Pharmacological modulation of cortical plasticity following kainic acid lesion in rat barrel cortex

2008 ◽  
Vol 109 (1) ◽  
pp. 108-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aneela Darbar ◽  
Richard T. Stevens ◽  
Adnan H. Siddiqui ◽  
James S. McCasland ◽  
Charles J. Hodge
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Cortex ◽  
Kainic Acid ◽  
Functional Recovery ◽  
Barrel Cortex ◽  
Optical Signal ◽  
Survival Period ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
Functional Responses ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

Object The brain shows remarkable capacity for plasticity in response to injury. To maximize the benefits of current neurological treatment and to minimize the impact of injury, the authors examined the ability of commonly administered drugs, dextroamphetamine (D-amphetamine) and phenytoin, to positively or negatively affect the functional recovery of the cerebral cortex following excitotoxic injury. Methods Previous work from the same laboratory has demonstrated reorganization of whisker functional responses (WFRs) in the rat barrel cortex after excitotoxic lesions were created with kainic acid (KA). In the present study, WFRs were mapped using intrinsic optical signal imaging before and 9 days after creation of the KA lesions. During the post-lesion survival period, animals were either treated with intraperitoneal D-amphetamine, phenytoin, or saline or received no treatment. Following the survival period, WFRs were again measured and compared with prelesion data. Results The findings suggest that KA lesions cause increases in WFR areas when compared with controls. Treatment with D-amphetamine further increased the WFR area (p < 0.05) while phenytoin-treated rats showed decreases in WFR areas. There was also a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) between the D-amphetamine and phenytoin groups. Conclusions These results show that 2 commonly used drugs, D-amphetamine and phenytoin, have opposite effects in the functional recovery/plasticity of injured cerebral cortex. The authors' findings emphasize the complex nature of the cortical response to injury and have implications for understanding the biology of the effects of different medications on eventual functional brain recovery.

scholarly journals INFLUENCE OF MACRO- AND MICROSTRUCTURE OF STEEL GRINDING BALLS ON THEIR IMPACT RESISTANCE

2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 283-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. A. Umanskii ◽  
A. V. Golovatenko ◽  
T. N. Oskolkova ◽  
A. S. Simachev ◽  
A. G. Shchukin
Keyword(s):  
High Surface ◽  
Impact Resistance ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Surface Hardness ◽  
Central Zone ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
Grinding Balls ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

Based on the analysis of the literature and production data, it is shown that the wear resistance of steel grinding balls, which are the main grinding medium for crushing various types of raw materials in the drum type mills, is determined not only by hardness of the surface layer, but also by the quality of their macro- and microstructure. At the same time, there is a complex nature of dependences of the balls impact resistance on the above mentioned parameters with their simultaneous impact, which determines the relevance of research in this direction. Series of experimental studies was carried out in order to obtain scientifically based dependencies of impact resistance of grinding balls on the quality of their macro- and microstructure. The grinding balls with a diameter of40 mm,50 mmand60 mmproduced by OJSC “EVRAZ ZSMK” (Novokuznetsk) and by JSC “Industrial Solutions” (Nizhny Tagil) were used. The research was carried out by metallographic, durometric and fractographic methods of analysis; tests of grinding balls on the impact resistance were performed on the impact drop machine. According to the results of metallographic studies it was determined that the volume-hardened balls are characterized by a three zone structure. The surface hardened layer with a depth from 1.9 to7.4 mmis martensite. The transition zone with thickness from 1.0 to1.7 mmhas a structure martensite + troostite. The central zone occupies the entire remaining volume of the ball and has several varieties of microstructure: ferrite + perlite, martensite + troostite + ferrite, martensite + troostite. On the basis of generalization of the obtained experimental data, it was established that at surface hardness of balls within 42 – 52 HRC the quality of macrostructure (presence of flakes) is the parameter determining impact resistance. For balls with high surface hardness (57 – 61 HRC) the most significant impact on impact resistance is provided by non-uniform microstructure of metal, which causes a significant difference in hardness across the balls crosssection.

