study estimated labour-use efficiency of 48 branches of Assam Gramin Vikash Bank at its branch level, covering three districts of Barak Valley, which falls under Silchar region of the bank for the time period from 2010–2011 to 2017–2018. The study applied data envelopment analysis for estimating labour-use efficiency. In the second stage, the study applied censored Tobit regression for determining the impact of several contextual variables on efficiency. The study reveals that the mean labour-use efficiency score of the selected branches is 76% when averaged for the in-sample branches over the observation period. Results of the Tobit regression identified cluster 2 and total business of the branches as the significant factors for determining efficiency and the number of employees as a significant variable influencing inefficiency. JEL Classifications: G2, G20, G21, J3

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Identifying Controlling Factors of Bioaccumulation of Selected Metal(loid)s in Various Soil–Cereal Crop Systems within Cultivated Fluvisols

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11061180 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 1180

Author(s):

Jan Skála ◽

Radim Vácha ◽

Jarmila Čechmánková

Keyword(s):

Plant Uptake ◽

Ph Value ◽

Soil Parameters ◽

Significant Variable ◽

Cd Uptake ◽

Crop Models ◽

Successful Model ◽

Model Reliability ◽

Contamination Levels ◽

Single Extractions

The paired Fluvisol and cereal samples in both the field screening and controlled experiments are reported to elucidate the soil–crop relationship for As, Cd, and Pb in relation to changing contamination levels. Significant varietal differences in plant uptake were observed for crop type (barley, triticale) and the harvested part of the crop (oat shoots and grain). When parametrizing the stepwise regression models, the inclusion of soil properties often improved the performance of soil–crop models but diverse critical soil parameters were retained in the model for individual metal(loid)s. The pH value was often a statistically significant variable for Cd uptake. For As and Pb, the more successful model fit was achieved using the indicators of quantity or quality of soil organic matter, but always with lower inherent model reliability compared to Cd. Further, a single correlation analysis was used to investigate the relationship between extractable metal concentrations in soil solution and their crop accumulation. For Cd, there were strong intercorrelations among single extractions, the NH4NO3 extraction stood out with perfect correlation with plant uptake in both experiments. For As and Pb, the CaCl2 and Na2EDTA solutions outperformed other single extractions and were the better choice for the assessment of depositional fluvial substrates.

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Measurement of Empathy Levels in Undergraduate Paramedic Students

Prehospital and Disaster Medicine ◽

10.1017/s1049023x1300006x ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 145-149 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Brett Williams ◽

Mal Boyle ◽

Tracy Earl

Keyword(s):

Medical Condition ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

First Year ◽

Significant Variable ◽

Health Provider ◽

Patient Relationship ◽

Publication Type ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Assessment And Treatment

AbstractIntroductionParamedics rely on establishing a health provider-patient relationship with patients that promotes two-way communication, patient satisfaction, and facilitates appropriate patient assessment and treatment. Paramedics also must have an ability to empathize with patients and their family members in order to develop a successful health provider-patient relationship. The objective of this study was to assess paramedics’ empathy and attitudes toward patients with specific conditions.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study using a convenience sample of first-, second-, and third-year, Australian undergraduate paramedic students. Student empathy levels were assessed using two standardized self-reporting instruments: the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (JSPE) Health Professional (HP) version and the Medical Condition Regard Scale (MCRS).ResultsA total of 94 paramedic students participated in the study. The JSPE demonstrated that male paramedic students had higher mean empathy scores than did female paramedic students (113.25 and 107.5, respectively; P = .042). The JSPE empathy level scores were lowest among first-year paramedic students (mean = 107.53); age was not found to be a significant variable on empathy scores. The Medical Condition Regard Scale revealed lowest scores in compassion towards substance abuse (mean = 46.42).ConclusionsThe results of this study provide the discipline of paramedic health care with useful data, and provide students, academics, and other educators with important information regarding the improvement of the health provider-patient relationship and paramedic education curriculum development.WilliamsB, BoyleM, EarlT. Measurement of empathy levels in undergraduate paramedic students. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2013;28(2):1-5.

