scholarly journals Principal Characteristics of Affected and Unaffected Side Trunk Movement and Gait Event Parameters during Hemiplegic Stroke Gait with IMU Sensor

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (24) ◽  
pp. 7338
Author(s):  
Jeong-Woo Seo ◽  
Seul-Gee Kim ◽  
Joong Il Kim ◽  
Boncho Ku ◽  
Kahye Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Principal Component ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Measurement Unit ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Trunk Movement ◽  
Unaffected Side ◽  
Principal Characteristics ◽  
Diagnosis Method ◽  
Healthy Side ◽  
The Difference

This study describe the characteristics of hemiplegic stroke gait with principal component analysis (PCA) of trunk movement (TM) and gait event (GE) parameters by the inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors: (1) Background: This process can determine dominant variables through multivariate examination to identify the affected, unaffected, and healthy lower-limb sides; (2) Methods: The study monitored forty patients with stroke and twenty-eight healthy individuals comprising the control group for comparison. The IMU sensors were attached to each subject while performing a 6 m walking test. Sixteen variables extracted from the measured data were divided into 7 GE and 9 TM variables explaining pelvis tilt, oblique, and rotation. (3) Results: The tilt range variables of the trunk movement on the affected and unaffected sides were lower than those of the healthy side; this showed between-group differences in various GE variables. For the healthy and affected sides, 80% of variances were explained with 2 or 3 PCs involving only a few dominant variables; and (4) Conclusions: The difference between each side leg should be considered during the development of a diagnosis method. This research can be utilized to develop functional assessment tools for personalized treatment and to design appropriate training protocols.

scholarly journals A colorimetric comparison of sunless with natural skin tan

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kinjiro Amano ◽  
Kaida Xiao ◽  
Sophie Wuerger ◽  
Georg Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Principal Component ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
Skin Colour ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Median Error ◽  
Natural Range ◽  
Colour Changes ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Cielab Colour

AbstractThe main ingredient of sunless tanning products is dihydroxyacetone (DHA). DHA reacts with the protein and amino acid composition in the surface layers of the skin, producing melanoidins, which changes the skin colour, imitating natural skin tan caused by melanin. The purpose of this study was to characterise DHA-induced skin colour changes and to test whether we can predict the outcome of DHA application on skin tone changes.To assess the DHA-induced skin colour shift quantitatively, colorimetric and spectral measurements of the inner forearm were obtained before, four hours and 24 hours after application of a 7.5% concentration DHA gel in the experimental group (n = 100). In a control group (n = 60), the same measurements were obtained on both the inner forearm (infrequently sun-exposed) and the outer forearm (frequently sun-exposed); the difference between these two areas was defined as the naturally occurring tan. Skin colour shifts caused by DHA tanning and by natural tanning were compared in terms of lightness (L*), redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) in the standard CIELAB colour space. Naturalness of the DHA-induced skin tan was evaluated by comparing the trajectory of the chromaticity distribution in (L*, b*) space with that of naturally occurring tan. Twenty-four hours after DHA application, approximately 20% of the skin colour samples became excessively yellow, with chromaticities outside the natural range in (L*, b*) space. A principal component analysis was used to characterise the tanning pathway. Skin colour shifts induced by DHA were predicted by a multiple regression on the chromaticities and the skin properties. The model explained up to 49% of variance in colorimetric components with a median error of less than 2 ΔE. We conclude that the control of both the magnitude and the direction of the colour shift is a critical factor to achieve a natural appearance.

scholarly journals Learners’ Experience Towards E-Assessment Tools: A Comparative Study on Virtual Reality and Moodle Quiz

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (05) ◽  
pp. 34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Al-Azawei ◽  
Wadhah R. Baiee ◽  
Mustafa A. Mohammed
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Perceived Playfulness ◽  
Post Test ◽  
The Difference

