The Impact of Verbal Encouragement and Repeating on the Measurement of Spirometry in Healthy Adult

AbstractHead motion is a major confounding factor in neuroimaging studies. While numerous studies have investigated how motion impacts estimates of functional connectivity, the effects of motion on structural connectivity measured using diffusion MRI have not received the same level of attention, despite the fact that, like functional MRI, diffusion MRI relies on elaborate preprocessing pipelines that require multiple choices at each step. Here, we report a comprehensive analysis of how these choices influence motion-related contamination of structural connectivity estimates. Using a healthy adult sample (N = 252), we evaluated 240 different preprocessing pipelines, devised using plausible combinations of different choices related to explicit head motion correction, tractography propagation algorithms, track seeding methods, track termination constraints, quantitative metrics derived for each connectome edge, and parcellations. We found that an approach to motion correction that includes outlier replacement and within-slice volume correction led to a dramatic reduction in cross-subject correlations between head motion and structural connectivity strength, and that motion contamination is more severe when quantifying connectivity strength using mean tract fractional anisotropy rather than streamline count. We also show that the choice of preprocessing strategy can significantly influence subsequent inferences about network organization, with the location of network hubs varying considerably depending on the specific preprocessing steps applied. Our findings indicate that the impact of motion on structural connectivity can be successfully mitigated using recent motion-correction algorithms that include outlier replacement and within-slice motion correction.HighlightsWe assess how motion affects structural connectivity in 240 preprocessing pipelinesMotion contamination of structural connectivity depends on preprocessing choicesAdvanced motion correction tools reduce motion confoundsFA edge weighting is more susceptible to motion effects than streamline count

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Impact of High Temperature on Post-Exercise Albuminuria in Dogs

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10111988 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 1988

Author(s):

Urszula Pasławska ◽

Barbara Szczepankiewicz ◽

Aleksandra Bednarska ◽

Robert Pasławski

Keyword(s):

High Temperatures ◽

Healthy Adult ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Abdominal Ultrasound ◽

Strenuous Exercise ◽

Movement Activity ◽

Post Exercise ◽

Intensive Exercise ◽

Before And After ◽

The Impact

The literature suggests that strenuous exercise and exposure to high temperatures may cause physiologic proteinuria, but to our knowledge there have been no studies that have assessed the effect of high temperatures on the occurrence of post-exercise albuminuria in dogs. The goal of the study was to assess the impact of high temperatures on the occurrence of albuminuria. Thirteen healthy adult dogs—eight female (62%) and five male (38%) had to run 5 km at a temperature of 25 °C in grasslands which took about 30–40 min. Dogs underwent clinical examinations: echocardiography, abdominal ultrasound, blood hematology and biochemistry and urinalysis, including the ratio of albumin to creatinine (UAC). Baseline UAC was on the borderline of statistical significance for female dogs, but not for male dogs, before and after exercise. UAC was 0.31 ± 0.56 mg/mmol for female dogs and 0.36 ± 0.60 mg/mmol in male dogs before exercise. Immediately after exercise, UAC was 0.51 ± 0.58 mg/mmol in female dogs and 0.31 ± 0.40 mg/mmol in male dogs. Thus, a period of about 30–40 min of intensive exercise at high temperatures (25 °C) did not lead to increased albuminuria. This suggests that there is no need to limit the movement activity before urine tests in dogs, even at high temperatures, before urinalysis.

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Ultrasonographic evaluation of the effects of the administration of neostigmine and metoclopramide on duodenal, cecal, and colonic contractility in Arabian horses: A comparative study

Veterinary World ◽

10.14202/vetworld.2020.2447-2451 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (11) ◽

pp. 2447-2451

Author(s):

Noha Abdallah Beder ◽

Ahmed Atef Mourad ◽

Mahmoud Allam Aly

Keyword(s):

