scholarly journals Snoring Remediation with Oral Appliance Therapy Potentially Reverses Cognitive Impairment: An Intervention Controlled Pilot Study

Geriatrics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 107
Author(s):  
Preetam Schramm ◽  
Namrata Das ◽  
Emet Schneiderman ◽  
Zohre German ◽  
Jason Hui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Memory Function ◽  
Upper Airway ◽  
Oral Appliance ◽  
Study Cohort ◽  
Mixed Model Analysis ◽  
Oral Appliance Therapy

Respiration rate (RR) dynamics entrains brain neural networks. RR differences between mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in response to oral appliance therapy (OAT) is unknown. This pilot study investigated if RR during stable sleep shows a relationship to pathological severity in subjects with MCI and AD who snore and if RR is influenced following stabilization of the upper airway using OAT. The study cohort was as follows: cognitively normal (CN; n = 14), MCI (n = 14) and AD (n = 9); and a sub-population receiving intervention, CN (n = 5), MCI (n = 7), AD (n = 6) subjects. The intervention used was an oral appliance plus a mouth shield (Tx). RR maximum (max) rate (breaths/minute) and RR fluctuation during 2116 stable sleep periods were measured. The Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) was administered before and after 4 weeks with Tx. Baseline data showed significantly higher RR fluctuation in CN vs. AD (p < 0.001) but not between CN vs. MCI (p = 0.668). Linear mixed model analysis indicated Tx effect (p = 0.008) for RR max. Tx after 4 weeks lowered the RR-max in MCI (p = 0.022) and AD (p < 0.001). Compared with AD RR max, CN (p < 0.001) and MCI (p < 0.001) were higher with Tx after 4 weeks. Some MCI and AD subjects improved executive and memory function after 4 weeks of Tx.

scholarly journals Steady-state cerebral autoregulation in older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment: linear mixed model analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 129 (2) ◽  
pp. 377-385
Author(s):  
Li Zhang ◽  
Evan P. Pasha ◽  
Jie Liu ◽  
Chang-Yang Xing ◽  
Danilo Cardim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cerebral Autoregulation ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Pathophysiological Mechanism ◽  
Mixed Model Analysis

Cerebral autoregulation is a fundamental regulatory mechanism to protect brain perfusion against changes in blood pressure that, if impaired, may contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Using a linear mixed model, we demonstrated that the efficacy of cerebral autoregulation, assessed during stepwise changes in arterial pressure, was reduced in individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment, a prodromal stage of Alzheimer’s disease. These findings support the hypothesis that cerebrovascular dysfunction may be an important underlying pathophysiological mechanism for the development of clinical Alzheimer’s disease.

scholarly journals Reducing Aggression by Developing Emotional and Inhibitory Control

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 5263
Author(s):  
Miriam Romero-López ◽  
María Carmen Pichardo ◽  
Ana Justicia-Arráez ◽  
Judit Bembibre-Serrano
Keyword(s):  
Psychosocial Development ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Generalized Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Emotional Control ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Mixed Model Analysis ◽  
Intervention Measures ◽  
Experimental Group

The objective of this study is to measure the effectiveness of a program on improving inhibitory and emotional control among children. In addition, it is assessed whether the improvement of these skills has an effect on the reduction of aggressive behavior in pre-school children. The participants were 100 children, 50 belonging to the control group and 50 to the experimental group, aged between 5 and 6 years. Pre-intervention and post-intervention measures of inhibitory and emotional control (BRIEF-P) and aggression (BASC) were taken. A Generalized Linear Mixed Model analysis (GLMM) was performed and found that children in the experimental group scored higher on inhibitory and emotional control compared to their peers in the control group. In addition, these improvements have an effect on the decrease in aggressiveness. In conclusion, preventive research should have among its priorities the design of such program given their implications for psychosocial development.

scholarly journals Association of Cognitive Function Screening Results with Adherence and Performance in a Pedometer-Based Intervention

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Anoop Sheshadri ◽  
Piyawan Kittiskulnam ◽  
Cynthia Delgado ◽  
Rebecca L. Sudore ◽  
Jennifer C. Lai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Physical Performance ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Dialysis Patients ◽  
Exercise Interventions ◽  
And Performance