Although the integration of virtual world in teaching and learning has been investigated, there is a scarcity of research considering its influence on assessing learners’ understanding and comparing it with traditional e-assessment tools such as that in Moodle quiz. In this research, a virtual reality (VR) game-based e-assessment application was proposed first. Subsequently, the study aims at (1) understanding whether the type of e-assessment method can affect students’ performance, and (2) investigating the difference in learners’ perceptions based on the type of e-assessment technology. A combination of quasi-pre-test and post-test experimental and survey research design methods were adopted. Overall, 32 undergraduate students were assigned to either control (N=17) or experimental (N=15) group. The key findings are (1) no statistical differences in students’ performance were found for both groups, and (2) significant differences between learners who completed the VR game-based e-assessment and those on the control group were found on perceived playfulness and ease of use. The conclusion drawn from the research outcomes is that a VR game-based e-assessment application is a successful approach to enhance learners’ engagement in evaluation sessions, although students may face a lack of experience in its use.

scholarly journals A colorimetric comparison of sunless with natural skin tan

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. e0233816
Author(s):  
Kinjiro Amano ◽  
Kaida Xiao ◽  
Sophie Wuerger ◽  
Georg Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Principal Component ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
Skin Colour ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Median Error ◽  
Natural Range ◽  
Colour Changes ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Cielab Colour

The main ingredient of sunless tanning products is dihydroxyacetone (DHA). DHA reacts with the protein and amino acid composition in the surface layers of the skin, producing melanoidins, which changes the skin colour, imitating natural skin tan caused by melanin. The purpose of this study was to characterise DHA-induced skin colour changes and to test whether we can predict the outcome of DHA application on skin tone changes. To assess the DHA-induced skin colour shift quantitatively, colorimetric and spectral measurements of the inner forearm were obtained before, four hours and 24 hours after application of a 7.5% concentration DHA gel in the experimental group (n = 100). In a control group (n = 60), the same measurements were obtained on both the inner forearm (infrequently sun-exposed) and the outer forearm (frequently sun-exposed); the difference between these two areas was defined as the naturally occurring tan. Skin colour shifts caused by DHA tanning and by natural tanning were compared in terms of lightness (L*), redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) in the standard CIELAB colour space. Naturalness of the DHA-induced skin tan was evaluated by comparing the trajectory of the chromaticity distribution in (L*, b*) space with that of naturally occurring tan. Twenty-four hours after DHA application, approximately 20% of the skin colour samples became excessively yellow, with chromaticities outside the natural range in (L*, b*) space. A principal component analysis was used to characterise the tanning pathway. Skin colour shifts induced by DHA were predicted by a multiple regression on the chromaticities and the skin properties. The model explained up to 49% of variance in colorimetric components with a median error of less than 2 ΔE. We conclude that the control of both the magnitude and the direction of the colour shift is a critical factor to achieve a natural appearance.

The Effects of a Caffeine Placebo and Experimenter Expectation on Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, Well-Being, and Cognitive Performance

2001 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harald Walach ◽  
Stefan Schmidt ◽  
Yvonne-Michelle Bihr ◽  
Susanne Wiesch
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Main Effect ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Being There ◽  
To Receive

We studied the effect of experimenter expectations and different instructions in a balanced placebo design. 157 subjects were randomized into a 2 × 4 factorial design. Two experimenters were led to expect placebos either to produce physiological effects or not (pro- vs. antiplacebo). All subjects except a control group received a caffeine placebo. They were either made to expect coffee, no coffee, or were in a double-blind condition. Dependent measures were blood pressure, heart rate, well-being, and a cognitive task. There was one main effect on the instruction factor (p = 0.03) with the group “told no caffeine” reporting significantly better well-being. There was one main effect on the experimenter factor with subjects instructed by experimenter “proplacebo” having higher systolic blood pressure (p = 0.008). There was one interaction with subjects instructed by experimenter “proplacebo” to receive coffee doing worse in the cognitive task than the rest. Subjects instructed by experimenter “antiplacebo” were significantly less likely to believe the experimental instruction, and that mostly if they had been instructed to receive coffee. Contrary to the literature we could not show an effect of instruction, but there was an effect of experimenters. It is likely, however, that these experimenter effects were not due to experimental manipulations, but to the difference in personalities.

