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Responsiveness
Kinds of Responsiveness Selected AbstractsTHE INCOME TAX RESPONSIVENESS OF THE RICH: EVIDENCE FROM FREE AGENT MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ALL-STARSCONTEMPORARY ECONOMIC POLICY, Issue 4 2007JUSTIN M. ROSS This paper examines the responsiveness of the rich to state income taxes. We use Major League Baseball free agents who were named All-Stars at some point in their career and who signed with a U.S. team for the 1991 through 2002 seasons. This data set overcomes some of the previous difficulties encountered in similar studies but also has limitations representing the general rich population. We find evidence that the wages of this subset of players do adjust to offset the burden of state income taxes, specifically a 1% decrease in net-of-tax rate leads to a 3.3% increase in salary. (JEL H20, H24, H71, R23) [source] Reproducibility, validity, and responsiveness of a disease-specific symptom questionnaire for gastroesophageal reflux diseaseDISEASES OF THE ESOPHAGUS, Issue 4 2000C. J. Allen The purpose of this study was to establish the reproducibility, validity, and responsiveness of a symptom questionnaire to assess patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). A total of 300 patients with GERD completed questionnaires before and 6 months after laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication. Forty-six GERD patients who continued on omeprazole served as controls. Lower esophageal sphincter pressure, 24-h pH, and quality of life (SF36) were measured at baseline and follow-up. Reproducibility was calculated as an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) from a repeated-measures analysis of variance on symptom scores (SS) on two consecutive days. Validity was established by correlating SS with 24-h pH and SF36 scores. Responsiveness was calculated as the the ratio of the mean paired difference in score in the surgical group to the within-subject variability in control subjects. Reproducibility was very high, as revealed by an ICC of 0.92. Strong correlations between SS and SF36 scores at baseline and after surgery demonstrated high cross-sectional validity. Correlation between change in SS and change in pH, SF36 pain, general health, and physical health scores demonstrated longitudinal validity. The mean (95% confidence interval) paired differences in SS were 25.6 (23.7, 27.5) in the study and 2.0 (,3.2, 7.3) in the control groups, and the responsive index was 1.0. The estimated minimally important clinical difference was 7. We conclude that the symptom score is a reproducible, valid, and responsive instrument for assessing symptoms caused by GERD. [source] Infants' Attention and Responsiveness to Television Increases With Prior Exposure and Parental InteractionINFANCY, Issue 1 2008Rachel Barr This study examined the relation between early television exposure and parental interaction style during infant-directed television programs on 2 outcomes: infant looking time and infant responsiveness. By quasi-experimental design half of the 12- to 18-month-old infants had prior exposure to the program content and the other half did not. Cluster analysis based on parental verbalizations revealed 3 types of parental coviewing style: high, medium, and low scaffold. Looking time was significantly higher for infants previously exposed to these videos than for those who were not. Infant looking time was also significantly higher, and infants responded more, when parents provided high levels of scaffolding in the form of questions and labels or descriptions. The results suggest that both prior exposure and parental style are associated with infant attention and responsiveness to television and have important implications for both parents and television producers. [source] Validity, reliability, and responsiveness of the EQ-5D in inflammatory bowel disease in GermanyINFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES, Issue 1 2010Renee G. Stark MD Abstract Background: The EuroQol (EQ)-5D questionnaire is a generic instrument measuring health-related quality of life. Its validity, reliability, and responsiveness were assessed in a large sample of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. Methods: The EQ-5D was completed initially (270 CD and 232 UC subjects) and after 4 weeks (447 subjects) with a transition question rating health change. Responsiveness of EQ visual analog scale (EQ-VAS) and the United Kingdom (UK-index) and German EQ-5D index (EQ-index) scores to reported changes in health was evaluated by standardized response means (SRM) and meaningful differences (MDs). Results: EQ-VAS and EQ-index scores correlated well with disease activity indices and differed significantly between active disease and remission groups. All scores were reliable in test,retest (ICC: EQ-VAS: 0.89; UK-index: 0.76; German EQ-index: 0.72). According to SRM, EQ-VAS was more responsive for deterioration in health than for improvement in health and was more responsive than index scores. Index scores were most responsive for deterioration in health in subjects in remission and for improved health in subjects with active disease. MDs for improved health (EQ-VAS: 10.9; UK EQ-index: 0.076; German EQ-index: 0.050) and deteriorated health (EQ-VAS: ,14.4; UK EQ-index: ,0.109; German EQ-index: ,0.067) were significant, but MD of EQ-VAS also differed significantly according to disease activity. Conclusions: The EQ-5D generates valid, reliable, and responsive preference-based valuations of health in CD and UC. EQ-VAS scores were more responsive than EQ-5D index scores. Thus, small health differences that are important from the patient's perspective may not be reflected in the EQ-index. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2010 [source] Periapical lesion progression and cytokine expression in an LPS hyporesponsive modelINTERNATIONAL ENDODONTIC JOURNAL, Issue 7 2001A. F. Fouad Abstract Aim The purpose of this study was to compare periapical lesion progression and the expression of the bone modulating cytokines IL-1,, TNF-,, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-11 in periapical lesions of normal and C3H/HeJ (LPS hyporesponsive) mice. Methodology Pulps of both mandibular first molars from C3H/HeJ and BALB/c (normal) mice were exposed and inoculated with normal mouse oral microorganisms for 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks. After euthanasia, specimens were prepared for histological examination. A quantitative evaluation of the lesional area and immunohistochemical stain counts was performed. Results There were no statistically significant differences in progression of periapical lesions for both mouse strains with time (two-factor anova, P > 0.05). The immunohistochemical staining revealed no overall differences between the two strains in levels of expression of the cytokines (P > 0.05). IL-11 expression did not change from control levels in BALB/c mice, but correlated with the expression of IL-6 and IL-4 in C3H/HeJ mice. Conclusion Responsiveness to LPS may not be significant in the pathogenesis of periapical lesions and in cytokine expression within the lesions, when the lesions are induced by non-specific oral flora. [source] ARCHSECRET: a multi-item scale to measure service quality within the voluntary sectorINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NONPROFIT & VOLUNTARY SECTOR MARKETING, Issue 2 2001Liz Vaughan This paper provides an overview of the application of SERVQUAL reflecting the theoretical criticisms concerning disconfirmation model, process orientation, role of expectations and portability. The original SERVQUAL framework was found to be inappropriate for services that had no close analogue with the private sector. A qualitative research study was undertaken to establish the sector-specific criteria used by customers to evaluate service quality. The study identified 40 potentially unique features of the service as perceived by service recipients. These features were developed into a pilot survey instrument that comprised 40 questions, covering expectations, perceptions and importance. A pilot study was undertaken to test the instrument among disabled customers and their carers across the main centres of a national voluntary organisation. Analyses of the pilot survey data resulted in a set of 27 distinct statements across ten hypothesised service quality dimensions. These are Access, Responsiveness, Communication, Humaneness, Security, Enabling/Empowerment, Competence, Reliability, Equity, and Tangibles, giving rise to the acronym ARCHSECRET. The ARCHSECRET instrument is potentially a powerful diagnostic tool for managers in their pursuit of continuous quality improvement within voluntary sector organisations. Copyright © 2001 Henry Stewart Publications [source] Yield Responsiveness in Two- and Six-Rowed Barley Grown in Contrasting Nitrogen EnvironmentsJOURNAL OF AGRONOMY AND CROP SCIENCE, Issue 3 2006S. Arisnabarreta Abstract Two- and six-rowed barley with different intrinsic ability to produce tillers and kernels per ear, would differ in responsiveness to nitrogen availability with environmental improvements. Two field experiments were carried out to elucidate how nitrogen supply (N40 and N150) affects yield and its components in two- and six-rowed barley. High nitrogen increased aboveground dry matter at anthesis, by improving cumulative solar radiation intercepted by the crop, determining an increased dry-matter production at maturity without changes in harvest index. In both barley types, variations in grain yield were explained by changes in kernels per unit land area rather than by differences in the average kernel weight. However, changes in the number of kernels were due to variations in the number of ears per m2 in two-rowed barley and the number of kernels per ear in six-rowed barley. Ears per unit area showed a greater responsiveness in two- than in six-rowed barley due to a higher nitrogen supply