scholarly journals Meditation Experience Predicts Introspective Accuracy

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kieran Fox ◽  
Matt Dixon ◽  
Melissa Ellamil ◽  
Evan Thompson ◽  
Kalina Christoff
Keyword(s):  
Body Representation ◽  
Discrimination Threshold ◽  
Large Individual ◽  
Tactile Sensitivity ◽  
Body Scanning ◽  
Body Regions ◽  
Mean Size ◽  
Meditation Experience ◽  
Subjective Reports

The accuracy of subjective reports, especially those involving introspection of one’s own internal processes, remains unclear, and research has demonstrated large individual differences in introspective accuracy. It has been hypothesized that introspective accuracy may be heightened in persons who engage in meditation practices, due to the highly introspective nature of such practices. We undertook a preliminary exploration of this hypothesis, examining introspective accuracy in a cross-section of meditation practitioners (1–15,000 hrs experience). Introspective accuracy was assessed by comparing subjective reports of tactile sensitivity for each of 20 body regions during a ‘body-scanning’ meditation with averaged, objective measures of tactile sensitivity (mean size of body representation area in primary somatosensory cortex; two-point discrimination threshold) as reported in prior research. Expert meditators showed significantly better introspective accuracy than novices; overall meditation experience also significantly predicted individual introspective accuracy. These resultssuggest that long-term meditators provide more accurate introspective reports than novices.

Cognitive function in long-term lymphoma survivors: relationship between subjective reports and objective assessments and with quality of life

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Barbara Muzzatti ◽  
Nicoletta Cattaruzza ◽  
Marika Piccinin ◽  
Cristiana Flaiban ◽  
Giulia Agostinelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Subjective Reports ◽  
Lymphoma Survivors

Late endoscopic evaluation of the ostium size after external dacryocystorhinostomy

2020 ◽  
pp. 112067212097604
Author(s):  
Reem R Al Huthail ◽  
Yasser H Al-Faky
Keyword(s):  
Chart Review ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Tertiary Hospital ◽  
Nasal Endoscope ◽  
Long Term Follow Up ◽  
Mean Size ◽  
External Dacryocystorhinostomy ◽  
The Mean

Objective: To evaluate the effect of chronicity on the size of the ostium after external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) with intubation. Methods: Design: A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent external DCR with intubation over 10 years from January 2003 at a tertiary hospital. All patients were recruited and examined with rigid nasal endoscope. Results: A total number of 66 (85 eyes) patients were included. The mean age at the time of evaluation was 53.1 years with gender distribution of 54 females (81.8 %). The mean duration ±SD between the date of surgery and the date of evaluation was 33.2 ± 33.6 (6–118 months). Our study showed an overall anatomical and functional success of 98.8% and 95.3%, respectively. The mean size of the ostium (±SD) was 23.0 (±15.7) mm2 (ranging from 1 to 80.4 mm2). The size of the ostium was not a significant factor for failure ( p = 0.907). No statistically significant correlation was found between the long-term duration after surgery and the size of the ostium ( R: 0.025, p = 0.157). Conclusions: Nasal endoscopy after DCR is valuable in evaluating the ostium with no observed potential correlation between the long-term follow-up after surgery and the size of the ostium.

scholarly journals 7 Mixing aggression and floor type during gestation have implications for sow reproductive performance

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 4-5
Author(s):  
Martyna E Lagoda ◽  
Laura A Boyle ◽  
Joanna Marchewka ◽  
Julia A Calderón Díaz
Keyword(s):  
Skin Lesion ◽  
Aggressive Behavior ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Cycle Length ◽  
Dominance Hierarchy ◽  
Body Regions ◽  
Left And Right ◽  
Piglet Mortality ◽  
Carry Over