Peritoneal Fluid and Plasma Fibrinolytic Activity in Women with Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

1992 ◽  
Vol 68 (02) ◽  
pp. 102-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
P J Dörr ◽  
E J P Brommer ◽  
G Dooijewaard ◽  
H M Vemer
Keyword(s):  
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease ◽  
Inflammatory Disease ◽  
Peritoneal Fluid ◽  
Fibrinolytic Activity ◽  
Degradation Products ◽  
Adhesion Formation ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Control Group ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Fibrinolytic Parameters

SummaryPrevious studies have shown that the fibrinolytic activity of peritoneum is depressed in local inflammation. We measured fibrinolytic parameters in peritoneal fluid and in plasma of 10 women with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Nine women, in whom laparoscopy for sterilisation was performed, served as a control group.In the peritoneal fluid of women with PID, PAI-Ag, t-PA-Ag and u-PA-Ag were many times higher than in the control group. In contrast to the antigens which may be present in inert complexes, the potentially active compounds, measured as t-PA activity and plasmin-activable scu-PA, were not significantly different in the two groups, and in none of the samples was the active enzyme tcu-PA detectable. Nevertheless, the mean peritoneal fluid TDP and FbDP concentrations were about twenty times higher in the PID group than in the control group. In plasma of PID patients, none of the parameters except u-PA-Ag differed from those in the control group. The difference between control and patient plasma u-PA-Ag was statistically significant, but too small to attach any relevance to the observation.Our data suggest that, in contrast to the classical concept of decreased fibrinolytic activity as a cause of adhesion formation, intraperitoneal fibrinolysis is enhanced in peritoneal inflammation through stimulation of the local production of t-PA and u-PA. Despite concomitant production of PAI, fibrinolysis occurs at a high rate, resulting in high levels of fibrin degradation products. Since this activated fibrinolysis does not meet the demand, therapeutic enhancement should be considered to prevent adhesions.

Changes in Platelet Aggregability after Ovariectomy

1979 ◽  
Vol 42 (04) ◽  
pp. 1332-1339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroh Yamazaki ◽  
Takeshi Motomiya ◽  
Minoru Sonoda ◽  
Noboru Miyagawa
Keyword(s):  
Platelet Count ◽  
Platelet Activation ◽  
Ovarian Hormones ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Platelet Aggregability ◽  
Appearance Rate ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Induced Aggregation ◽  
Observation Period

SummaryChanges in platelets in 48 patients with uterine myoma before and after hysterectomy with and without ovariectomy were examined. Bilateral ovariectomy in 25 cases (ovariec-tomized group) and unilateral or non-ovariectomy in 23 cases (control group) were performed at the hysterectomy. Platelet count and an appearance rate of secondary aggregation decreased at one day after and increased at one week after the operation, similarly in both the ovariectomized and the control group. The appearance rate of secondary aggregation was reflected in an intensity of aggregation at 5 min after the addition of reagent to PRP. At one month after the operation, the appearance rate of secondary aggregation induced by 3 μM ADP showed a statistically significant decrease in comparison with the preoperation value (P <0.05) and the enhancement of 5-min aggregation was still observed in the control group, while ceased in the ovariectomized group. The difference between the two groups was significant (P < 0.05). There was almost no change in the speed and intensity of primary and secondary aggregation during the observation period. No significant differences in collagen-induced aggregation were noted between the two groups. The results suggest that ovarian hormones, mainly estrogen, facilitate platelet activation which is mediated by the so-called secondary aggregation.

Multifactorial analysis of clinical laboratory signs, the levels of IL-17A, IL-23, IL-33, IL-35, and specific antibodies in the serum of patients with Lyme borreliosis without erythema migrans

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (11) ◽  
pp. 676-681
Author(s):  
V.V. Sapozhnikova ◽  
◽  
A.L. Bondarenko ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Principal Component Analysis ◽  
Lyme Borreliosis ◽  
Clinical Laboratory ◽  
Acute Infection ◽  
Erythema Migrans ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Component Analysis ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Multifactorial Analysis ◽  
Specific Antibodies