treatment, associated with their intrinsic higher tillering capacity, while the number of kernels per ear was more responsive in six- than in two-rowed types. The fact that responses to nitrogen by the number of kernels per unit land area in two- and six-rowed barley is better explained by different yield sub-components, allows the speculation that the critical period for yield determination would differ between barley types. [source] The Relationship Between the Action of Arginine Vasopressin and Responsiveness to Oral Desmopressin in Older Men: A Pilot StudyJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 4 2007Theodore M. Johnson II OBJECTIVES: To identify whether oral desmopressin (ddAVP) reduced nocturnal urine volume (NUV) in older men with nocturia without obvious bladder outlet obstruction and to determine whether deficiencies in arginine vasopressin (AVP) release and action demonstrated using water deprivation testing predicted responsiveness to ddAVP. DESIGN: Participants had a 2-day Clinical Research Center (CRC) evaluation followed by a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of individually titrated oral ddAVP. SETTING: Participants were from a single Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. MEASUREMENTS: Maximum urine osmolality and percentage increase in osmolality were measured after subjects received aqueous vasopressin as part of the overnight water deprivation study; these data were used to categorize participants as normal, having partial central AVP deficiency, or having impaired renal responsiveness to AVP. Response to ddAVP was assessed using data from frequency-volume records. RESULTS: Fourteen participants completed the CRC stay and ddAVP trial. Subjects given ddAVP reduced NUV significantly from baseline (P=.02) and had significantly lower NUV than when on placebo (P=.01). The mean net reduction in NUV from ddAVP compared to placebo was 14±18%. Using water deprivation testing to categorize participants, 10 were normal, two had partial central AVP deficiency, and two had impaired renal responsiveness. The mean net reduction in NUV for those with abnormal water deprivation tests was 11±25%, versus 15±16% for those with normal water deprivation testing (P=.70). CONCLUSION: In this small randomized, controlled trial in older men with nocturia, ddAVP reduced NUV. Counter to expectations, participants deemed normal according to water deprivation tests had approximately equivalent responsiveness to ddAVP. Although this study cannot offer definitive conclusions on the lack of prediction of water deprivation testing for ddAVP benefit, these data offer additional information that may help clarify the pathophysiology and optimal treatment of nocturia in older men. [source] Meaningful Change and Responsiveness in Common Physical Performance Measures in Older AdultsJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 5 2006Subashan Perera PhD OBJECTIVES: To estimate the magnitude of small meaningful and substantial individual change in physical performance measures and evaluate their responsiveness. DESIGN: Secondary data analyses using distribution- and anchor-based methods to determine meaningful change. SETTING: Secondary analysis of data from an observational study and clinical trials of community-dwelling older people and subacute stroke survivors. PARTICIPANTS: Older adults with mobility disabilities in a strength training trial (n=100), subacute stroke survivors in an intervention trial (n=100), and a prospective cohort of community-dwelling older people (n=492). MEASUREMENTS: Gait speed, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), 6-minute-walk distance (6MWD), and self-reported mobility. RESULTS: Most small meaningful change estimates ranged from 0.04 to 0.06 m/s for gait speed, 0.27 to 0.55 points for SPPB, and 19 to 22 m for 6MWD. Most substantial change estimates ranged from 0.08 to 0.14 m/s for gait speed, 0.99 to 1.34 points for SPPB, and 47 to 49 m for 6MWD. Based on responsiveness indices, per-group sample sizes for clinical trials ranged from 13 to 42 for substantial change and 71 to 161 for small meaningful change. CONCLUSION: Best initial estimates of small meaningful change are near 0.05 m/s for gait speed, 0.5 points for SPPB, and 20 m for 6MWD and of substantial change are near 0.10 m/s for gait speed, 1.0 point for SPPB, and 50 m for 6MWD. For clinical use, substantial change in these measures and small change in gait speed and 6MWD, but not SPPB, are detectable. For research use, these measures yield feasible sample sizes for detecting meaningful change. [source] A Common SCN5A Variant Alters the Responsiveness of Human Sodium Channels to Class I Antiarrhythmic AgentsJOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 4 2007MOSSAAB SHURAIH M.D. Background: The potential pathophysiological role of common SCN5A polymorphisms in cardiac arrhythmias has been increasingly recognized. However, little is known about the impact of those polymorphisms on the pharmocological