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The thermal history and stress state of a fresh steam-pipeline influencing its remaining service life

Thermal Science ◽

10.2298/tsci110509050b ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

pp. 691-704 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Gordana Bakic ◽

Vera Sijacki-Zeravcic ◽

Milos Djukic ◽

Stevan Maksimovic ◽

Dusan Plesinac ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Service Life ◽

Elevated Temperatures ◽

Operating Temperature ◽

Life Assessment ◽

Temperature History ◽

Significant Variable ◽

Remaining Life ◽

Pipe Bend ◽

Steam Pipeline ◽

Remaining Life Assessment

The service life of thick-walled power plant components exposed to creep, as is the case with pipelines of fresh- and re-heated steam, depend on the exhaustion rate of the material. Plant operation at elevated temperatures and at temperatures below designed temperatures all relates to the material exhaustion rate, thus complicating remaining life assessment, whereas the operating temperature variation is a most common cause in the mismatching of real service- and design life. Apart from temperature, the tube wall stress is a significant variable for remaining life assessment, whose calculation depends on the selected procedure, due to the complex pipeline configuration. In this paper, a remaining life assessment is performed according to the Larson-Miller parametric relation for a ?324?36 pipe bend element of a fresh steam-pipeline, made of steel class 1Cr0.3Mo0.25V, after 160 000 hours of operation. The temperature history of the pipeline, altogether with the pipe bend, is determined based on continuous temperature monitoring records. Compared results of remaining life assessment are displayed for monitored temperature records and for designed operating temperature in the same time period. The stress calculation in the pipe bend wall is performed by three methods that are usually applied so to emphasize the differences in the obtained results of remaining life assessment.

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Process and Manufacturing Challenges for High-K Gate Stack Systems

MRS Proceedings ◽

10.1557/proc-567-323 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 567 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

M.C. Gilmer ◽

T-Y Luo ◽

H.R. Huff ◽

M.D. Jackson ◽

S. Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Silicon Surface ◽

Gate Dielectrics ◽

Electrical Characterization ◽

Metal Electrode ◽

Significant Variable ◽

Tem Analysis ◽

Physical Mechanisms ◽

High K ◽

Commercial Equipment

ABSTRACTA design-of-experiments methodology was implemented to assess the commercial equipment viability to fabricate the high-K dielectrics Ta2O5, TiO2 and BST (70/30 and 50/50 compositions) for use as gate dielectrics. The high-K dielectrics were annealed in 100% or 10% O2 for different times and temperatures in conjunction with a previously prepared NH3 nitrided or 14N implanted silicon surface. Five metal electrode configurations—Ta, TaN, W, WN and TiN—were concurrently examined. Three additional silicon surface configurations were explored in conjunction with a more in-depth set of time and temperature anneals for Ta2O5. Electrical characterization of capacitors fabricated with the above high-K gate dielectrics, as well as SIMS and TEM analysis, indicate that the post high-K deposition annealing temperature was the most significant variable impacting the leakage current density, although there was minimal influence on the capacitance. Further studies are required, however, to clarify the physical mechanisms underlying the electrical data presented.

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Factors Associated with Nutritional Status of the Under Five Children

Asian Journal of Medical Sciences ◽

10.3126/ajms.v1i1.2927 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 6-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Amita Pradhan

Keyword(s):

Body Mass Index ◽

Nutritional Status ◽

Body Mass ◽

Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽

Wealth Index ◽

Significant Variable ◽

Under Five ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Female Headed Households ◽

Size At Birth

Objective: To identify factors associated to the nutritional status of under five children.Method: The data used in this analysis are from Demographic and Health Survey 2006 conducted in Nepal. Total 5262 cases are included in the present study. A multinomial logistic regression model is used to study the relation between various factors and nutritional status.Results: Increasing body mass index of mothers and wealth index shows decreasing likelihood of malnutrition among children. Rural children show insignificant higher likelihood of different forms of underweight and wasting as compared to urban area. Frequency of listening radio does not show significant association in case of mild and moderate wasting and shown very high unusual odds ratio in case of severe wasting. Similarly, lower frequency of watching television also does not show significantly higher likeliness of different form of stunting, underweight and wasting. Female children are more likely to be stunted, underweight and wasted as compared to male. Female headed households are more likely to have moderately and mildly stunted children and mixed results are observed for underweight and wasting. The likelihood for all forms of malnutrition is higher among children with smaller than average size at birth as compared to average or bigger size at birth. Mixed results are observed regarding likelihood of different forms of malnutrition among children with mothers having different educational level.Conclusion: Body mass index of mothers is found significant variable while explaining children's nutritional status. Similarly, Size at birth is significantly associated with nutrition during the childhood.Keywords: Stunting; wasting; under weight; under five childrenDOI: 10.3126/ajms.v1i1.2927Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.1(1) 2010 p.6-8

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A quantitative investigation of narratives: recycled drinking water

