The Influence of Noise in the Neurofeedback Training Sessions in Student Athletes

Considering that athletes constantly practice and compete in noisy environments, the aim was to investigate if performing neurofeedback training in these conditions would yield better results in performance than in silent ones. A total of forty-five student athletes aged from 18 to 35 years old and divided equally into three groups participated in the experiment (mean ± SD for age: 22.02 ± 3.05 years). The total neurofeedback session time for each subject was 300 min and were performed twice a week. The environment in which the neurofeedback sessions were conducted did not seem to have a significant impact on the training’s success in terms of alpha relative amplitude changes (0.04 ± 0.08 for silent room versus 0.07 ± 0.28 for noisy room, p = 0.740). However, the group exposed to intermittent noise appears to have favourable results in all performance assessments (p = 0.005 for working memory and p = 0.003 for reaction time). The results of the study suggested that performing neurofeedback training in an environment with intermittent noise can be interesting to athletes. Nevertheless, it is imperative to perform a replicated crossover design.

The Influence of an Alpha Band Neurofeedback Training in Heart Rate Variability in Athletes

Neurofeedback training is a technique which has seen a widespread use in clinical applications, but has only given its first steps in the sport environment. Therefore, there is still little information about the effects that this technique might have on parameters, which are relevant for athletes’ health and performance, such as heart rate variability, which has been linked to physiological recovery. In the sport domain, no studies have tried to understand the effects of neurofeedback training on heart rate variability, even though some studies have compared the effects of doing neurofeedback or heart rate biofeedback training on performance. The main goal of the present study was to understand if alpha-band neurofeedback training could lead to increases in heart rate variability. 30 male student-athletes, divided into two groups, (21.2 ± 2.62 year 2/week protocol and 22.6 ± 1.1 year 3/week protocol) participated in the study, of which three subjects were excluded. Both groups performed a pre-test, a trial session and 12 neurofeedback sessions, which consisted of 25 trials of 60 s of a neurofeedback task, with 5 s rest in-between trials. The total neurofeedback session time for each subject was 300 min in both groups. Throughout the experiment, electroencephalography and heart rate variability signals were recorded. Only the three sessions/week group revealed significant improvements in mean heart rate variability at the end of the 12 neurofeedback sessions (p = 0.05); however, significant interaction was not found when compared with both groups. It is possible to conclude that neurofeedback training of individual alpha band may induce changes in heart rate variability in physically active athletes.

Acquisition and User Behavior in Online Science Laboratories before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the closure of schools at every level, globally, forcing education to move online. Meeting the needs of students online for Science Lab classes, in particular, is a challenge since the physical labs are not available to the teachers or students. OLabs is a virtual Science Lab providing a complete learning environment of theory, experimental procedures, videos, animations, simulations, and assessments that capture real lab experiences with the relevant pedagogy. This study looks at the acquisition and behaviors of users, on the OLabs platform, during pre and COVID-19 times. Using Google Analytics, we observe that, during the pandemic time, users increasingly adopted OLabs as a new learning pedagogy for performing experiments as indicated by parameters like the number of users; the number of unique pages viewed per session; time spent on viewing content; bounce rate; and preference for content types such as theory, simulations, videos, and animations.

Acquisition and User Behavior in Online Science Laboratories before and during COVID-19 Pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in the closure of schools at every level, globally, forcing education to move online. Meeting the needs of students online for Science Lab classes, in particular, is a challenge since the physical labs are not available to the teachers or students. OLabs is a virtual Science Lab providing a complete learning environment of theory, experimental procedures, videos, animations, simulations, and assessments that capture real lab experiences with the relevant pedagogy. This study looks at the acquisition and behaviors of users, on the OLabs platform, during pre and Covid-19 times. Using Google Analytics, we observe that, during the pandemic time, users increasingly adopted OLabs as a new learning pedagogy for performing experiments as indicated by parameters like the number of users; the number of unique pages viewed per session; time spent on viewing content; bounce rate; and preference for content types such as theory, simulations, videos, and animations.