response of hNav1.5 to various antiarrhythmic agents. Methods and Results: The known SCN5A polymorphism, S524Y, was studied in comparison with the wild type (WT) define the SCN5A-Q1077del variant. The ion channel gating kinetics and pharmacology were evaluated using whole-cell patch-clamp methods in HEK-293 cells. Consistent with a previous report, the basal ion channel gating kinetics of S524Y were indistinguishable from the WT. Quinidine (20 ,M) caused similar extent of tonic block reduction of sodium currents at ,120 mV in WT and S524Y. Surprisingly, quinidine (20 ,M) exerted a more use-dependent block by a 10 Hz pulse train in S524Y than in WT at 22°C (Ki: WT, 51.3 ,M; S524Y, 20.3 ,M). S524Y significantly delayed recovery from the use-dependent block, compared with the WT (,= 88.6 ± 7.9 s vs 41.9 ± 6.6 s, P < 0.005). Under more physiological conditions using a 2 Hz pulse train at 37°C, S524Y similarly enhanced the use-dependent block by quinidine. In addition, S524Y enhanced the use-dependent block by flecainide (12.5 ,M), but not by mexiletine (100 ,M). Conclusion: A common SCN5A polymorphism, S524Y, can enhance a use-dependent block by class Ia and Ic antiarrhythmic agents. Our findings may have clinical implications in pharmacological management of cardiac arrhythmias since this common SCN5A polymorphism might be a contributing factor to the variable antiarrhythmic response. [source] Responsiveness to staff support: evaluating the impact of individual characteristics on the effectiveness of active support training using a conditional probability approachJOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH, Issue 8 2002C. Smith Abstract Background Active support training was fully conducted in 38 community houses accommodating 106 adults with intellectual disabilities (ID; group 1), but not in a further 36 accommodating 82 adults with ID (group 2). The aims of the present study were to analyse whether staff became more effective in supporting resident activity after the implementation of active support, and whether there was evidence of differential responsiveness by people with differing status in relation to adaptive behaviour, psychiatric diagnosis, challenging behaviour or autism. Methods Observations of staff:resident interaction and resident engagement in activity were taken before and after active support training. Changes in Yule's Q statistics, indicating the likelihood that resident engagement in activity followed staff giving residents verbal instruction or non-verbal assistance, were compared for the two groups. In addition, changes in similar statistics were compared for residents within group 1: (1) with Adaptive Behaviour Scale (ABS) scores above and below 180; and (2) with and without severe challenging behaviour, the triad of social impairments and mental illness. Results Yule's Q for engagement given non-verbal assistance significantly increased post-training among group 1, but not among group 2. Similar significant increases were found among group 1 residents with ABS scores below 180 without challenging behaviour, with and without the triad of social impairments, and without mental illness, but not with an ABS score above 180, with challenging behaviour and with mental illness. Conclusion The present analysis reinforces previous studies on the effectiveness of active support training for adults with more severe ID (i.e. with ABS scores below 180). Active support was as effective for people with the triad of social impairments as for those without it. However, the effectiveness of support offered to people with challenging behaviour or mental illness did not significantly increase. [source] Responsiveness, affinity constants and receptor reserves for serotonin on aortae of aged normotensive and hypertensive ratsJOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 10 2001Sheila A. Doggrell We have previously shown that the potency and affinity constants (KA values) for serotonin (5-HT) are greater, and the 5-HT2A -receptor reserve is lesser, on the aorta of 6-month-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) compared with age-matched Wistar Kyoto normotensive (WKY) rats. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether these parameters are altered on the aorta with ageing and as hypertension progresses to heart failure. The effects of phenoxybenzamine on the serotonergic responses of the aortae of 24-month-old WKY rats and SHRs were determined. On WKY rat aorta, ageing from 6 to 24 months was associated with an increase in sensitivity and affinity for serotonin, and a loss of 5-HT2A -receptor reserve. On SHR aorta, ageing from 6 to 24 months was also associated with an increase in sensitivity and affinity for serotonin, but a loss of 5-HT2A -receptor reserve. The sensitivity to serotonin was greater on the 24-month-old SHR aorta (pD2 6.53) than age-matched WKY rat aorta (pD2 5.89). On the aorta of the 24-month-old WKY rats, the KA value for serotonin was 4.5 times 10,6 M, and the receptor occupancies