Normal and radiculopathic cutaneous pain tolerance levels evaluated by heat-beam dolorimetry

1990 ◽  
Vol 72 (6) ◽  
pp. 883-888 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan J. Lipman ◽  
Bennett Blumenkopf ◽  
Patricia L. Lawrence

✓ The heat-beam dolorimeter has previously been used to obtain cutaneous pain tolerance measures in normal volunteers and patients with chronic pain. In the present study, normal reference data were collected at two stimulus intensities for 24 volunteers, and the stimulus-effect relationship (decreasing tolerance latency with increasing stimulus intensity) was found significant (p < 0.001) for all body sites tested. No overall sex differences were found; males behaved slightly more stoically than females, with differences significant only at the T3 site over the breasts. At the second evaluation at the higher stimulus intensity, females exhibited lower pain tolerance (greater pain sensitivity) at the right breast than males (p < 0.05). No significant lateral asymmetry was found in cutaneous pain tolerance except at the dorsum of the hand: the right hand evinced elevated pain tolerance compared with the left hand in both right- and left-handed subjects. Eight radiculopathic pain patients with clinically involved left L5 nerve roots were evaluated and their responses were compared with the volunteer normal reference data. The radiculopathic group evinced elevated tolerance levels in both the radiculopathic dermatome and noninvolved sites compared with normal individuals (p < 0.05).

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (11) ◽  
pp. 4130-4141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdulmajeed Mohamad ◽  
Mikhail A. Sheremet ◽  
Jan Taler ◽  
Paweł Ocłoń

Purpose Natural convection in differentially heated enclosures has been extensively investigated due to its importance in many industrial applications and has been used as a benchmark solution for testing numerical schemes. However, most of the published works considered uniform heating and cooling of the vertical boundaries. This paper aims to examine non-uniform heating and cooling of the mentioned boundaries. The mentioned case is very common in many electronic cooling devices, thermal storage systems, energy managements in buildings, material processing, etc. Design/methodology/approach Four cases are considered, the left-hand wall’s temperature linearly decreases along the wall, while the right-hand wall’s temperature is kept at a constant, cold temperature. In the second case, the left-hand wall’s temperature linearly increases along the wall, while the right-hand wall’s temperature is kept a constant, cold temperature. The third case, the left-hand wall’s temperature linearly decreases along the wall, while the right-hand wall’s temperature linearly increases along the wall. In the fourth case, the left-hand and the right-hand walls’ temperatures decrease along the wall, symmetry condition. Hence, four scenarios of natural convection in enclosures were covered. Findings It has been found that the average Nusselt number of the mentioned cases is less than the average Nusselt number of the uniformly heated and cooled enclosure, which reflects the physics of the problem. The work quantifies the deficiency in the rate of the heat transfer. Interestingly one of the mentioned cases showed two counter-rotating horizontal circulations. Such a flow structure can be considered for passively, highly controlled mechanism for species mixing processes application. Originality/value Previous works assumed that the vertical boundary is subjected to a constant temperature or to a sinusoidal varying temperature. The subject of the work is to examine the effect of non-uniformly heating and/or cooling vertical boundaries on the rate of heat transfer and flow structure for natural convection in a square enclosure. The temperature either linearly increases or decreases along the vertical coordinate at the boundary. Four scenarios are explored.


2013 ◽  
Vol 115 (8) ◽  
pp. 1211-1225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Otterbring ◽  
Poja Shams ◽  
Erik Wästlund ◽  
Anders Gustafsson