Measuring Impact of Stress in Sandwich Generation Caring for Demented Parents

GeroPsych ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 171-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurence M. Solberg ◽  
Lauren B. Solberg ◽  
Emily N. Peterson
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Exploratory Factor Analysis ◽  
Social Worker ◽  
Resource Availability ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Sandwich Generation ◽  
Item Questionnaire ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Adult Caregivers ◽  
The Impact

Stress in caregivers may affect the healthcare recipients receive. We examined the impact of stress experienced by 45 adult caregivers of their elderly demented parents. The participants completed a 32-item questionnaire about the impact of experienced stress. The questionnaire also asked about interventions that might help to reduce the impact of stress. After exploratory factor analysis, we reduced the 32-item questionnaire to 13 items. Results indicated that caregivers experienced stress, anxiety, and sadness. Also, emotional, but not financial or professional, well-being was significantly impacted. There was no significant difference between the impact of caregiver stress on members from the sandwich generation and those from the nonsandwich generation. Meeting with a social worker for resource availability was identified most frequently as a potentially helpful intervention for coping with the impact of stress.

Implicit and explicit corrective feedback and feedback exposure conditions

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-48
Author(s):  
Takehiro Iizuka ◽  
Kimi Nakatsukasa
Keyword(s):  
Explicit Knowledge ◽  
Corrective Feedback ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Oral Corrective Feedback ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Picture Description ◽  
Potential Factors ◽  
Implicit And Explicit ◽  
Instructional Settings ◽  
The Impact

This exploratory study examined the impact of implicit and explicit oral corrective feedback (CF) on the development of implicit and explicit knowledge of Japanese locative particles (activity de, movement ni and location ni) for those who directly received CF and those who observed CF in the classroom. Thirty-six college students in a beginning Japanese language course received either recast (implicit), metalinguistic (explicit) or no feedback during an information-gap picture description activity, and completed a timed picture description test (implicit knowledge) and an untimed grammaticality judgement test (explicit knowledge) in a pre-test, immediate post-test and delayed post-test. The results showed that overall there was no significant difference between CF types, and that CF benefited direct and indirect recipients similarly. Potential factors that might influence the effectiveness of CF, such as instructional settings, complexity of target structures and pedagogy styles, are discussed.

Reducing the Social Stigma Associated with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Controlled Trial of an Intervention Program in a Turkish Community Sample

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-120
Author(s):  
Ayça Aktaç Gürbüz ◽  
Orçun YORULMAZ ◽  
Gülşah DURNA
Keyword(s):  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Case Vignette ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

Scientific research into the reduction of stigmatization, particularly related to specific problems such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), is scarce. In the present study, we examine the impact of a video-based antistigma intervention program for OCD in a pretest-posttest control group research. After being randomly assigned to either an intervention (n= 101) or control group (n= 96), the participants reported their attitudes on a hypothetical case vignette before and after OCD vs. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) videos, and again six months later as a follow up assessment. The mixed design analyses for the group comparisons indicated that although there was no significant difference in the measures of the control group, the participants watching the anti-stigma OCD video, in which the focus was psychoeducation and interaction strategies, reported significantly lower scores on social distances and negative beliefs for the case vignettes they read, and this difference was maintained six months later. Then, the present results indicate the effectiveness of our anti-stigma intervention program for OCD. Interventions to reduce stigmatization can also be viewed as effective tools for changing the attitudes of people toward OCD, although further research and applications are needed related to specific disorders if a longlasting impact is to be achieved.

Antecedents And Outcomes Of Qwl Among Employees In Banks

2019 ◽  
Vol 118 (7) ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Geethanjali N ◽  
Parveen Roja M ◽  
Lavanya D
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Climate ◽  
Job Stress ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Quality Of Work Life ◽  
Quality Of Work ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Service Productivity ◽  
The Impact

Quality of work life is the major factor to be considered in working environment of any organization. The performance of employees and the organization lies on the ability of the employees based on working environment. The QWL leads to better working environment which improves the performance of organization. The present study has made an attempt to find the level of factors causing QWL and the impact of outcome of QWL in banks. Since the profile of the banks may be associated with the level of outcomes of QWL, the present study has made an attempt to examine it with the help of one way analysis of variance and t-test. The included outcomes of QWL are job satisfaction, job stress, organizational climate, organizational commitment, employees retention behaviour, service quality employees and service productivity of employees. The highly associated determinants of QWL and the significant difference among the PUSBs and PRSBs have been noticed. The significantly associating important profiles of the banks regarding the existence of outcome of QWL are identified.