Aim: to determine the association between clinical laboratory parameters, the production of cytokines (IL-17A, -23, -33, -35), and specific IgM and IgG in the serum of patients with Lyme borreliosis without erythema migrans. Patients and Methods: complete blood count, the concentrations of IL-17A, -23, -33, -35, and the levels of specific IgM and IgG were measured during acute infection and convalescence (n=30). The control group included age- and sex-matched healthy individuals (n=30). Statistical analysis was performed using the StatSoft Statistica v 10.0 software (parametric and non-parametric methods and multifactorial analysis, i.e., principal component analysis). Results: most (80%) patients with Lyme borreliosis without erythema migrans are the people of working age. In most patients, the combination of the specific antibodies against Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii (76.7%) and severe intoxication and inflammatory process (100%) were detected. Moderate and severe disease associated with meningism was diagnosed in 90% and 10%, respectively. The mean duration of hectic period was 8.3±1.27 days. Abnormal ECG was reported in 40% of patients, i.e., conduction abnormalities in 20%, sinus bradycardia in 16.7%,and sinus tachycardia in 3.3%. The clinical laboratory signs of hepatitis without jaundice were identified in 26.7%. During treatment, the significant reduction in band and segmented neutrophil counts as well as the significant increase in platelet count were revealed compared to these parameters at admission. Abnormal cytokine levels (i.e., the increase in IL-17A, -23, -33 and the deficiency of IL-35) were detected. Conclusions: multifactorial analysis has demonstrated that the severity of immunological abnormalities in patients with Lyme borreliosis without erythema migrans is associated with fever, cardiac and liver disorders, the high levels of IL-23 and IL-33, and the lack of IL-35 and specific IgM and IgG. KEYWORDS: tick-borne borreliosis, Lyme disease without erythema migrans, clinical laboratory signs, cytokines, specific antibodies, multifactorial analysis, principal component analysis. FOR CITATION: Sapozhnikova V.V., Bondarenko A.L. Multifactorial analysis of clinical laboratory signs, the levels of IL-17A, IL-23, IL-33, IL-35, and specific antibodies in the serum of patients with Lyme borreliosis without erythema migrans. Russian Medical Inquiry. 2020;4(11):676–681. DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2020-4-11-676-681.

PENGARUH TERAPI TERTAWA TERHADAP PENURUNAN TEKANAN DARAH LANSIA DI UPT PANTI WREDHA BUDHI DHARMA YOGYAKARTA

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Niken Setyaningrum ◽  
Andri Setyorini ◽  
Fachruddin Tri Fitrianta
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Group Comparison ◽  
Control Blood Pressure ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Treatment Of Hypertension ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Difference

ABSTRACTBackground: Hypertension is one of the most common diseases, because this disease is suffered byboth men and women, as well as adults and young people. Treatment of hypertension does not onlyrely on medications from the doctor or regulate diet alone, but it is also important to make our bodyalways relaxed. Laughter can help to control blood pressure by reducing endocrine stress andcreating a relaxed condition to deal with relaxation.Objective: The general objective of the study was to determine the effect of laughter therapy ondecreasing elderly blood pressure in UPT Panti Wredha Budhi Dharma Yogyakarta.Methods: The design used in this study is a pre-experimental design study with one group pre-posttestresearch design where there is no control group (comparison). The population in this study wereelderly aged over> 60 years at 55 UPT Panti Wredha Budhi Dharma Yogyakarta. The method oftaking in this study uses total sampling. The sample in this study were 55 elderly. Data analysis wasused to determine the difference in blood pressure before and after laughing therapy with a ratio datascale that was using Pairs T-TestResult: There is an effect of laughing therapy on blood pressure in the elderly at UPT Panti WredhaBudhi Dharma Yogyakarta marked with a significant value of 0.000 (P <0.05)

FRACTIONAL DETERMINATIONS OF URINARY 17-KETOSTEROIDS IN HYPEREMESIS GRAVIDARUM

1962 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pentti A. Järvinen ◽  
Sykkö Pesonen ◽  
Pirkko Väänänen
Keyword(s):  
Hyperemesis Gravidarum ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Daily Urine ◽  
First Trimester Of Pregnancy ◽  
The Difference

ABSTRACT The fractional determination of 17-ketosteroids in the daily urine was performed in nine cases of hyperemesis gravidarum and in four control cases, in the first trimester of pregnancy both before and after corticotrophin administration. The excretion of total 17-KS is similar in the two groups. Only in the hyperemesis group does the excretion of total 17-KS increase significantly after corticotrophin administration. The fractional determination reveals no difference between the two groups of patients with regard to the values of the fractions U (unidentified 17-KS), A (androsterone) and Rest (11-oxygenated 17-KS). The excretion of dehydroepiandrosterone is significantly higher in the hyperemesis group than in the control group. The excretion of androstanolone seems to be lower in the hyperemesis group than in the control group, but the difference is not statistically significant. The differences in the correlation between dehydroepiandrosterone and androstanolone in the two groups is significant. The high excretion of dehydroepiandrosterone and low excretion of androstanolone in cases of hyperemesis gravidarum is a sign of adrenal dysfunction.