required for 20 and 50% maximum responses were 12 and 29%, respectively. There was a similar affinity, but greater receptor reserves, for serotonin on the aorta of age-matched SHRs. In summary, we have shown changes in sensitivity, affinity and 5-HT2A -receptor reserves for serotonin on the aorta with ageing and in hypertension/heart failure. [source] Fetal Exposure to Moderate Ethanol Doses: Heightened Operant Responsiveness Elicited by Ethanol-Related ReinforcersALCOHOLISM, Issue 11 2009Samanta M. March Background:, Prenatal exposure to moderate ethanol doses during late gestation modifies postnatal ethanol palatability and ingestion. The use of Pavlovian associative procedures has indicated that these prenatal experiences broaden the range of ethanol doses capable of supporting appetitive conditioning. Recently, a novel operant technique aimed at analyzing neonatal predisposition to gain access to ethanol has been developed. Experiment 1 tested the operant conditioning technique for developing rats described by Arias and colleagues (2007) and Bordner and colleagues (2008). In Experiment 2, we analyzed changes in the disposition to gain access to ethanol as a result of moderate prenatal exposure to the drug. Methods:, In Experiment 1, newborn pups were intraorally cannulated and placed in a supine position that allowed access to a touch-sensitive sensor. Paired pups received an intraoral administration of a given reinforcer (milk or quinine) contingent upon physical contact with the sensor. Yoked controls received similar reinforcers only when Paired pups activated the circuit. In Experiment 2, natural reinforcers (water or milk) as well as ethanol (3% or 6% v/v) or an ethanol-related reinforcer (sucrose compounded with quinine) were tested. In this experiment, pups had been exposed to water or ethanol (1 or 2 g/kg) during gestational days 17 to 20. Results:, Experiment 1 confirmed previous results showing that 1-day-old pups rapidly learn an operant task to gain access to milk, but not to gain access to a bitter tastant. Experiment 2 showed that water and milk were highly reinforcing across prenatal treatments. Furthermore, general activity during training was not affected by prenatal exposure to ethanol. Most importantly, prenatal ethanol exposure facilitated conditioning when the reinforcer was 3% v/v ethanol or a psychophysical equivalent of ethanol's gustatory properties (sucrose,quinine). Conclusions:, The present results suggest that late prenatal experience with ethanol changes the predisposition of the newborn to gain access to ethanol-related stimuli. In conjunction with prior literature, this study emphasizes the fact that intrauterine experience with ethanol not only augments ethanol's palatability and ingestion, but also facilitates the acquisition of response,stimulus associations where the drug acts as an intraoral reinforcer. [source] Validation of a client-based clinical metrology instrument for the evaluation of canine elbow osteoarthritisJOURNAL OF SMALL ANIMAL PRACTICE, Issue 6 2009C. A. Hercock Objective: To validate a disease-specific client-based clinical metrology instrument (questionnaire) for dogs with chronic osteoarthritis of the elbow joint. Materialsand Methods: This was a prospective cohort study involving 26 dogs with chronic osteoarthritis of the elbow with 24 associated clients. Validity (face and criterion), reliability and responsiveness of the metrology instrument (named "Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs [elbow]") were tested in a sequence of studies. Face validity involved use of international peer review. Reliability was assessed using a test-retest scenario with a two week interval; peak vertical force as measured by a force platform was used as an external standard measure. Responsiveness was tested with a two week, single-blinded placebo-controlled intervention using a licensed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Results: The reliability of Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (elbow) in the test-retest scenario was good; intraclass correlation coefficient is 0·89, 95 per cent confidence interval 0·75 to 0·95, compared with intraclass correlation coefficient 0·92, 95 per cent confidence interval 0·74 to 0·98, for peak vertical force. Responsiveness testing indicated that the "net" effect size (allowing for placebo effect) for Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (elbow) was 0·13 compared with (,)0·18 for the force platform. Criterion validity for Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (elbow) against peak vertical force was poor; Spearman's rank correlation is ,0·24 (P=0·30). Clinical Significance: Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (elbow) was considered reliable with satisfactory responsiveness. The poor criterion validity suggests a mismatch between force platform peak vertical force and client perceptions of lameness. This instrument requires further validation in larger studies with alternative