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> A randomized, controlled trial of a pedometer-based walking intervention with weekly activity goals led to increased walking among dialysis patients. We examined whether impairment per cognitive function screening is associated with adherence and performance in the intervention. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Thirty dialysis patients were randomly assigned to a 3-month pedometer-based intervention with weekly goals. Participants were administered the Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status (TICS), a test of global mental status. We examined the association of levels of impairment on the TICS (≥33: unimpaired, 26–32: ambiguous impairment, 21–25: mild cognitive impairment [MCI]) with adherence, achieving weekly goals, and increasing steps, physical performance (Short Physical Performance Battery, SPPB), and self-reported physical function (PF) through multivariable linear mixed-model and logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, BMI, dialysis modality, baseline steps, baseline SPPB, and stroke status. <b><i>Results:</i></b> One-third of participants were unimpaired, and 13% had MCI. Participants with worse results on cognitive function screening missed more calls and completed fewer weekly goals than participants with better results. During the intervention, a worse result on cognitive function screening was associated with smaller increases in steps compared to those without impairment: (ambiguous: −620 [95% CI −174, −1,415], MCI: −1,653 [95% CI −120, −3,187]); less improvement in SPPB (ambiguous: −0.22 points [95% CI −0.08, −0.44], MCI: −0.45 [95% CI −0.13, −0.77]); and less improvement in PF (ambiguous: −4.0 points [95% CI −12.2, 4.1], MCI: −14.0 [95% CI −24.9, −3.1]). During the postintervention period, a worse result on cognitive function screening was associated with smaller increases in SPPB (ambiguous: −0.54 [95% CI −1.27, 0.19], MCI: −0.97 [95% CI −0.37, −1.58]) and PF (ambiguous: −3.3 [95% CI −6.5, −0.04], MCI: −10.5 [95% CI −18.7, −2.3]). <b><i>Discussion/Conclusion:</i></b> Participants with worse results on cognitive function screening had worse adherence and derived less benefit from this pedometer-based intervention. Future exercise interventions should be developed incorporating methods to address cognitive impairment, for example, by including caregivers when planning such interventions.

scholarly journals Methods to Assess Fat Mass in Infants and Young Children: A Comparative Study Using Skinfold Thickness and Air-Displacement Plethysmography

Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 75
Author(s):  
Stefanie M. P. Kouwenhoven ◽  
Nadja Antl ◽  
Jos W. R. Twisk ◽  
Berthold V. Koletzko ◽  
Martijn J. J. Finken ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Children ◽  
Fat Mass ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Skinfold Thickness ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Air Displacement Plethysmography ◽  
Mixed Model Analysis ◽  
Infants And Young Children

Background: Traditionally, fat mass is estimated using anthropometric models. Air-displacement plethysmography (ADP) is a relatively new technique for determining fat mass. There is limited information on the agreement between these methods in infants and young children. Therefore we aimed to longitudinally compare fat mass percentage values predicted from skinfold thicknesses (SFTs) and ADP in healthy infants and young children. Methods: Anthropometry and body composition were determined at the ages of 1, 4, and 6 months and 2 years. We quantified the agreement between the two methods using the Bland–Altman procedure, linear mixed-model analysis, and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC). Results: During the first 6 months of life, fat mass% predicted with SFT was significantly different from that measured with ADP in healthy, term-born infants (n = 245). ICCs ranged from 0.33 (at 2 years of age) and 0.47 (at 4 months of age). Although the mean difference (bias) between the methods was low, the Bland–Altman plots showed proportional differences at all ages with wide limits of agreement. Conclusions: There is poor agreement between ADP and SFTs for estimating fat mass in infancy or early childhood. The amount of body fat was found to influence the agreement between the methods.

Factors influencing the occurrence of high ultimate pH in three muscles of lamb carcasses in Australia

2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (10) ◽  
pp. 1853 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. G. McPhail ◽  
J. L. Stark ◽  
A. J. Ball ◽  
R. D. Warner
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Rectus Femoris ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Mixed Model Analysis ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Generalised Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Processing Plants ◽  
Few Data

Chilled lamb meat exported from Australia has, on occasions, been rejected by importing countries due to greening, after only 6 weeks of storage time. Greening is known to be more prevalent in high ultimate pH (pHu) beef meat (>5.9). There are few data available for lamb carcasses in Australia on the occurrence of high pHu meat, which may have an impact on the understanding and control of quality and greening during storage. The aim of this project was to determine the prevalence of, and influencing factors for, high pHu meat in a range of muscle types in lamb carcasses in Australia. Muscle pHu data were collected from a total of 1614 carcasses from 78 lots at four lamb processing plants in Victoria and New South Wales in autumn and spring of 2013. The pHu of the knuckle (rectus femoris), rack (longissimus) and blade (infraspinatus) was measured and data on carcass and lot characteristics were recorded. Data were subjected to restricted maximum likelihood and generalised linear mixed model analysis. The mean pHu of the knuckle, rack and shoulder were 6.06, 5.79 and 6.12 respectively, and the main factors influencing muscle pHu and occurrence of dark-cutting were breed, season, electrical stimulation and carcass weight. Merino lambs had a higher pHu in the blade and knuckle than did other breeds (P < 0.05, P < 0.01 respectively). Lambs processed in autumn had a higher predicted pHu in the blade and knuckle and a higher percentage dark-cutting (DC; pHu >6.0) for those muscles, than did those processed in spring (P < 0.05). Carcasses that had been electrically stimulated had a higher %DC and a higher pHu in all three muscles (P < 0.05). Carcass weight had a significant effect on the pHu of all three muscles (P < 0.001), with heavier carcasses having a lower pHu and lower %DC. The pHu of the rack was not a reliable predictor for the pHu in other muscles of the lamb carcass. In conclusion, the high occurrence of DC in the muscles, particularly the blade and knuckle, suggests that these muscles may be at risk for producing greening in the vacuum bag during storage.

