scholarly journals Algorithmic Music for Therapy: Effectiveness and Perspectives

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (19) ◽  
pp. 8833
Author(s):  
Alfredo Raglio ◽  
Paola Baiardi ◽  
Giuseppe Vizzari ◽  
Marcello Imbriani ◽  
Mauro Castelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Musical Training ◽  
Music Listening ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Musical Excerpts ◽  
Algorithmic Music ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Therapy Effectiveness ◽  
Listening Experience ◽  
The One

This study assessed the short-term effects of conventional (i.e., human-composed) and algorithmic music on the relaxation level. It also investigated whether algorithmic compositions are perceived as music and are distinguishable from human-composed music. Three hundred twenty healthy volunteers were recruited and randomly allocated to two groups where they listened to either their preferred music or algorithmic music. Another 179 healthy subjects were allocated to four listening groups that respectively listened to: music composed and performed by a human, music composed by a human and performed by a machine; music composed by a machine and performed by a human, music composed and performed by a machine. In the first experiment, participants underwent one of the two music listening conditions—preferred or algorithmic music—in a comfortable state. In the second one, participants were asked to evaluate, through an online questionnaire, the musical excerpts they listened to. The Visual Analogue Scale was used to evaluate their relaxation levels before and after the music listening experience. Other outcomes were evaluated through the responses to the questionnaire. The relaxation level obtained with the music created by the algorithms is comparable to the one achieved with preferred music. Statistical analysis shows that the relaxation level is not affected by the composer, the performer, or the existence of musical training. On the other hand, the perceived effect is related to the performer. Finally, music composed by an algorithm and performed by a human is not distinguishable from that composed by a human.

Medroxy-progesterone acetate administration to ovariohysterectomized, oestradiol-primed beagle bitches Effect on secretion of growth hormone, prolactin and cortisol

1987 ◽  
Vol 114 (2) ◽  
pp. 275-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. R. Rutteman ◽  
R. Stolp ◽  
A. Rijnberk ◽  
S. Loeffler ◽  
J. A. Bakker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Hormone ◽  
Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone ◽  
Cortisol Secretion ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Releasing Hormone ◽  
Lysine Vasopressin ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Cortisol Levels ◽  
The One ◽  
Short Term Effects

Abstract. Growth hormone (GH), prolactin (Prl) and cortisol secretion was studied in 5 ovariohysterectomized dogs before and after oestradiol implantation and medroxy-progesterone acetate (MPA) administration. MPA was given at regular intervals during a period of 10 months in a total of 12 injections. Short-term effects of oestradiol were restricted to significantly enhanced Prl responses to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). MPA treatment after oestradiol implantation resulted in significanly elevated basal GH levels in all dogs, with a continuing increase in one dog. Only in the latter dog was a significant decrease in basal Prl levels seen. MPA administration did not significantly change Prl responses to TRH. The GH responses to clonidine were significantly reduced at 9 and 16 weeks of oestradiol and MPA treatment. In the one dog which exhibited the greatest rise in basal GH levels, GH responses were completely abolished at 9, 16 and 43 weeks of oestradiol and MPA treatment. TRH never evoked significant GH responses. Both basal and lysine-vasopressin (LVP)-stimulated cortisol levels were significantly suppressed during combined oestradiol-MPA treatment. These findings denote that in the dog. 1) Oestradiol rapidly induces an enhanced Prl response to TRH. 2) The oestradiol-MPA induced GH overproduction is associated with a reduced responsiveness of GH to clonidine and is not accompanied by GH responsiveness to TRH. 3) Oestradiol-MPA treatment suppresses both basal and LVP-stimulated cortisol secretion.

scholarly journals A Novel Physical Therapy Method of Treating Myofascial Pain Due to Muscle Spasm and Shortening

Folia Medica ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 43-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Assen R. Aleksiev
Keyword(s):  
Physical Therapy ◽  
Visual Analogue Scale ◽  
Analogue Scale ◽  
Myofascial Pain ◽  
Muscle Spasm ◽  
Term Effect ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Muscle Imbalance ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The One