client groups and alternative therapeutic interventions, but this initial validation suggests that Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (elbow) is worthy of continued investigation. [source] Fetal Learning With Ethanol: Correlations Between Maternal Hypothermia During Pregnancy and Neonatal Responsiveness to Chemosensory Cues of the DrugALCOHOLISM, Issue 5 2004Paula Abate Abstract: Background: Fetuses learn about ethanol odor when the drug is present in the amniotic fluid. Prenatal learning comprising ethanol's chemosensory cues also suggests an acquired association between ethanol's chemosensory and postabsorptive properties. Ethanol-related thermal disruptions have been implicated as a significant component of the drug's unconditioned properties. In the present study, ethanol-induced thermal changes were analyzed in pregnant rats subjected to a moderate ethanol dose. This thermal response was later tested for its correlation with the responsiveness of the progeny to ethanol and nonethanol chemosensory stimuli. Methods: During gestational day (GD) 14, pregnant rats were subjected to a minor surgical procedure to place a subcutaneous telemetric thermal sensor in the nape of the neck. During GDs 17 to 20, females received a daily intragastric administration of ethanol (2 g/kg) or water, using solutions kept at room temperature. Maternal body temperatures were recorded before and after (4 consecutive hours) the administration of water or ethanol. Newborns representative of both prenatal treatments were tested in terms of behavioral activity elicited by the smell of ethanol or of a novel odorant (cineole). A third group of pups were tested in response to unscented air stimulation. Results: Ethanol administration during late gestation induced reliable maternal hypothermia, a thermal disruption greater than that observed in water-treated females. It was systematically observed that maternal ethanol-induced hypothermia negatively correlated with neonatal motor reactivity elicited by ethanol olfactory stimulation. No other significant correlations were observed in terms of responsiveness to cineole or to unscented air in animals prenatally exposed to ethanol or water. Conclusions: In conjunction with prior research, the present results indicate that fetal ethanol exposure may yield learning of an association between ethanol's sensory and unconditioned properties. Ethanol-induced hypothermia during late gestation seems to represent a significant component of ethanol's unconditioned consequences. Specifically, ethanol-related thermal disruptions in the womb are highly predictive of neonatal responsiveness to ethanol's chemosensory cues that are known to be processed by the near-term fetus. [source] Early Responsiveness to Stimuli Paired With Different Stages Within the State of Alcohol IntoxicationALCOHOLISM, Issue 5 2002Ricardo M. Pautassi Background: Infant rats quickly learn to avoid a sensory cue paired with alcohol as an unconditioned stimulus, particularly when the drug reaches peak blood concentrations. In this study, a tactile cue paired with the onset of alcohol intoxication preceded subsequent presentations of a gustatory conditioned stimulus (CS). The goal was to address the possibility of differential conditioning depending on when stimuli were introduced during the course of the toxic state. Methods: In experiment 1, rat pups received sequential presentations of a salient texture (sandpaper) and a gustatory cue (saccharin) while intoxicated with a 2.5 g/kg alcohol dose or after receiving saline. Texture location tests and saccharin intake assessments were then performed. A third modality of assessment was defined by a saccharin intake test while pups simultaneously experienced sandpaper. In experiment 2, alcohol-mediated conditioning was followed by tests similar to those of experiment 1, but after pups were re-exposed to either the tactile CS or the alcohol-unconditioned stimulus. Results: Conditioned taste aversions, due to pairing saccharin and the later stage of alcohol intoxication, were reliably established in both experiments. Also in both experiments, this excitatory aversive response was dramatically inhibited when the association between the texture CS and the earlier stage of alcohol intoxication was activated. There were no indications of conditioned motor responses to the tactile CS that might compete with intake behavior of saccharin or distort measurement of an appetitive memory derived from pairing the texture and the earlier stage of intoxication. Conclusions: Rat pups' expression of an association between a taste signaling aversive consequences of alcohol was eliminated by the presence of a tactile stimulus that originally had signaled the absence of aversive consequences of alcohol intoxication. The results suggest the interaction of inhibitory and excitatory conditioning involving the aversive properties of alcohol. [source] Binge Pattern Ethanol Exposure in Adolescent and Adult Rats: Differential Impact on