Conscious Hemiasomatognosia with No Somatosensory Disturbance Other Than a Unique Problem in Tactile Localization

BACKGROUND Sleep difficulties are prevalent and concerning for many North Americans. Despite strong empirical support for insomnia treatment, lack of access presents a significant barrier to treatment dissemination. This is particularly true amongst teens and young adults. Mobile applications (‘apps’) are uniquely suited to address this need. OBJECTIVE We conducted a scoping review to identify and appraise commercially available apps for AYAs with sleep difficulties. METHODS Proceeding in 3 phases, a comprehensive search of commercially available apps was conducted between August 2016 and January 2017. The initial phase involved a search of app stores using relevant search terms (sleep; sleeping; insomnia; sleep aid; night). In the second phase, apps were assessed for eligibility using the following inclusion criteria: 1) Goal is to provide education, tools, or advice related to management of insomnia symptoms. 2) Primary intended users are AYAs. Exclusion criteria were: 1) App is classified as an ‘e-book.’ 2) Primary utility is meditation, hypnosis, or relaxation for sleep. 3) Primary function is background sleep music or sounds. 4) Primary function is alarm clock. 5) Sole sleep aid function is tracking/monitoring, with no education, tools, or advice for insomnia. In the third phase, apps were culled for functionality information, including: A) Self-monitoring of symptoms; B) Tracking sleep; C) Education related to insomnia; D) Advice or intervention for managing insomnia symptoms. Finally, the primary investigator conducted a final review of phase 3 apps, closely examining the functionality of these apps, based on app descriptions, app content, and developer website (where available). RESULTS The initial search yielded 2036 apps; after eligibility criteria were applied, functionality information was extracted for 48 apps. Twenty-three of these were later excluded. Of the final 25 apps, 24% included self-monitoring of symptoms; 28% included a sleep tracking function; 56% provided insomnia education; and 92% provided advice or intervention for managing sleep difficulties. The majority (80%) were free. Several (20%) provided sleep interventions that are not supported by research. In the final evaluation, only 6 apps met all four of the functionality criteria; of these, none were geared towards AYA users specifically. The purported and examined functionality of these six apps are discussed. CONCLUSIONS Insomnia is a unique problem among AYAs, as non-insomnia factors must also be considered when designing an appropriate intervention (e.g., AYAs are more delayed in sleep schedule, require more sleep than adults). There are currently 6 apps that are appropriate for self-management of adult insomnia. There are 0 apps designed for AYA users. Development of an evidence-based app for managing insomnia in this population is critical. Once an appropriate app becomes available, future studies should test its usability and efficacy in AYA samples.

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Long term outcome and elasticity of a polyester mesh used for laparoscopic ventral hernia repair

Hernia ◽

10.1007/s10029-021-02486-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

P. J. O’Dwyer ◽

C. Chew ◽

H. Qandeel

Keyword(s):

Hernia Repair ◽

Ventral Hernia ◽

Laparoscopic Repair ◽

Ventral Hernia Repair ◽

Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia Repair ◽

Ct Scans ◽

Unique Problem ◽

Polyester Mesh

Abstract Background Repair of a ventral hernia is increasingly being performed by a laparoscopic approach despite lack of good long term follow up data on outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine the long term performance of a polyester mesh and to assess its elastic properties in patients undergoing laparoscopic ventral hernia repair. Methods All patients being assessed for a ventral hernia repair between August 2011 and November 2013 were placed on a prospective database. Those undergoing laparoscopic repair with a polyester mesh were seen at clinic at one month and one year, while their electronic records were assessed at 34 months (range 24–48 months) and 104 months (range 92–116 months). In addition, CT scans of the abdomen and pelvis performed for any reason on these patients during the follow up period were reviewed by a consultant gastrointestinal radiologist. Mechanical failure testing of the mesh was also performed. Results Thirty-two of the 100 patients assessed for ventral hernia repair had a laparoscopic repair with a polyester mesh. Nineteen (59%) had CT scans performed during the follow-up period. No recurrence was recorded at 34 months, while three (9.4%) had a recurrence at 104 months. Two had central breakdown of the mesh at 81 and 90 months, while 1 presented acutely at 116 months after operation. Mesh had stretched across the defect by an average of 21% (range 5.7–40%) in nine patients. Mechanical testing showed that this mesh lost its elasticity at low forces ranging between 1.8 and 3.2 N/cm. Conclusion This study shows that late recurrence is a problem following laparoscopic ventral hernia repair with polyester mesh. The mesh loses it elasticity at a low force. This combined with degradation of mesh seems the most likely cause of failure. This is unlikely to be a unique problem of polyester mesh and further long-term studies are required to better assess this operative approach to ventral hernia repair.