ABSTRACT AIM: Evaluation of the effect of a novel physical therapy method - post-isometric relaxation taping (PIR-taping) - compared with the effect of a conventional postisometric relaxation (PIR) in the treatment of outpatients with myofascial pain as a result of muscle spasm and shortening of static muscles, resulting in muscle imbalance. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study recruited 320 outpatients with myofascial pain due to muscle spasm and shortening, resulting in muscle imbalance in one of 8 kinetic segments. We treated randomly 8 groups of 20 patients by PIR and 8 matched groups by PIR-taping. The treatment consisted of one procedure daily (PIR or PIR-taping) with duration of 10 minutes for 10 working days. The pain was assessed by a visual analogue scale before and after each procedure. RESULTS: The pain decreased significantly after the treatment course in each group (p < 0.05), but no difference was found between any pair of groups (p > 0.05). The pain before the next PIR procedure tended to increase in comparison with the pain after a previous one, unlike the pain in PIR-taping treatment which tended to decrease. Pain intensity after PIR procedure decreased significantly compared with the pain after a previous one (p < 0.05), while in PIR-taping - after two previous procedures (p < 0.05). Treatment with PIR increased pain significantly during the weekends (p < 0.05), while in treatment with PIR-taping the pain decreased insignificantly during the weekends (p > 0.05). The pain reduced significantly after PIR procedure (p < 0.05), as well as after PIR-taping procedure (p < 0.05). The pain after PIR procedure was significantly lower than that after PIR-taping procedure (p < 0.05), although the pain before PIR procedure was statistically equal with the one before PIR-taping procedure (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Despite the better short-term effect of PIR versus PIR-taping, there was no difference between the final results of both methods, due to the continuous (24-hour) effect of PIR-taping.

Short-Term Effects of an Intervention to Prevent Bullying on First-Grade Secondary School Children of Palermo, Italy: The "BIAS" Study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudio Costantino ◽  
Alessandra Casuccio ◽  
Claudia Marotta ◽  
Stefania Enza Bono ◽  
Gianmarco Ventura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preventive Intervention ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
First Grade ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Verbal Bullying ◽  
Indirect Bullying ◽  
The One ◽  
Short Term Effects

The Bullying in Sicilian School study aimed to investigate the prevalence of bullying and the short-term effects on the students&rsquo; perception of bullying after a preventive intervention conducted among teachers of first-grade secondary schools of Palermo, Sicily (Italy). Between the 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 school years, a pre-post intervention study was conducted among ten schools sampled and categorized by neighbourhood socio-economic index. A questionnaire investigating physical, verbal and indirect bullying, observers role, prosociality and resiliency in bullying phenomena was administered before and after a formative cascade-training intervention on teachers of the selected classes. 428 students participated the study (70.8% response rate). A decrease in the bullying episodes after the intervention carried out was reported by students in all areas explored. The verbal bullying was the one that demonstrated the most significant decrease, together with physical bullying and observer area. In particular, a statistically significant decrease was reported for students of schools with an intermediate socioeconomic level. The encouraging results obtained in reducing bullying episodes, together with its low cost of human and economic resources, could suggest the research extension on a regional/national scale.

Evaluating telephone and online psychological support and referral

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 157-175
Author(s):  
Andrew Hawkins ◽  
Jasper Odgers ◽  
Amanda Reeves ◽  
Alicia McCoy
Keyword(s):  
Help Seeking ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Reality Testing ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour ◽  
The One ◽  
And Coping ◽  
Solution Focused ◽  
Health Counselling

Mental health counselling and support over the telephone or internet is increasingly common. Evaluating effectiveness requires outcome measures and understanding factors driving behaviour. This article describes a theory-driven evaluation of the one-month outcomes of a short-term solution-focused support session for anxiety or depression with a counsellor. The primary aim of the evaluation was to measure the outcomes of this session on service users’ help-seeking behaviour. It also sought to understand reasons for behaviour based on behaviour change theory. A secondary aim was to measure changes in feelings of stress and coping before and after the session, and collect evidence of the value of the service in terms of ‘consumer-defined recovery’. The evaluation found the service was effective, with the overwhelming majority taking some action, being more engaged with a health professional, having reduced feelings of distress, increased confidence to cope and less hopelessness. Improvements for service users included ‘reality testing’ the advice given and building commitment or intent to follow the advice, and ‘rehearsing’ so service users can demonstrate to themselves they have the skills required and can overcome any obstacles to following the advice.

scholarly journals Improved Speech in Noise Perception in the Elderly After 6 Months of Musical Instruction

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Worschech ◽  
Damien Marie ◽  
Kristin Jünemann ◽  
Christopher Sinke ◽  
Tillmann H. C. Krüger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Speech Processing ◽  
Auditory Processing ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Musical Training ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Hemispheric Lateralization ◽  
Music Listening ◽  
Biological Sex ◽  
Speech Reception ◽  
Before And After

Understanding speech in background noise poses a challenge in daily communication, which is a particular problem among the elderly. Although musical expertise has often been suggested to be a contributor to speech intelligibility, the associations are mostly correlative. In the present multisite study conducted in Germany and Switzerland, 156 healthy, normal-hearing elderly were randomly assigned to either piano playing or music listening/musical culture groups. The speech reception threshold was assessed using the International Matrix Test before and after a 6 month intervention. Bayesian multilevel modeling revealed an improvement of both groups over time under binaural conditions. Additionally, the speech reception threshold of the piano group decreased during stimuli presentation to the left ear. A right ear improvement only occurred in the German piano group. Furthermore, improvements were predominantly found in women. These findings are discussed in the light of current neuroscientific theories on hemispheric lateralization and biological sex differences. The study indicates a positive transfer from musical training to speech processing, probably supported by the enhancement of auditory processing and improvement of general cognitive functions.