Intestinal Tract ◽

Healthy Adult ◽

Control Group ◽

Excessive Sweating ◽

Future Studies ◽

Administration Routes ◽

Operative Care ◽

Arabian Horse ◽

Group A ◽

The Impact

Background and Aim: As means for enhancing gastrointestinal (GI) motility, prokinetics have previously been evaluated in different breeds of horses with varying success. No previous studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of prokinetics on the intestinal tract of Arabian horses breed. Using B-mode ultrasound in the quantification of intestinal contractility, this study aimed to compare the impact of neostigmine and metoclopramide on the intestinal motility of healthy Arabian horses. Materials and Methods: Twenty-one clinically healthy Arabian horses were equally distributed into three groups. The control group was administered with 5 mL normal saline intramuscularly (IM). The second group was administered with neostigmine (0.044 mg/kg body weight [BW], IM), and the third group was administered with metoclopramide (0.25 mg/kg BW, IM). Duodenal, cecal, and colonic contractions were counted through ultrasonography for 3 min (pre-administration and 15, 30, 60, 120, and 180 min post-administration). Results: In the neostigmine group, a significant (p<0.05) increase in duodenal, cecal, and colonic contractions was observed 15 min post-administration compared with that in the control group (15±1.0, 11.33±1.53, and 12.33±2.31 vs. 11.0±2.0, 6.33±0.58, and 5.33±0.58 contractions per 3 min, respectively), continuing to 60 min post-administration for the duodenum and cecum and 120 min for colon and then returning to the normal; however, the metoclopramide group showed a significant (p<0.05) increase only in cecal and colonic contractions 60 min post-administration compared with the control group (11.0±1.0 and 12.33±0.58 vs. 6±1.0 and 5.67±0.58 contractions per 3 min, respectively), continuing until the end of the experiment. Excessive sweating, excitation, and straining were recorded following the administration of neostigmine, whereas no side effects were observed in the metoclopramide group. Conclusion: Neostigmine improves duodenal, cecal, and colonic contractions in healthy adult Arabian horses, whereas metoclopramide only improves cecal and colonic contractions. Metoclopramide appears to be safer and longer acting than neostigmine in the Arabian horse breed. Ultrasonography is a valuable noninvasive tool for the quantification of intestinal contractility. Future studies should consider the use of various dosages of metoclopramide and administration routes and investigate its impact on horses with GI transit disorders and inclusion in colic post-operative care.

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Breastfeeding in the Community—How Can Partners/Fathers Help? A Systematic Review

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17020413 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 413 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Felix Ogbo ◽

Blessing Akombi ◽

Kedir Ahmed ◽

Abdon Rwabilimbo ◽

Akorede Ogbo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Meta Analysis ◽

Partner Support ◽

Breastfeeding Duration ◽

Bibliographic Databases ◽

Breastfeeding Initiation ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

New Mothers ◽

Breastfeeding Practices ◽

Verbal Encouragement ◽

The Impact

Support from partners/fathers and families can play a significant role in a mother’s decision to initiate, continue or cease breastfeeding postnatally. This study systematically reviewed published studies to determine the impact of specific types of partner support on breastfeeding initiation, duration and exclusivity. We used the 2015 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines for the review. Seven computerized bibliographic databases (Embase, ProQuest Central, Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Science, MEDLINE/PubMed and CINAHL) were searched. Of a total of 695 articles retrieved from the databases, seven studies met the inclusion criteria and reported on breastfeeding initiation, duration and exclusivity. Four of the seven studies found that partner support in the form of verbal encouragement to new mothers increased breastfeeding duration and exclusivity. Other types of partner supportive actions that led to improved breastfeeding behavior included sensitivity of the partner to the nursing mother’s needs, assistance in preventing and managing breastfeeding difficulties, and helping with household and child care duties. This review showed that specific supportive actions of partners/fathers in the community positively improved breastfeeding practices. To maximise the impact of breastfeeding policies and interventions among new mothers, breastfeeding programmes should consider the involvement of partners/fathers and their specific roles.