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Tactile localization performance in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) corresponds to their motor skill and not their cognitive ability

Human Movement Science ◽

10.1016/j.humov.2016.12.008 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 53 ◽

pp. 72-83 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Joanne S. Johnston ◽

Jannath Begum Ali ◽

Elisabeth L. Hill ◽

Andrew J. Bremner

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Ability ◽

Motor Skill ◽

Developmental Coordination Disorder ◽

Tactile Localization ◽

Localization Performance ◽

Coordination Disorder

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Development of crossed and uncrossed tactile localization on the fingers

Brain and Language ◽

10.1016/0093-934x(77)90049-9 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 588-590 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

David Galin ◽

Robert Diamond ◽

Jeannine Herron

Keyword(s):

Tactile Localization

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Stabilization of a G-Quadruplex from Unfolding by Replication Protein A Using Potassium and the Porphyrin TMPyP4

Journal of Nucleic Acids ◽

10.4061/2011/529828 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2011 ◽

pp. 1-13 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Aishwarya Prakash ◽

Fabien Kieken ◽

Luis A. Marky ◽

Gloria E. O. Borgstahl

Keyword(s):

Dna Replication ◽

Protein A ◽

Thermal Stabilization ◽

Replication Protein A ◽

Replication Protein ◽

Unique Problem ◽

Ssdna Binding ◽

Binding Domains ◽

G Quadruplex ◽

Stabilization Effect

Replication protein A (RPA) plays an essential role in DNA replication by binding and unfolding non-canonical single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) structures. Of the six RPA ssDNA binding domains (labeled A-F), RPA-CDE selectively binds a G-quadruplex forming sequence (5′-TAGGGGAAGGGTTGGAGTGGGTT-3′called Gq23). In K+, Gq23 forms a mixed parallel/antiparallel conformation, and in Na+Gq23 has a less stable (TMlowered by ∼20∘C), antiparallel conformation. Gq23 is intramolecular and 1D NMR confirms a stable G-quadruplex structure in K+. Full-length RPA and RPA-CDE-core can bind and unfold the Na+form of Gq23 very efficiently, but complete unfolding is not observed with the K+form. Studies with G-quadruplex ligands, indicate that TMPyP4 has a thermal stabilization effect on Gq23 in K+, and inhibits complete unfolding by RPA and RPA-CDE-core. Overall these data indicate that G-quadruplexes present a unique problem for RPA to unfold and ligands, such as TMPyP4, could possibly hinder DNA replication by blocking unfolding by RPA.

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Tactile localization of the direction and distance of sounds

Perception & Psychophysics ◽

10.3758/bf03198813 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 25 (4) ◽

pp. 336-344 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

B. L. Richardson ◽

B. J. Frost

Keyword(s):

Tactile Localization

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CHOICE OF ISLAMIC LAW AS THE GOVERNING LAW IN ISLAMIC FINANCE CONTRACTS: THE UNITED KINGDOM AND NIGERIAN PERSPECTIVES

IIUM Law Journal ◽

10.31436/iiumlj.v25i1.314 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Kareem Adebayo Olatoye ◽

Abubakri Yekini

Keyword(s):

United Kingdom ◽

Islamic Law ◽

Islamic Finance ◽

Unique Problem ◽

Party Autonomy ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

Muslim Majority ◽

The Law ◽

Governing Law

The globalisation of Islamic finance has brought the adjudication of Islamic finance disputes before non-Muslim courts and arbitral tribunals in Europe, America and elsewhere. Expectedly, the issue of the validity of the selecting Islamic law as the governing law of an Islamic finance contract often arises before these courts and tribunals. The article seeks to address the attitude of the United Kingdom and Nigerian courts to this unique problem. The thesis of the paper is that while the parties’ reasonable expectations in having their Islamic finance contracts governed by the Shari’ah may be met in Nigeria and by extension in other Muslim-majority countries, the contrary is the case in the United Kingdom and Europe where the courts do not generally favour the application of Islamic law. The paper advocates that the doctrine of the proper law of contract should be extended to Islamic finance by upholding Islamic law as the law selected by the parties (on the basis of party autonomy) or alternatively, as the system of law with which an Islamic finance transaction is most closely connected.

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