Catheter-directed foam sclerotherapy treatment of saphenous vein incompetence

VASA ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 120-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asciutto ◽  
Lindblad
Keyword(s):  
Saphenous Vein ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Foam Sclerotherapy ◽  
Results Of Treatment ◽  
Ulcer Healing Rate ◽  
Complete Obliteration ◽  
Ceap Classification ◽  
One Year ◽  
The One

Background: The aim of this study is to report the short-term results of catheter-directed foam sclerotherapy (CDFS) in the treatment of axial saphenous vein incompetence. Patients and methods: Data of all patients undergoing CDFS for symptomatic primary incompetence of the great or small saphenous vein were prospectively collected. Treatment results in terms of occlusion rate and patients’ grade of satisfaction were analysed. All successfully treated patients underwent clinical and duplex follow-up examinations one year postoperatively. Results: Between September 2006 and September 2010, 357 limbs (337 patients) were treated with CDFS at our institution. Based on the CEAP classification, 64 were allocated to clinical class C3 , 128 to class C4, 102 to class C5 and 63 to class C6. Of the 188 patients who completed the one year follow up examination, 67 % had a complete and 14 % a near complete obliteration of the treated vessel. An ulcer-healing rate of 54 % was detected. 92 % of the patients were satisfied with the results of treatment. We registered six cases of thrombophlebitis and two cases of venous thromboembolism, all requiring treatment. Conclusions: The short-term results of CDFS in patients with axial vein incompetence are acceptable in terms of occlusion and complications rates.

TO STUDY THE EFFECT OF BMV ON P WAVE DISPERSION AND SHORT TERM PROGNOSTIC IMPACT OF P WAVE DISPERSION IN PREDICTION OF CLINICAL OUTCOME AFTER PERCUTANEOUS BALLOON MITRAL VALVULOPLASTY IN PATIENTS WITH MITRAL STENOSIS AND SINUS RHYTHM

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashish Kumar Agarwal ◽  
Daulat Singh Meena ◽  
Vijay Pathak ◽  
Anoop Jain ◽  
Rakesh Kumar Ola
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Outcome ◽  
Right Ventricular ◽  
Wave Dispersion ◽  
Tissue Doppler ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Short Term ◽  
P Wave Dispersion ◽  
Mitral Valvuloplasty ◽  
Percutaneous Balloon ◽  
Before And After

Background: The aim of the present study was to study the effect of percutaneous balloon mitral  valvuloplasty (PBMV) on P wave dispersion and to test the correlation between P-maximum and  P-dispersion to right ventricular function and pulmonary artery pressure before and after PMBV. Also to study the impact of P-maximum and P-wave dispersion on the short term clinical outcome after successful PBMV in patients with mitral stenosis (MS) and sinus rhythm. Methods: 75 patients undergoing PMBV were enrolled in this study. We evaluated P-maximum, P-minimum and P-wave dispersion before and one month and one year after PBMV . We studied the changes in pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), left atrial (LA) dimension, mitral diastolic gradient, and mitral valve area, in addition to the changes in right ventricular function utilizing tissue Doppler assessment both before and after PMBV, in addition the role of the P-wave dispersion in prediction of late cardiac events. Results: There were significant decrease in mean diastolic gradient, PAP, and LA size and significant improvement in right ventricular tissue Doppler indices after PMBV. Accompany these hemodynamic changes after PMBV. P-maximum and P-wave dispersion were found to be decreased (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Successful PBMV was associated with a decrease in Pmax and PWD. These simple electrocardiographic indices may predict the success of the procedure immediately after PBMV.  The P-maximum and P-wave dispersion changes were correlated with significant impairment of right dysfunction and the degree of pulmonary artery pressure. Keywords: PBMV.PAP,LA

Hidden “holes” in the capital of banks and the supply of credit to the real sector of economy

2018 ◽  
pp. 49-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. Mamonov
Keyword(s):  
Credit Risk ◽  
The Other ◽  
Real Sector ◽  
Capital Management ◽  
Loan Loss ◽  
Short Term ◽  
The Real ◽  
Ex Post ◽  
The One