Abstract Aggressive behavior resulting from mixing to establish a dominance hierarchy is a welfare concern for group-housed sows. The associated stress could negatively impact reproductive performance (RP). Objectives of this study were to investigate associations between 1) mixing aggression intensity and RP within and between parities one (P1) and two (P2), and 2) aggression intensity, floor type and RP. A total of 164 gilts were followed through two parities. Gilts were mixed into stable groups of eight unfamiliar individuals four days after insemination, and housed on fully-slatted floors, either uncovered (CON; n = 84) or covered (RUB; n = 80) by a rubber slat-mat until farrowing (for both parities). Skin lesion scores (SLS) (proxy for mixing aggression intensity), were recorded 24–72 hrs post-mixing (0 = no lesions to 5 = severe lesions) on five body regions on left and right sides, and on the tail, in both parities. Total SLS was calculated for each sow. RP data were retrospectively acquired from farm records for both parities. Data were analyzed using GLMM in PROC GLIMMIX of SAS (v9.4) where 1) each parity analyzed separately, and 2) SLS in P1 used to predict RP in P2. Gilts with higher SLS in P2 had higher piglet mortality (P = 0.021) and longer cycle length (P = 0.003) in P2. Gilts with higher SLS in P1 had more non-productive days (P < 0.001) in P2. CON gilts had higher SLS than RUB gilts (P = 0.017) in P1, but not in P2 (P > 0.05). CON gilts also had more piglets born dead (P = 0.004) and tended to crush more piglets (P = 0.097) in P2. Our results confirm that mixing aggression impacts RP in the current parity negatively. They also suggest that mixing aggression experienced by gilts may have long-term negative carry-over effects on performance in subsequent parities. Use of rubber flooring appears to mitigate detrimental effects of mixing aggression, perhaps through improved sow comfort.

Components Separation: A Solution to Complex Abdominal Wall Defects

2008 ◽  
Vol 74 (10) ◽  
pp. 912-916
Author(s):  
Hooman Shabatian ◽  
Dong-Joon Lee ◽  
Maher A. Abbas
Keyword(s):  
Abdominal Wall ◽  
Hospital Readmission ◽  
Recurrent Hernia ◽  
Abdominal Wall Defects ◽  
Viable Option ◽  
Components Separation ◽  
Mean Size ◽  
Abdominal Operations

Complex abdominal wall hernias can be challenging to treat. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively review the results of components separation. Seventeen patients underwent components separation between 2000 and 2007. Mean size of the hernia defect was 318 cm2. Mean number of prior abdominal operations/patient was 3.2. Nine patients (53%) had prior failed repair. At time of components separation, five patients (29%) had concurrent gastrointestinal operations and two (12%) had panniculectomy. Mean hospitalization stay was 3.8 days with a readmission rate of 41 per cent. The most common postoperative complications were wound related and occurred in 35 per cent of patients. During a mean follow-up of 21 months, only one patient had recurrent hernia (6%). Five patients (29%) required additional operations. Components separation is a viable option for patients with complex abdominal wall defects. Long-term recurrence is rare but wound related complications, operative reinterventions, and hospital readmission are common.

The use of an interposed graft during portal vein and/or superior mesenteric vein reconstruction in pancreatic resection for pancreatic cancer.

2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 482-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroki Yamaue ◽  
Seiko Hirono ◽  
Manabu Kawai ◽  
Ken-Ichi Okada ◽  
Motoki Miyazawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Portal Vein ◽  
Superior Mesenteric Vein ◽  
Iliac Vein ◽  
Mesenteric Vein ◽  
Venous Grafts ◽  
Periampullary Tumors ◽  
Mean Size ◽  
Short And Long Term

482 Background: Combined portal vein and/or superior mesenteric vein (PV/SMV) resection with pancreatectomy sometimes leads to prolonged survival for patients with periampullary tumors. In this study, we evaluated outcomes of patients with PV/SMV reconstruction, and we considered indications for the use of a graft during this procedure. Methods: We performed PV/SMV resection with pancreatectomy in 128 patients with periampullary tumors, including 14 using grafts. Short and long-term outcomes associated with PV/SMV reconstruction and harvesting venous grafts and reconstructed PV/SMV patency during follow-up were assessed. Results: Of the 128 patients with periampullary tumors, 5 underwent total pancreatectomy, 99 pancreaticoduodenectomy, and 24 distal pancreatectomy. In the 14 patients who underwent PV/SMV reconstruction with grafts, the grafts were harvested from external iliac vein in 10 patients and internal jugular vein in the other 4. Five patients (3.9%) had intraoperative or postoperative acute thrombus or stenosis of reconstructed PV/SMV after direct end-to-end anastomosis. However, PV/SMV patency was excellent after reconstruction using grafts. Among 228 patients with common pancreatic cancer, there were no significant differences in overall survival (OS) between the patients with PV/SMV resection (n=99) and without PV/SMV resection (n=206) (P=0.354), although the lymph node metastasis rates in the patients with PV/SMV resection were higher than those without PV/SMV resection (78.8 vs. 64.6%, P=0.012). Furthermore, the tumor size in the patients with the use of a graft was larger than that without a graft (Mean size; 40.5 vs. 29.3 mm, P=0.047), and the R0 rates and OS were not different between the patients with and without a graft (R0 rates; 50 vs. 73%, P=0.129 and OS; 23.4 vs. 16.6 months, P=0.323). Conclusions: Depending on the length and/or position of the removed PV/SMV segment, an interposed graft may be required for reconstruction in some patients.