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate how the positioning of textual and pictorial design elements on a package affects visual attention (detection time) toward these element types.Design/methodology/approachThe study has a 3×2 (stimulus×location) between‐subjects design. One pictorial and two textual package elements, located on the top right‐ or top left‐hand side of a package, were used as stimuli. Visual attention was measured by eye‐tracking. A total of 199 university students participated. The data were analysed using a two‐way ANOVA and a Pearson's chi‐square analysis with standardised residuals.FindingsThe results show that in order to receive the most direct attention, textual elements should be on the left‐hand side of a package, whereas pictorial elements should be on the right‐hand side. This is inconsistent with previous design directions (based on recall), suggesting the opposite element organisation.Originality/valuePrevious research has focused on recall (whether respondents remember having seen package elements) or preference (whether respondents prefer a package based on element positioning). The focus of the present study determined whether respondents actually saw the different elements on a package, and how long it took them to detect such elements. Detection time for certain element types can be viewed as a new and complementary way of evaluating the position of package elements. The paper also addresses whether preference is a result of easy information acquisition.


1946 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-2

In the article “Infant Speech Sounds and Intelligence” by Orvis C. Irwin and Han Piao Chen, in the December 1945 issue of the Journal, the paragraph which begins at the bottom of the left hand column on page 295 should have been placed immediately below the first paragraph at the top of the right hand column on page 296. To the authors we express our sincere apologies.


Author(s):  
Marc Ouellet ◽  
Julio Santiago ◽  
Ziv Israeli ◽  
Shai Gabay

Spanish and English speakers tend to conceptualize time as running from left to right along a mental line. Previous research suggests that this representational strategy arises from the participants’ exposure to a left-to-right writing system. However, direct evidence supporting this assertion suffers from several limitations and relies only on the visual modality. This study subjected to a direct test the reading hypothesis using an auditory task. Participants from two groups (Spanish and Hebrew) differing in the directionality of their orthographic system had to discriminate temporal reference (past or future) of verbs and adverbs (referring to either past or future) auditorily presented to either the left or right ear by pressing a left or a right key. Spanish participants were faster responding to past words with the left hand and to future words with the right hand, whereas Hebrew participants showed the opposite pattern. Our results demonstrate that the left-right mapping of time is not restricted to the visual modality and that the direction of reading accounts for the preferred directionality of the mental time line. These results are discussed in the context of a possible mechanism underlying the effects of reading direction on highly abstract conceptual representations.


Author(s):  
Emanuela Gualdi-Russo ◽  
Natascia Rinaldo ◽  
Alba Pasini ◽  
Luciana Zaccagni

The aims of this study were to develop and validate an instrument to quantitatively assess the handedness of basketballers in basketball tasks (Basketball Handedness Inventory, BaHI) and to compare it with their handedness in daily activities by the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (EHI). The participants were 111 basketballers and 40 controls. All subjects completed the EHI and only basketballers filled in the BaHI. To validate the BaHI, a voluntary subsample of basketballers repeated the BaHI. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a two-factor model. Our results show that: (i) Handedness score (R) in daily actions did not differ between basketball players (R by EHI = 69.3 ± 44.6) and the control group (R by EHI = 64.5 ± 58.6); (ii) basketballers more frequently favored performing certain sport tasks with the left hand or mixed hands (as highlighted by R by BaHI = 50.1 ± 47.1), although their choice was primarily the right hand in everyday gestures; and (iii) this preference was especially true for athletes at the highest levels of performance (R by BaHI of A1 league = 38.6 ± 58.3) and for those playing in selected roles (point guard’s R = 29.4 ± 67.4). Our findings suggest that professional training induces handedness changes in basketball tasks. The BaHI provides a valid and reliable measure of the skilled hand in basketball. This will allow coaches to assess mastery of the ball according to the hand used by the athlete in the different tasks and roles.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 328-341
Author(s):  
Rifki Ismal ◽  
Nurul Izzati Septiana