Our analysis documents that the existence of hidden “holes” in the capital of not yet failed banks - while creating intertemporal pressure on the actual level of capital - leads to changing of maturity of loans supplied rather than to contracting of their volume. Long-term loans decrease, whereas short-term loans rise - and, what is most remarkably, by approximately the same amounts. Standardly, the higher the maturity of loans the higher the credit risk and, thus, the more loan loss reserves (LLP) banks are forced to create, increasing the pressure on capital. Banks that already hide “holes” in the capital, but have not yet faced with license withdrawal, must possess strong incentives to shorten the maturity of supplied loans. On the one hand, it raises the turnovers of LLP and facilitates the flexibility of capital management; on the other hand, it allows increasing the speed of shifting of attracted deposits to loans to related parties in domestic or foreign jurisdictions. This enlarges the potential size of ex post revealed “hole” in the capital and, therefore, allows us to assume that not every loan might be viewed as a good for the economy: excessive short-term and insufficient long-term loans can produce the source for future losses.

Impact of Michigan’s new opioid prescribing laws on spine surgery patients: analysis of the Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Paul Park ◽  
Victor Chang ◽  
Hsueh-Han Yeh ◽  
Jason M. Schwalb ◽  
David R. Nerenz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spine Surgery ◽  
Spinal Surgery ◽  
Readmission Rate ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Readmission Rates ◽  
Opioid Prescribing ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Impact

OBJECTIVEIn 2017, Michigan passed new legislation designed to reduce opioid abuse. This study evaluated the impact of these new restrictive laws on preoperative narcotic use, short-term outcomes, and readmission rates after spinal surgery.METHODSPatient data from 1 year before and 1 year after initiation of the new opioid laws (beginning July 1, 2018) were queried from the Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative database. Before and after implementation of the major elements of the new laws, 12,325 and 11,988 patients, respectively, were treated.RESULTSPatients before and after passage of the opioid laws had generally similar demographic and surgical characteristics. Notably, after passage of the opioid laws, the number of patients taking daily narcotics preoperatively decreased from 3783 (48.7%) to 2698 (39.7%; p < 0.0001). Three months postoperatively, there were no differences in minimum clinically important difference (56.0% vs 58.0%, p = 0.1068), numeric rating scale (NRS) score of back pain (3.5 vs 3.4, p = 0.1156), NRS score of leg pain (2.7 vs 2.7, p = 0.3595), satisfaction (84.4% vs 84.7%, p = 0.6852), or 90-day readmission rate (5.8% vs 6.2%, p = 0.3202) between groups. Although there was no difference in readmission rates, pain as a reason for readmission was marginally more common (0.86% vs 1.22%, p = 0.0323).CONCLUSIONSThere was a meaningful decrease in preoperative narcotic use, but notably there was no apparent negative impact on postoperative recovery, patient satisfaction, or short-term outcomes after spinal surgery despite more restrictive opioid prescribing. Although the readmission rate did not significantly increase, pain as a reason for readmission was marginally more frequently observed.

scholarly journals Lost in Migration – Mirandese at a Crossroads

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 488-495
Author(s):  
Cláudia Martins ◽  
Sérgio Ferreira
Keyword(s):  
Minority Language ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Highly Qualified ◽  
Linguistic Rights ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Literary Forms ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The 1960S ◽  
The One ◽  
The 19Th Century

AbstractThe linguistic rights of Mirandese were enshrined in Portugal in 1999, though its “discovery” dates back to the very end of the 19th century at the hands of Leite de Vasconcellos. For centuries, it was the first or only language spoken by people living in the northeast of Portugal, particularly the district of Miranda do Douro. As a minority language, it has always moved among three dimensions. On the one hand, the need to assert and defend this language and have it acknowledged by the country, which proudly believe(d) in their monolingual history. Unavoidably, this has ensued the action of translation, especially active from the mid of the 20th century onwards, with an emphasis on the translation of the Bible and Portuguese canonical literature, as well as other renowned literary forms (e.g. The Adventures of Asterix). Finally, the third axis lies in migration, either within Portugal or abroad. Between the 1950s and the 1960s, Mirandese people were forced to leave Miranda do Douro and villages in the outskirts in the thousands. They fled not only due to the deeply entrenched poverty, but also the almost complete absence of future prospects, enhanced by the fact that they were regarded as not speaking “good” Portuguese, but rather a “charra” language, and as ignorant backward people. This period coincided with the building of dams on the river Douro and the cultural and linguistic shock that stemmed from this forceful contact, which exacerbated their sense of not belonging and of social shame. Bearing all this in mind, we seek to approach the role that migration played not only in the assertion of Mirandese as a language in its own right, but also in the empowerment of new generations of Mirandese people, highly qualified and politically engaged in the defence of this minority language, some of whom were former migrants. Thus, we aim to depict Mirandese’s political situation before and after the endorsement of the Portuguese Law no. 7/99.

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