Size-related boldness is not altered by stomach flushing in a terrestrial salamander

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Sebastiano Salvidio ◽  
Andrea Costa ◽  
Fabrizio Oneto
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Animal Personality ◽  
Model Analysis ◽  
Mixed Model Analysis ◽  
Linear Mixed Model Analysis ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Trophic Strategy ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Animal personality is a relatively neglected field in amphibian research. In this study we assessed the influence of stomach flushing, a non-lethal technique used in amphibian dietary studies, on the boldness behaviour of the cave salamander Speleomantes strinatii. The time of emergence from a shelter located in an unfamiliar environment (a proxy for individual boldness) was measured in 26 cave salamanders before and after stomach flushing, while 14 non-flushed salamanders were tested as controls. Boldness was a repeatable behaviour for salamanders and larger individuals emerged from their shelter more rapidly than smaller ones. Linear mixed model analysis showed that flushing, sex and body condition had no effect on this behaviour. These findings are promising in the framework of the study of salamander personality. In particular, our results will be useful when exploring the relationship between individual trophic strategy and boldness, aggression or exploration behaviours in terrestrial salamanders.

scholarly journals Maximin Efficiencies under Treatment-Dependent Costs and Outcome Variances for Parallel, AA/BB, and AB/BA Designs

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Math J. J. M. Candel
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Optimal Allocation ◽  
Power Level ◽  
Equal Treatment ◽  
Small Samples ◽  
Asymptotic Results ◽  
Crossover Designs ◽  
Mixed Model Analysis ◽  
Intraclass Correlations

If there are no carryover effects, AB/BA crossover designs are more efficient than parallel (A/B) and extended parallel (AA/BB) group designs. This study extends these results in that (a) optimal instead of equal treatment allocation is examined, (b) allowance for treatment-dependent outcome variances is made, and (c) next to treatment effects, also treatment by period interaction effects are examined. Starting from a linear mixed model analysis, the optimal allocation requires knowledge on intraclass correlations in A and B, which typically is rather vague. To solve this, maximin versions of the designs are derived, which guarantee a power level across plausible ranges of the intraclass correlations at the lowest research costs. For the treatment effect, an extensive numerical evaluation shows that if the treatment costs of A and B are equal, or if the sum of the costs of one treatment and measurement per person is less than the remaining subject-specific costs (e.g., recruitment costs), the maximin crossover design is most efficient for ranges of intraclass correlations starting at 0.15 or higher. For other cost scenarios, the maximin parallel or extended parallel design can also become most efficient. For the treatment by period interaction, the maximin AA/BB design can be proven to be the most efficient. A simulation study supports these asymptotic results for small samples.

scholarly journals Which Test of Divergent Thinking Is Best?

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A. Runco ◽  
Ahmed M. Abdulla ◽  
Sue Hyeon Paek ◽  
Fatima A. Al-Jasim ◽  
Hanadi N. Alsuwaidi
Keyword(s):  
Divergent Thinking ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Mixed Model Analysis ◽  
Demographic Questionnaire ◽  
Problem Generation ◽  
Behavior Scale ◽  
Realistic Problem ◽  
Post Hoc ◽  
Better Than

AbstractDivergent thinking (DT) tests are probably the most commonly used measures of creative potential. Several extensive batteries are available but most research relies on one or two specific tests rather than a complete battery. This may limit generalizations because tests of DT are not equivalent. They are not always highly inter-correlated. Additionally, some DT tests appear to be better than others at eliciting originality. This is critical because originality is vital for creativity. The primary purpose of the present study was to determine which test of DT elicits the most originality. Seven measures of DTwere administered on a sample of 611 participants in eight Arabic countries. The tests were Figural, Titles, Realistic Presented Problems, Realistic Problem Generation, Instances, Uses, and Similarities. The Quick Test of Convergent Thinking, Runco’s Ideational Behavior Scale, and a demographic questionnaire were also administered. A linear mixed model analysis confirmed that the originality scores in the DT tests differed by test. Post-hoc tests indicated that the Titles and Realistic Problem Generation tests produced the highest mean originality scores, whereas the Realistic Presented Problems test produced the lowest mean originality scores. These differences confirm that research using only one DT test will not provide generalizable results.

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