scholarly journals Information encoded in volumes and areas of dendritic spines is nearly maximal across mammalian brains

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Karbowski ◽  
Paulina Urban
Keyword(s):  
Dendritic Spines ◽  
Excitatory Synapses ◽  
Information Efficiency ◽  
Spine Length ◽  
Entropy Maximization ◽  
Surface Areas ◽  
Heavy Tailed Distributions ◽  
Mean Size ◽  
Heavy Tailed

Long-term information associated with neuronal memory resides in dendritic spines. However, spines can have a limited size due to metabolic and neuroanatomical constraints, which should effectively limit the amount of encoded information in excitatory synapses. This study investigates how much information can be stored in the sizes of dendritic spines, and whether is it optimal in any sense? It is shown here, using empirical data for several mammalian brains across different regions and physiological conditions, that dendritic spines nearly maximize entropy contained in their volumes and surface areas for a given mean size. This result is essentially independent of the type of a fitting distribution to size data, as both short- and heavy-tailed distributions yield similar nearly 100 % information efficiency in the majority of cases, although heavy-tailed distributions slightly better fit the data. On average, the highest information is contained in spine volume, and the lowest in spine length or spine head diameter. Depending on a species and brain region, a typical spine can encode between 6.1 and 10.8 bits of information in its volume, and 3.1-8.1 bits in its surface area. Our results suggest a universality of entropy maximization in spine volumes and areas, which can be a new principle of memory storing in synapses.

scholarly journals HIGH-POWERED POLICE MOTORCYCLE: MUSCLE DISCOMFORT AMONG MALAYSIAN TRAFFIC POLICE RIDERS

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (Special1) ◽  
pp. 255-259
Author(s):  
Nur Athirah D ◽  
Karmegam K ◽  
Irniza R ◽  
Shamsul Bahri MT ◽  
Vivien H ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
The Body ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Traffic Police ◽  
Body Regions ◽  
Lower Back ◽  
Left And Right

Discomfort due to riding a motorcycle is an issue that need to be addressed as it has long-term effects of musculoskeletal disorders on motorcyclists especially among occupational motorcyclist. Thus, this study was conducted to analyse the rating of muscle discomfort and correlation with the risk factors among traffic police riders. A cross-sectional study was carried out among 137 male traffic police riders (high-powered motorcycle) with the age between 20 to 39 years old. The 100-mm visual analogue scale questionnaire included ratings of perceived discomfort scales for 20 specific body regions was used in the study. The results indicate that the lower back (left and right) were the highest mean of discomfort which were 56.6 mm and 55.9 mm respectively. This followed with right (48.5±36.2 mm) and left (48.4±30.3 mm) upper back, and right hand (47.0±33.0 mm). The mean of overall discomfort ratings for all regions were more than 20 mm.  Besides, there is a strong positive significant correlation between duration of ridings (hours) and overall discomfort ratings (p<0.01, r=0.785) and moderate positive correlation between year of traffic police motorcycle riding experience and overall discomfort ratings (p<0.01, r=0.410). As a conclusion, cumulative riding hours, riding experience and no support of the back area of the body in motorcycle seat, are the most concern in this study as this are the contributing factors to the muscle discomfort among traffic police riders while riding high-powered motorcycle. Thus, this study suggested an additional feature is needed in current motorcycle design in order to enhance comforts of traffic police riders. Also, it will improve the condition of traffic police riders’ discomfort and indirectly also improve their work and health performance as well as productivity.

scholarly journals Assessment of Creatine in Sports Products

2021 ◽  
pp. 61-63
Author(s):  
Wenche Frølich ◽  
Elisabet Børsheim ◽  
Truls Raastad ◽  
Livar Frøyland ◽  
Ragnhild Halvorsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Maintenance Dose ◽  
Creatine Supplementation ◽  
Creatine Phosphate ◽  
Creatine Monohydrate ◽  
Large Individual ◽  
Novel Food ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Long Term Studies