MO856IMPACT OF HEMODIALYSIS TIME PROLONGATION ON BLOOD PRESSURE CONTROL IN PREVALENT HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

Background and Aims Hypertension prevalence among ESRD patients range from 76% to 90%. Sodium & volume overload is among the main mechanisms. Increasing theduration of dialysis time, either by longer session hours or increased sessions, aiming at reducing the dry weight to achieve euvolemia, may be beneficial for individuals who failed to achieve target BP or ideal volume status during standard HD prescription hours.We aim to study the effect of increasing hemodialysis session time on blood pressure control. Method This observational study was conducted on 50 adult clinically stable hypertensive prevalent HD patients on thrice weekly maintenance HD. Patients with secondary causes of hypertension and Patients with decompensated medical conditions were excluded from our study.Patients were divided into 2 groups:(A) 25 patients who received longer session hemodialysis session (4.5hour) and (B) 25 patients HD who received the usual 4 hours session. Revision of antihypertensive medications&dosages,dry weight was reassessed regularly, andthey were instructed to restrict their salt intake as much as possible aiming at BP <140/90mmHg.they werefollowed up for a period of 6 months assess changes of pre-dialysis blood pressure to monitor response. Results Patients in both groups were age matched, with male sex predominance (64%in groupA&56% in groupB). Patients in both groups underwent their HD sessions mostly through AVF (68% and 92% for group A and B respectively). Ultrafiltration volume declined significantly with longer HD sessions compared to conventional sessions (p-value <0.001 vs 0.523). Longer HD session time session was associated with highly significant decline in mean SBP, (p-value <0.001). Longer HD session time session was associated with highly statistically significant decline in mean DBP, (p-value <0.001). The decline in mean perdialysis SBP & DBP was -17.27 &-9 mmHg, respectively and the rate of decline of postdialysis SBP & DBP was -6.45 & -12.38 mmHg, respectively at 6th month compared to values in 1st month of follow up period. Conclusion Longer HD session duration is associated with better improvement in UF volume, mean SBP&DBP, pre-dialysis SBP&DBP and post-dialysis SBP&DBP as well.

OPTIMIZED CONVECTIVE VOLUME IN ONLINE HEMODIAFILTRATION

Hemodiafiltration (HDF) adds convective elimination of middle molecules (MM), proportional to filtered volume (Vconv) on the top of diffusion-based elimination of small molecules (SM) by conventional hemodialysis (HD). Studies, both observational and randomized controlled ones, performed so far generally indicated positive impact of higher Vconv on all-cause mortality in HDF patients, although the magnitude of Vconv at which HDF becomes apparently superior to HD differed widely among the studies. Also the issue of a suitable anthropometric parameter by which the Vconv should be normalized has not yet been solved. Data from the ESHOL study seems to indicate that patient´s body surface area (BSA) could well be used for this—mortality was decreasing with increasing Vconv/BSA with a bottom plateau starting at about 15 L/m2. We have therefore devised a formula and a graph for determination of Vconv which fulfils the requirement Vconv/BSA= 15. Assuming maximum feasible and safe filtration fraction QF/QB= 0.3, the Vconv actually defines the necessary blood flow (QB) to reach Vconv/BSA= 15 as QB=15·BSA/(0.3·t) (t – session time). It is also possible to check what QB is needed in terms of sufficient diffusion-based transport (target Kt/V) and compare both QB values to see if adequate combined elimination of both SM and MM can be achieved at the same time and under what conditions, respectively.

Effects of Tai Chi Chuan on Cognitive Function in Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic and Meta-Analytic Review

This systematic and meta-analytic review aimed to investigate the effects of Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) on the cognitive function of the elderly with cognitive impairment and to analyze the moderators of these effects. We searched eight electronic databases for randomized controlled trials on the effects of TCC on cognitive function, published up to June 14, 2020. The PEDro scale was used to evaluate the methodological quality of the included literature. Stata14.0 software was used for meta-analysis, subgroup analysis, and publication bias testing. A total of 19 studies and 1,970 samples were included. The methodological quality of the included literature was fair to good, and there was no publication bias. Overall, the research shows that the effect of TCC on the elderly with cognitive impairment is statistically significant (SMD = 0.31, p < 0.0001 ). Five of the cognitive function subdomains were significant moderators [Q (5) = 15.66, p = 0.008 ], and the effect size (ES) was the largest for global cognitive function (SMD = 0.41), followed by executive function (SMD = 0.33), memory (SMD = 0.31), and verbal fluency (SMD = 0.27). Regarding the exercise prescription variables, results were significantly moderated by the length of exercise training [Q (2) = 6.00, p = 0.05 ], with ESs largest for moderate length (SMD = 0.41), followed by short length (SMD = 0.40) and long length (SMD = 0.29). However, the results were not moderated by session time or frequency. TCC can improve multiple cognitive functions of the elderly with cognitive impairment. The intervention effects are moderated by exercise length, but not by exercise session time and frequency.