Water Policy ◽

10.2166/wp.2015.125 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 17 (5) ◽

pp. 831-847 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Leong Ching

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Water Reuse ◽

Q Methodology ◽

Economic Cost ◽

Public Perceptions ◽

Significant Variable ◽

Subjective Perceptions ◽

Key Stakeholders ◽

New Information ◽

Psychological Difficulties

Recycled drinking water represents one of the most obvious and technologically reliable sources of urban water. Yet it is one of the least implemented solutions. Blame has often been laid on the emotional and psychological difficulties of persuading people that recycled drinking water is safe to drink. This ‘yuck’ factor has been empirically identified as a statistically significant variable. But how are such factors perceived? And more importantly – can these perceptions be changed? This study attempts a quantitative study of public perceptions and norm formation in recycled drinking water. Using the Q methodology, which reveals the subjective perceptions of key stakeholders, we uncover the following discourses: (1) technology can change current paradigms; (2) ensuring a safe water supply is a problem that has an economic cost; (3) environmental and global realities make it imperative to recycle water. These findings confound two prevailing views – that the debate in recycled drinking water is one of science over emotions, and more information can ‘overcome’ the apparently irrational norm formation. Instead, we find no new information in this case. Rather what was present was a new interpretative frame that allowed a new narrative enabling the bridging of two previously contradictory positions – in this instance, the pro- and anti-water reuse discourses.

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A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis of the Effect of Resistance Training on Whole-Body Muscle Growth in Healthy Adult Males

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17041285 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (4) ◽

pp. 1285 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Pedro J. Benito ◽

Rocío Cupeiro ◽

Domingo J. Ramos-Campo ◽

Pedro E. Alcaraz ◽

Jacobo Á. Rubio-Arias

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Resistance Training ◽

Muscle Mass ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Muscle Growth ◽

Fat Free Mass ◽

Muscle Size ◽

Whole Body ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Significant Variable

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to study all published clinical trial interventions, determined the magnitude of whole-body hypertrophy in humans (healthy males) and observed the individual responsibility of each variable in muscle growth after resistance training (RT). Searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library from database inception until 10 May 2018 for original articles assessing the effects of RT on muscle size after interventions of more than 2 weeks of duration. Specifically, we obtain the variables fat-free mass (FMM), lean muscle mass (LMM) and skeletal muscle mass (SMM). The effects on outcomes were expressed as mean differences (MD) and a random-effects meta-analysis and meta-regressions determined covariates (age, weight, height, durations in weeks…) to explore the moderate effect related to the participants and characteristics of training. One hundred and eleven studies (158 groups, 1927 participants) reported on the effects of RT for muscle mass. RT significantly increased muscle mass (FFM+LMM+SMM; Δ1.53 kg; 95% CI [1.30, 1.76], p < 0.001; I2 = 0%, p = 1.00). Considering the overall effects of the meta-regression, and taking into account the participants’ characteristics, none of the studied covariates explained any effect on changes in muscle mass. Regarding the training characteristics, the only significant variable that explained the variance of the hypertrophy was the sets per workout, showing a significant negative interaction (MD; estimate: 1.85, 95% CI [1.45, 2.25], p < 0.001; moderator: -0.03 95% CI [−0.05, −0.001] p = 0.04). In conclusion, RT has a significant effect on the improvement of hypertrophy (~1.5 kg). The excessive sets per workout affects negatively the muscle mass gain.

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Models of the distribution and abundance of ground-dwelling mammals in the eucalypt forests of north-eastern New South Wales in relation to environmental variables

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr01005 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 29 (3) ◽

pp. 313 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

P. C. Catling ◽

R. J. Burt ◽

R. I. Forrester

Keyword(s):

Environmental Variables ◽

New South ◽

New South Wales ◽

Slope Position ◽

Slope Aspect ◽

Significant Variable ◽

South Wales ◽

North Eastern ◽

Eucalypt Forests ◽

A Site

Statistical models are presented of the distribution and abundance of ground-dwelling mammals in eucalypt forests in relation to environmental variables within an area of approximately 24 000 km2 in north-eastern New South Wales. Environmental variables are defined as climatic or topographic variables that may be useful to map the distribution of fauna. The environmental variables examined were season, temperature, rainfall, elevation, lithology, steepness of slope, position on slope, aspect and landform profile. The probability of recording some species was higher in spring than autumn and many species were in highest abundance in areas of low temperature (high elevation). Although aspect was a significant variable in a number of models, no species was absent from any aspect category. Mid-slopes down to and including creeks and drainage lines were particularly important for many species, as were areas with flatter terrain. Although we have modelled environmental variables only there will no doubt be longer-term interactions between habitat and environmental variables. Fundamentally, environmental variables will determine the type of habitat present at a site, and the distribution of canopy communities, at least, can be predicted from environmental variables. However, other studies have shown for ground-dwelling mammals that environmental variables contribute little and it is the state of the habitat locally, and particularly the understorey, that determines their presence and abundance at a site. The results are discussed in relation to similar models using habitat variables and in relation to the use of such models in the management of ground-dwelling fauna in forests.

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