The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (Vitenskapskomiteen for mattrygghet, VKM) has at the request of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) conducted an assessment of creatine in sports products (e.g. supplements). The evaluation has been performed by an ad hoc group, and assessed by the VKM Panel on nutrition, dietetic products, novel food and allergy.   The evaluation of safety and possible risks of creatine supplementation in this opinion is based on previous reports, 23 original papers and 14 reviews from literature searches.   Marketing and sales of sport products are increasing in the Nordic countries, with creatine supplements being one of four most common categories. In addition to be used by athletes,   the use of creatine supplements seems to increase among general exercisers and young people. Creatine supplements are mainly used for their supposed effects on muscles  mass and high intensity and short duration sport performances. Supplementation has been shown to result in higher concentration of creatine phosphate in the muscles, which is the limited substrate.   For athletes, it is recommended a loading dose of 10-20 g/day for 4-7 days and a maintenance dose of 2-5 g/day for weeks or months. Some athletes continue the maintenance dose for   several years. It is well documented that creatine supplementation has positive effects on muscle mass combined with strength training and performance during maximal exercise.  There are however large individual variation in the response, and there are responders and non-responders.   The new scientific literature, including long term studies, is in line with the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) opinion from 2004.   VKM Panel on nutrition, dietetic products, novel food and allergy supports the EFSA conclusion that supplementation of creatine in doses below 3 g/day is unlikely to pose any risks if the purity of the creatine compound is adequate.    Scientific long-term studies with doses up to 5-10 g/day in adult athletes have shown no harmful effects, but there are no dose-response studies indicating a safe upper limit for creatine.    The potential negative effects (impaired kidney function, weight gain and gastrointestinal disturbances) which have been published in non scientific journals and anecdotal reports  have not found support in controlled systematic studies on healthy subjects. It has  been indicated that individuals with impaired kidney functions should refrain from creatine supplements.   Creatine-monohydrate is the most studied form of creatine supplements, and only creatine monohydrate has been included in the scientific investigations on adverse effects. 

scholarly journals Assessment of 35 Years Longitudinal Observations on Melanoma Patients in a Single Center of Hungary’s Central Region: Effect of Interferon Immunotherapy

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Szilvia Zámolyi ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Central Region ◽  
Interferon Α ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Single Center ◽  
Body Regions ◽  
Tumor Stages ◽  
Morbidity Data ◽  
Long Term Follow Up ◽  
Melanoma Malignum

Background: The incidence of melanoma malignum increases worldwide. Detailed objective analyses from central European region are scarcely available. Objective: To obtain validated data on melanoma distribution and retrospective analysis in the central region of Hungary based on 35 years of experience in a single center. Methods: The authors monitored the clinical course of their patients with melanoma between 1984 and 2018 based on the digitalized documentation of their institute. They analyzed the treated and non-treated cases with the leadership of a dermatologist-pathologist-oncologist. Altogether 867 cases (450 female, 417 male) were examined from the removal of the primary tumor onwards in retrospective way. Results: Distribution of gender, age, tumor stages and body regions by genders were examined. The authors also reviewed the asymptomatic period until tumor progression, morbidity data, the period and effect of the adjuvant low, intermediate and high dose interferon α-2b immunotherapy. Patients with lymph node metastasis who received low or intermediate dose immunotherapy experienced significantly longer tumor-free period than those who got high-dose immunotherapy. In both treated groups, the median value of the asymptomatic months was higher compared to the observation only” group. Conclusion: The results of their long-term follow-up contribute to the accurate evaluation of melanoma and of the interferon therapy in Hungary and in the region.

Are mean size data adequate to monitor freshwater eel fisheries?

1999 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 355 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. I. C. Chris Francis ◽  
Don J. Jellyman
Keyword(s):  
Sampling Error ◽  
Fish Population ◽  
Fishing Pressure ◽  
Freshwater Eel ◽  
Long Term Changes ◽  
Mean Size ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Natural Variations ◽  
Size Data

As the biomass of a fish population is reduced by fishing, the mean size (length or weight) of individuals in the population can be expected to decrease. Thus, it should be possible, in principle, to detect changes in fishing pressure by monitoring mean size. A simulation experiment was carried out to see whether this might work in practice with New Zealand freshwater eel fisheries. Information on the dynamics of eel populations was used to construct a simulation model of a fishery with a range of exploitation scenarios. It was found that size data, by themselves, could be useful for detecting large long-term changes in stock status, but are not likely to be good indicators for use in year-to-year management. Natural variations in eel recruitment cause substantial year-to-year variations in the mean size of eels, even when fishing pressure is constant. This makes it difficult to detect changes in size caused by long-term changes in fishing pressure. Even without sampling error, biomass would need to drop by more than 40% (or more, if the drop is gradual) before this change could be reliably detected. The presence of typical levels of sampling error makes this detection even harder.

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