Оrganic Meat Production of Broiler Chickens Hubbard Redbro Cross

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Broiler Chickens ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Meat Products ◽  
Poultry Meat ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Environmentally Safe ◽  
The Impact

This article presents the results of studying the impact of housing and feeding conditions on broiler chickens of Hubbard RedBro cross, as well as the quality of products obtained when using floor and cage content, in a farm. It established that when receiving a mixed feed of own production using feed raw materials grown on a farm without the use of pesticides, a statistically significant decrease in potentially dangerous substances for animal health is recorded. Compared with factory feed, it has reduced the content of pesticides by 14 times, and mercury and arsenic by 24 times, cadmium by five times, and lead by ten times. The results of the study of economic indicators of growing Hubbard RedBro cross broiler chickens, as well as the chemical composition and quality of carcasses, indicated that there was no significant difference between the floor and cell conditions of keeping. Still, the use of a diet based on eco-feeds contributed to a statistically significant decrease in the concentration of toxic metals in the muscles of the poultry of the experimental groups. As a result, it found that the use of the studied compound feed in the diets of broiler chickens increased the indicators of Biosafety and ensured the production of environmentally safe ("organic") poultry meat products.

Characteristics of monitored diabetic patients by glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c)

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (05) ◽  
pp. 4563
Author(s):  
Tariq A. Zafar
Keyword(s):  
Blood Glucose ◽  
Glycemic Control ◽  
Glycated Haemoglobin ◽  
Poor Glycemic Control ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Hba1c Test ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
The Impact

Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) test indicates the blood glucose levels for the previous two to three months. Using HbA1c test may overcome many of the practical issues and prevent infections such as urinary tract infections (UTIs). The study aimed to evaluate the impact of glycemic control using HbA1c test to understand patient characteristics and UTIs prevalence. Glycemic control was evaluated by measuring HbA1c for a total of 208 diabetes patients who were regularly attending diabetes center in Al-Noor specialist hospital in Makkah.  The results showed that good and moderate glycemic controlled patients were 14.9% and 16.9% respectively while the poor glycemic patients were 68.3%. Among the good improved glycemic control, 83.9% were females, 48.4% were from age group (15-44y). Among the moderately improved glycemic control, 68.4% were females, 54.3% were from age group (45-64 y) with no significant difference. The total number of the patients with positive UTIs was 55 (26.4%) while the total number of patients with negative was UTIs 153 (73.6%). Among the positive UTIs, 76.3% were with poor glycemic control while only 12.3% and 11% were moderate and good improved glycemic control respectively. Among the negative UTIs, 65.3% were with poor glycemic control while only 19% and 15.7% were with moderate and good improved glycemic control respectively.  Prevalence of UTIs among diabetic patients was not significant (p > 0.05). It was concluded that HbA1c was useful monitoring tool for diabetes mellitus and may lead to improved outcomes. Using a HbA1c test may overcome many of the practical issues that affect the blood glucose tests.

(Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Banasik ◽  
Dariusz Jemielniak ◽  
Wojciech P?dzich
Keyword(s):  
Medical Condition ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Marginal Effect ◽  
Life Duration ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Academic Teachers ◽  
Length Of Life ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND There have been mixed results of the studies checking whether prayers do actually extend the life duration of the people prayed for. Most studies on the topic included a small number of prayers and most of them focused on people already struggling with a medical condition. Intercessory prayer’s influence on health is of scholarly interest, yet it is unclear if its effect may be dependent on the number of prayers for a named individual received per annum. OBJECTIVE We sought to examine if there is a noticeable increased longevity effect of intercessory prayer for a named individual’s well-being, if he receives a very high number of prayers per annum for an extended period. METHODS We retrieved and conducted a statistical analysis of the data about the length of life for 857 Roman Catholic bishops, 500 Catholic priests, and 3038 male academics from the US, France, Italy, Poland, Brazil, and Mexico. We obtained information for these individuals who died between 1988 and 2018 from Wikidata, and conducted an observational cohort study. Bishops were chosen for the study, as they receive millions of individual prayers for well being, according to conservative estimates. RESULTS There was a main effect for occupation F(2, 4391) = 4.07, p = .017, ηp 2 = .002, with pairwise comparisons indicating significant differences between the mean life duration of bishops (M=30489) and of priests (M=29894), but none between the academic teachers (M=30147) and either of the other groups. A comparison analysis between bishops from the largest and the smallest dioceses showed no significant difference t(67.31)=1.61, p = .11. Our main outcome measure is covariance of the mean length of life in each of the categories: bishops, priests, academic teachers, controlled for nationality. CONCLUSIONS The first analysis proved that bishops live longer than priests, but due to a marginal effect size this result should be treated with caution. No difference was found between the mean length of life of bishops from the largest and the smallest dioceses. We found no difference between bishops and male academics. These results show that the impact of intercessory prayers on longevity is not observable.

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