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Impact of active and passive social facilitation on self-paced endurance and sprint exercise: encouragement augments performance and motivation to exercise

BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine ◽

10.1136/bmjsem-2018-000368 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. e000368 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Andrew Mark Edwards ◽

Lia Dutton-Challis ◽

David Cottrell ◽

Joshua H Guy ◽

Florentina Johanna Hettinga

Keyword(s):

Social Facilitation ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Average Power ◽

Exercise Bout ◽

Cycle Ergometer ◽

Exercise Regimen ◽

Within Subjects ◽

Type Of Exercise ◽

Verbal Encouragement ◽

The Impact

ObjectiveThe positive effect of an audience on performance is anecdotally well known, but the impact of such social facilitation to both performance and the motivation to exercise have not been thoroughly explored. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate verbal encouragement as a means to promote positive behavioural adherence to exercise and augmented performance. MethodsTwelve untrained but active individuals (seven female), age 24±3 years participated in this study. Exercise conditions with external verbal encouragement (EVE) and without external verbal encouragement (WEVE) were compared in both endurance (20 min) and sprint (2 × 30 s Wingate) cycling tasks in a randomised crossover design. Results were analysed by separate 2 (EVE/WEVE) × 2 (sprint/endurance) within-subjects analyses of variance for each dependent variable. Statistical significance was set at p≤0.05. ResultsEVE resulted in a significant increase,F(1,11)=15.37, p=0.002,ηp2=0.58 in the average power generated by participants in each exercise bout on the cycle ergometer. EVE also had a significant effect on reported motivation to exercise the next day,F(1,11)=5.5, p=0.04,ηp2=0.33, which did not differ between type of exercise.ConclusionExternal encouragement in both sprint and endurance activities resulted in large improvements in performance and motivation to continue an exercise regimen the next day, which has important implications for health, adherence and maximising physical performance using a practical intervention.

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Effects of Water-Based Exercise Training on the Cognitive Function and Quality of Life of Healthy Adult Women

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.2017-0036 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 14 (11) ◽

pp. 899-904 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Carlos Ayán ◽

Paulo Carvalho ◽

Silvia Varela ◽

José María Cancela

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Mental Health ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Exercise Training ◽

Healthy Adult ◽

Adult Women ◽

Water Based ◽

Group A ◽

The Impact

Background: Research regarding the impact of aquatic exercise on cognition is scarce. This study aimed at identifying the effects of water-based exercise training on the cognitive function and quality of life of healthy adult women. Methods: Fifty-one healthy women [mean age: 46.5 (12.3) y] were assigned to group A or B and followed a water-based exercise program for 6 months. During the first 3 months, the sessions performed by group A were focused on stimulating cognitive function. For the next 3 months, the sessions were mainly aimed at improving physical fitness. Participants in group B followed the same program in reverse order. The trail making and symbol digit modality tests were used to assess the impact of the program on cognition. The effects of the intervention on the participants’ physical and mental health were measured by means of the medical outcomes study 36-item short-form health survey. Results: Once the intervention ended, significant improvements were observed in the participants’ cognitive function and mental health domain, regardless of the group in which they were initially included. Conclusion: Water-based exercise is a training modality capable of enhancing cognitive function and quality of life through improvements in mental health in healthy adult women.

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A second dramatic rise in seroprevalence rates of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among adult healthy blood donors in Jordan; have we achieved herd immunity?

10.1101/2021.08.15.21261584 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Maher A. Sughayer ◽

Asem Mansour ◽

Abeer Al Nuirat ◽

Lina Souan ◽

Rashid Abdel-Razeq ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Donors ◽

Healthy Adult ◽

Vaccination Campaign ◽

Herd Immunity ◽

Seroprevalence Rate ◽

Protein Receptor ◽

Healthy Donors ◽

Dramatic Rise ◽

The Impact ◽

Second Wave

Objectives: To determine the impact of the second wave of COVID-19 and the vaccination campaign on the seroprevalence rates of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among healthy blood donors in Jordan. Methods: Sera from 536 healthy adult blood donors collected in June -2021 were tested using a commercially available quantitative assay for the total antibodies including IgG against the spike (S) protein receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2. Results: 399 (74.4%) of the donors tested positive for the antibodies of whom 69 (17.3%) were confirmed to have been previously infected, 245(61.4%) have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 123(30.8%) were neither diagnosed nor vaccinated. The seropositive donors were significantly more likely to have been vaccinated or previously infected. Conclusion: The crude seroprevalence rate of 74.4% among this group of healthy donors may be encouraging in terms of approaching herd immunity, however with predominance of the delta variant and the uncertainty regarding the required level of herd immunity this goal appears to be far from full achievement in Jordan.