Purpose The demand for Saudi Arabian real (SAR) is very high in the pilgrimage (hajj) season while the authority, unfortunately, does not hedge the hajj funds. As such, the hajj funds are potentially exposed to exchange rate risk, which can impact the value of hajj funds and generate extra cost to the pilgrims. The purpose of this paper is to conduct simulations of Islamic hedging for pilgrimage funds to: mitigate and minimize exchange rate risk, identify and recommend the ideal time, amount and tenors of Islamic hedging for hajj funds, estimate cost saving by pursuing Islamic hedging and propose technical and general recommendations for the authority. Design/methodology/approach Forward transaction mechanism is adopted to compute Islamic forward between SAR and Rupiah (Indonesian currency) or IDR. Findings – based on simulations, the paper finds that: the longer the Islamic hedging tenors, the better is the result of Islamic hedging, the decreasing of IDR/USD is the right time to hedge the hajj funds and, on the other hand, the IDR/SAR appreciation is not the right time to hedge the hajj funds. Findings Based on simulations, the paper finds that: the longer the Islamic hedging tenors, the better is the result of Islamic hedging, the decreasing of IDR/USD is the right time to hedge the hajj funds and, on the other hand, the IDR/SAR appreciation is not the right time to hedge the hajj funds. Research limitations/implications The research suggests the authority to (and not to) hedge the hajj fund, depending on economic conditions and market indicators. Even though the assessment is for the Indonesian case, other countries maintaining hajj funds might also learn from this paper. Originality/value To the best of author’s knowledge, this is the first paper in Indonesia that attempts to simulate the optimal hedging of hajj funds.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Velarie Ansu ◽  
Stephanie Dickinson ◽  
Alyce Fly

Abstract Objectives To determine which digit and hand have the highest and lowest skin carotenoid scores, to compare inter-and-intra-hand variability of digits, and to determine if results are consistent with another subject. Methods Two subjects’ first(F1), second(F2), third(F3) and fifth(F5) digits on both hands were measured for skin carotenoids with a Veggie Meter, for 3 times on each of 18 days over a 37-day period. Data were subjected to ANOVA in a factorial treatment design to determine main effects for hand (2 levels), digits (4), and days (18) along with interactions. Differences between digits were determined by Tukey's post hoc test. Results There were significant hand x digit, hand x day, digit x day, and hand x digit x day interactions and significant simple main effects for hand, digit, and day (all P < 0.001). Mean square errors were 143.67 and 195.62 for subject A and B, respectively, which were smaller than mean squares for all main effects and interactions. The mean scores ± SD for F1, F2, F3, and F5 digits for the right vs left hands for subject A were F1:357.13 ± 45.97 vs 363.74 ± 46.94, F2:403.17 ± 44.77 vs. 353.20 ± 44.13, F3:406.76 ± 43.10 vs. 357.11 ± 45.13, and F5:374.95 ± 53.00 vs. 377.90 ± 47.38. For subject B, the mean scores ± SD for digits for the right vs left hands were F1:294.72 ± 61.63 vs 280.71 ± 52.48, F2:285.85 ± 66.92 vs 252.67 ± 67.56, F3:268.56 ± 57.03 vs 283.22 ± 45.87, and F5:288.18 ± 34.46 vs 307.54 ± 40.04. The digits on the right hand of both subjects had higher carotenoid scores than those on the left hands, even though subjects had different dominant hands. Subject A had higher skin carotenoid scores on the F3 and F2 digits for the right hand and F5 on the left hand. Subject B had higher skin carotenoid scores on F5 (right) and F1 (left) digits. Conclusions The variability due to hand, digit, and day were all greater than that of the 3 replicates within the digit-day for both volunteers. This indicates that data were not completely random across the readings when remeasuring the same finger. Different fingers displayed higher carotenoid scores for each volunteer. There is a need to conduct a larger study with more subjects and a range of skin tones to determine whether the reliability of measurements among digits of both hands is similar across the population. Funding Sources Indiana University.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 420
Author(s):  
Jingru Sun ◽  
Gabriel Vecchi ◽  
Brian Soden