COMPERATIVE STUDY OF THE REGULATIES OF FAT DEPOSIT IN THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF TRUNK OF YOUNG PIGS OF THE LARGE WHITE AND MYRGOROD BREEDS

2016 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. 128-133
Author(s):  
I. V. Khatko ◽  
A. O. Onyshchenko ◽  
V. O. Vovk ◽  
T. M. Konks
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Processing ◽  
Fat Deposition ◽  
Thoracic Vertebra ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Large White ◽  
Young Pigs ◽  
Fat Deposits ◽  
Fat Thickness ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Different Parts

The modern state of social-economic processes development demands increasing the level of food safety of the state, especially providing population by the high quality foods of domestic production, specifically by pork. One of criteria for estimating pigs' meatness is determining the fat thickness in different points of a trunk. The informative content of measuring in different parts of a trunk is different and it needs detailed study. The fat thickness is the most common as trait for pigs' meatness in the practice of pig breeding because it has high correlation with meat yield in carcasses. The aim of our research was the comparative study of fat deposition regularities in different parts of a trunk of Large White and Mirgorod pigs in different age periods. For conducting researches 24 pigs of both breeds with average live weight about 40 kg and at age not more 4 months were selected. The fat thickness was measured at live animals using ultrasonic device Draminski in such points: on withers, the level of the 6-7th thoracic vertebra, the level of the 1st-2nd loins vertebra and sacrum. Measuring the fat thickness was carried out at the age of 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 months. During researches it was carried out the statistical processing of obtained material. Reliability of obtained indexes of productivity was determined. Regularities of formatting fat thickness and fat deposition rate depending on the age were studied. For the results of researches it has been studied and compared economically valuable traits of the most spread domestic pigs of Large White and Mirgorod breeds. By comparative study of growth and development of young pigs of experimental and control groups it has been found that animals of Large White breed differed by lesser fat deposits in all points of measuring. Thus, at 6-months’ age they had lesser thickness of fat in all parts of a trunk. More expressed tendency was at withers and the level of the 6-7th thoracic vertebra, at that in the first case the difference between groups was reliable (p < 0.01). The fat deposition rate in young pigs of both breeds was not the same in different points of measuring along a trunk. Above mentioned tendencies were intensified with the age. Purebred animals of intrabreed type LW-1 at 7-months’ age had reliable less thickness of fat in comparison with the control group: on withers (p < 0.01), at the level of the 6-7th thoracic vertebra, the level of the 1st-2nd loins vertebra (p < 0.05) and on sacrum (p < 0.01). In future, according to economic and scientific expediency, the animals of Mirgorod breed were excluded from the experiment. Concerning Large White breed, the researches were finished when animals were at 8 months’ age. The process of fat deposition in Large White pigs was less intensive in comparison to Mirgorod breed. The highest relative rate of fat thickness increase in both breeds was observed at the level of the 1st-2nd loins vertebra. By statistical processing of the obtained materials it has been found that the difference of average arithmetical indexes (as absolute and relative) between the experimental and control groups during growth and development had distinct tendency to increasing in all points of measuring. The reliability of the difference between the averages in groups with the age of animals increased. A higher reliability of data was obtained at measuring of the front parts of a trunk of pigs at the level of the 6th-7th thoracic vertebra and on withers. The carried out researches at all points of measuring give the reason to confirm that the fat deposits of Large White pigs are less comparing to Mirgorod breed. Conclusions. 1. Carcasses of animals of intrabreed type ULW-1 are comparatively more technologically suitable and economically beneficial for agricultural proceeding industry. 2. Animals of intrabreed type ULW-1 at 7-months’ age had reliable less thickness of fat in comparison with the control group: on withers, at the level of the 6-7th thoracic vertebra, the level of the 1st-2nd loins vertebra and on sacrum. 3. The process of fat deposition in Large White pigs was less intensive in comparison to Mirgorod breed.

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