Effect of Scribes on Efficiency in Academic Ophthalmology Practice

Objective The aim of the study is to determine the effects of scribes on efficiency in an academic ophthalmology practice. Design This is a quality improvement study conducted by two ophthalmologists at an academic ophthalmology practice at UT Health San Antonio from January 2018 to April 2018. Implementation of scribes in practice was the primary intervention. Session time, patient encounter time, and template time adherence were recorded pre- and post-intervention. A second retrospective arm of the study at the same institution was performed to evaluate long-term effects of scribes on efficiency in ophthalmology practice on session times and patient volume 12 to 18 months after intervention. Main Outcome Measures Primary study outcomes and measures were the effect of scribes in academic ophthalmology practice on physician efficiency in terms of clinic session time, individual encounter time, and amount of patients seen per session, in addition to time adherence based on type of patient encounter. Results Eighty-three patients and 17 half-day clinic sessions and 169 patients and 21 half-day clinic sessions were included in the preintervention and post-intervention datasets, respectively. Number of patients per session was approximately 15 and was kept similar pre- and post-intervention (p = 0.45). Mean preintervention session time was 265.0 ± 31.4 minutes, in contrast to 223.4 ± 19.9 minutes after intervention (p < 0.001). Mean preintervention patient encounter time was 15.0 ± 8.3 minutes, while the mean encounter time after intervention was 10.9 ± 7.0 minutes (p < 0.005). In a retrospective analysis of 20 clinic sessions and 438 patients 12 to 18 months after intervention, session time increased to 266.0 ± 22.0 minutes on average, but the average number of patients per session increased to 21.9 ± 2.8 minutes. Conclusion Utilizing scribes in an ophthalmology practice can increase efficiency, allowing more patients to be seen or allowing time for other activities such as teaching or research.

P1552CAN WE GET ADEQUATE DIALYSIS WITH LIQUID AT 300 ML/MIN ?

Background and Aims The portable HD monitors achieve a good adaptation with HD dialysate at 200ml / min using the concept of saturation of the HD dialysate. We decrease from 800ml / min to 500ml / min with good adaptation some years ago. To assess the effectiveness of HD in both HD-standard and HDF-online with dialysate flow at 300ml / min by establishing approximate mathematical model of clearance. Methods We conducted an HD session with dialysate flow at a speed of 300ml / min, half week session to 52 patients in our unit. We value vascular access, session time, liters of blood-purified and total infusion in HDF online. We review HD monitor and dialyzer. We perform pre and postHD blood determinations: Urea, B2microglobulin, P and uric acid, assessing urea reduction rate (PRU), b2microglobulin reduction rate (PR2microg) with both dialysate flows at 300ml / min and 500ml / min. We also have evaluated the differences between the two methods. In the HD dialysate flow we determine at 300ml / min at 5, 10, 30, 45 and 60min (total dialysate collection in the first hour with sample of the mixture) urea, B2microg, Uric acid and P and at 2, 3 and 4 hours establishing a mathematical model with an approximation curve in both HD and online HDF. Results Five patients in standard HD (4h), 35 HDF online (4h) (x Liters infused 24.87 ± 2.79 l) and 12 short-daily HD (2h30min). 18 catheter and 34 FAV. Xliters purified blood = HD daily 54.41 ± 5.63l, HD standard 87.38 ± 6.01 and HDFonline 82.02 ± 16.13l. The xPRU = 76.17 ± 10.49%, PRB2microg = 73.82 ± 13.49, Kt / V = 1.52 ± 0.28. By scheme at 300ml / min of HD fluid flow: HDFonline xPRU = 81.54 ± 5.25, Standard HD = 78.01 ± 3.03, Daily HD = 60.19 ± 6.71; xPRb2microg HDFonline = 76.70 ± 14.76%, Standard HD 65.44 ± 11.81, Daily HD = 69.16 ± 6.49. Comparing the xPRU at 300ml / min of liquid vs 500ml / min we didn´t found significant differences, nor in the x preHD of urea and B2microglobulin. With the dialysate samples we obtain a polynomial model of order 7 allowing cuantitative adjustment of the curve.R2 0.9, observing in the first 2 hours the greater removing. Conclusions 1. The results are sufficient to consider the result of the removing in each scheme adequate. 2. The decrease in costs would be important (40% of water + energy saving and longer duration elements water treatment. 3. Further study are necessary.