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The Influence of Dopamine on Automatic and Controlled Semantic Activation in Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson s Disease ◽

10.4061/2011/157072 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2011 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Wendy L. Arnott ◽

David A. Copland ◽

Helen J. Chenery ◽

Bruce E. Murdoch ◽

Peter A. Silburn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Semantic Priming ◽

Semantic Processing ◽

Healthy Adult ◽

Healthy Adults ◽

Semantic Activation ◽

Dopamine Depletion ◽

Adult Participants ◽

The Impact

Two semantic priming tasks, designed to isolate automatic and controlled semantic activation, were utilized to investigate the impact of dopamine depletion on semantic processing in Parkinson's disease (PD). Seven people with PD (tested whilst on and off levodopa medication) and seven healthy adults participated in the study. The healthy adult participants demonstrated intact automatic and controlled semantic activation. Aberrant controlled semantic activation was observed in the PD group on levodopa; however, automatic semantic activation was still evident. In contrast, automatic semantic activation was not evident in the PD group off levodopa. These results further clarify the impact of PD on semantic processing, demonstrating that dopamine depletion can cause disturbances in both automatic and controlled semantic activation.

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Augmenting Performance: Vocal Activity Compared to Presence in the Social Facilitation of Running

Journal of Student Research ◽

10.47611/jsrhs.v9i1.1160 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Humza Malik ◽

Kate Flowers

Keyword(s):

High School Students ◽

Social Facilitation ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Short Term ◽

School Students ◽

Long Distance ◽

Sports Team ◽

Verbal Encouragement ◽

The Impact

Objective The impact of encouragement on performance has been observed in the setting of exercise, but further research is necessary in running. To compare the improvement in pace experienced by subjects of different backgrounds (from a running team, non-running sports team, or no sports team) as a result of active (verbal encouragement) and passive social facilitation, this study was conducted. Method Eighteen male high school students, age 17.3±0.75 years were recruited for this study, six from each background listed above. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: external verbal encouragement (EVE), without external verbal encouragement (WEVE), or no presence. Improvement in pace after the introduction of a social facilitator was recorded along with overall consistency in pace. Statistical significance was set at α = 0.10. Results A significant improvement in short-term pace among subjects from a running team was generated by EVE, t(1) = -5.198, p = 0.0605, and no presence generated a significant improvement in short-term pace among subjects from a non-running sports team, t(1) = -5, p = 0.0669. EVE also generated a significant improvement in long-term pace among subjects from a running team, t(1) = -5.069, p = 0.0620. A conclusion on consistency was not reached. Conclusion Verbal encouragement saw to long-term and short-term improvement in pace of subjects selected from a running team, while the lack of presence assisted the short-term performance of subjects selected from non-running sports teams. Results obtained offer potential to impact competitive long-distance running.

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Help or flight? Increased threat imminence promotes defensive helping in humans

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2020.1473 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 287 (1933) ◽

pp. 20201473

Author(s):

Joana B. Vieira ◽

Sabine Schellhaas ◽

Erik Enström ◽

Andreas Olsson

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Individual Differences ◽

Healthy Adult ◽

Reaction Times ◽

Temporal Distance ◽

Defensive Responses ◽

Adult Participants ◽

Helping Behaviour ◽

The Moment ◽

The Impact

In humans and other mammals, defensive responses to danger vary with threat imminence, but it is unknown how those responses affect decisions to help conspecifics. Here, we manipulated threat imminence to investigate the impact of different defensive states on human helping behaviour. Ninety-eight healthy adult participants made trial-by-trial decisions about whether to help a co-participant avoid an aversive shock, at the risk of receiving a shock themselves. Helping decisions were prompted under imminent or distal threat, based on temporal distance to the moment of shock administration to the co-participant. Results showed that, regardless of how likely participants were to also receive a shock, they helped the co-participant more under imminent than distal threat. Reaction times and cardiac changes during the task supported the efficacy of the threat imminence manipulation in eliciting dissociable defensive states, with faster responses and increased heart rate during imminent compared to distal threats. Individual differences in empathic concern were specifically correlated with helping during imminent threats. These results suggest that defensive states driving active escape from immediate danger may also facilitate decisions to help others, potentially by engaging neurocognitive systems implicated in caregiving across mammals.

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