Multi-year records of satellite remote sensing of sea surface salinity (SSS) provide an opportunity to investigate the climatological characteristics of the SSS response to tropical cyclones (TCs). In this study, the influence of TC winds, rainfall and preexisting ocean stratification on SSS evolution is examined with multiple satellite-based and in-situ data. Global storm-centered composites indicate that TCs act to initially freshen the ocean surface (due to precipitation), and subsequently salinify the surface, largely through vertical ocean processes (mixing and upwelling), although regional hydrography can lead to local departure from this behavior. On average, on the day a TC passes, a strong SSS decrease is observed. The fresh anomaly is subsequently replaced by a net surface salinification, which persists for weeks. This salinification is larger on the right (left)-hand side of the storm motion in the Northern (Southern) Hemisphere, consistent with the location of stronger turbulent mixing. The influence of TC intensity and translation speed on the ocean response is also examined. Despite having greater precipitation, stronger TCs tend to produce longer-lasting, stronger and deeper salinification especially on the right-hand side of the storm motion. Faster moving TCs are found to have slightly weaker freshening with larger area coverage during the passage, but comparable salinification after the passage. The ocean haline response in four basins with different climatological salinity stratification reveals a significant impact of vertical stratification on the salinity response during and after the passage of TCs.


Author(s):  
Peter S. Hagedorn ◽  
Bernhard Hirt ◽  
Thomas Shiozawa ◽  
Peter H. Neckel

AbstractMuscular variants of the forearm are common and frequently cause neurovascular compression syndromes, especially when interfering with the compact topography of the carpal tunnel or the Canalis ulnaris. Here, we report on a male body donor with multiple muscular normal variations on both forearms. The two main findings are (1) an accessory variant muscle (AVM) on the right forearm originating from the M. brachioradialis, the distal radius, and the M. flexor pollicis longus. It spanned the wrist beneath the Fascia antebrachia and inserted at the proximal phalanx of the digitus minimus. (2) Moreover, we found a three-headed palmaris longus variant on the left arm with proximal origin tendon and a distal, trifurcated muscle belly, with separated insertions at the palmar aponeurosis, the flexor retinaculum, and, in analogy to the accessory muscle on the contralateral arm, at the base of the proximal phalanx of the digitus minimus. We found a considerable thickening of the left-hand median nerve right before entering the carpal tunnel indicative of a possible chronic compression syndrome adding clinical relevance to this anatomical case. We also discuss the notion that both, the AVM and the contralateral three-headed palmaris variant are developmental descendants of the M. palmaris longus. Additionally, we found a previously not recorded variant of the M. palmaris brevis on the left hand.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrícia Moura e Sá ◽  
Catarina Frade ◽  
Fernanda Jesus ◽  
Mónica Lopes ◽  
Teresa Maneca Lima ◽  
...  

PurposeWicked problems require collaborative innovation approaches. Understanding the problem from the users' perspective is essential. Based on a complex and ill-defined case, the purpose of the current paper is to identify some critical success factors in defining the “right problem” to be addressed.Design/methodology/approachAn empirical research study was carried out in a low-density municipality (case study). Extensive data were collected from official databases, individual semi-structured interviews and a focus group involving citizens, local authorities, civil servants and other relevant stakeholders.FindingsAs defined by the central government, the problem to be addressed by the research team was to identify which justice services should be made available locally to a small- and low-density community. The problem was initially formulated using top-down reasoning. In-depth contact with citizens and key local players revealed that the lack of justice services was not “the issue” for that community. Mobility constraints and the shortage of economic opportunities had a considerable impact on the lack of demand for justice services. By using a bottom-up perspective, it was possible to reframe the problem to be addressed and suggest a new concept to be tested at later stages.Social implicationsThe approach followed called attention to the importance of listening to citizens and local organisations with a profound knowledge of the territory to effectively identify and circumscribe a local problem in the justice field.Originality/valueThe paper highlights the limitations of traditional rational problem-solving approaches and contributes to expanding the voice-of-the-customer principle showing how it can lead to a substantially new definition of the problem to be addressed.


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