Subsequent Responsiveness to EthanolALCOHOLISM, Issue 8 2000Aaron M. White Background: Recent evidence indicates that adolescent animals are more sensitive than adults to the disruptive effects of acute ethanol exposure on spatial learning. It is not yet known whether adolescent animals are also more sensitive than adults to the enduring neurobehavioral effects of repeated ethanol exposure. In this study, animals were exposed to ethanol in a binge-pattern during either adolescence or adulthood. At a time when all subjects were adults, spatial working memory was examined in the absence and presence of an acute ethanol challenge. Methods: Rats were exposed to ethanol (5.0 g/kg intraperitoneally) or isovolumetric saline at 48 hr intervals over 20 days. Exposure began on either postnatal day 30 (adolescent group) or 70 (adult group). Twenty days after the final injection, a time at which all animals were adults, the subjects were tested on an elevated plus maze and then were trained to perform a spatial working memory task on an eight-arm radial maze. At the beginning of each session of training on the working memory task, subjects retrieved food rewards on four of the eight arms. After a delay, subjects were placed on the maze and allowed to retrieve food from the remaining four arms. Results: Prior exposure to ethanol did not influence behavior on the plus maze. Performance of the groups did not differ during acquisition of the spatial working memory task with a 5 min delay or during subsequent testing with a 1 hr delay. However, animals treated with ethanol during adolescence exhibited larger working memory impairments during an ethanol challenge (1.5 g/kg intraperitoneally) than subjects in the other three groups. Conclusions: The findings indicate that binge pattern exposure to ethanol during adolescence enhances responsiveness to the memory-impairing effects of ethanol in adulthood. [source] Development and validation of a disease-specific quality of life questionnaire for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: the GERD-QOL questionnaireALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 3 2010Y. CHAN Aliment Pharmacol Ther,31, 452,460 Summary Background, A simple and meaningful health-related quality of life (HRQoL) questionnaire for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients is lacking. Aim, To develop and validate a disease-specific HRQoL instrument (GERD-QOL) for GERD patients. Methods, An 18-item questionnaire was generated to measure the impact of GERD on sleep, exercise, diet, need for medication, sex life, work, social activity and psychological well-being. GERD patients were invited to complete the GERD-QOL, a visual analogue scale (VAS) and a validated Chinese generic QoL (SF-36) questionnaire before and after esomeprazole treatment. Factor analysis was performed for item selection and psychometric properties were measured. An English version was developed by a forward-backward translation process. Results, A final 16-item GERD-QOL questionnaire was developed. The items were grouped into four subscales (Daily activity, Treatment effect, Diet, and Psychological well-being) after factor analysis. GERD-QOL had good item-internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha: 0.64,0.88), high test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.73,0.94, P < 0.001). Its subscale scores were correlated with SF-36 and VAS, which demonstrated high construct validity (P < 0.001). Discriminant validity was verified by correlating GERD-QOL scores with symptom severity (P < 0.001). Responsiveness after esomeprazole treatment was significant (paired- t -test P < 0.001). An English version of GERD-QOL was developed. Conclusion, The instrument, GERD-QOL, is valid and reliable. [source] Reproducibility of Airway Responsiveness in Horses Using Flowmetric Plethysmography and Histamine BronchoprovocationJOURNAL OF VETERINARY INTERNAL MEDICINE, Issue 3 2009R. D. Nolen-Walston Background: Inflammatory airway disease has a high prevalence in horses, but is often a diagnostic challenge. Flowmetric plethysmography and histamine bronchoprovocation (FP/HBP) is a simple and effective tool for diagnosis, but reproducibility of these measurements made over time has not been established. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that the measurement of airway responsiveness in horses using FP/HBP is consistent over both short and long periods of time. Animals: Twenty-nine healthy adult horses from 2 university herds. Methods: In this prospective experimental study, airway responsiveness was determined in each horse at day 0 (baseline [BL]) with FP/ HBP, using PC35 (provocative concentration of histamine needed to increase ,flow by 35%) as a measure of airway responsiveness. Each horse was re-tested 1,4 weeks after BL (short-term [ST]) and again at 3,12 months after BL (long-term [LT]). Results: In the ST period, 23/27 (85%) of the horses had a PC35 that was within 1 doubling concentration of histamine of their BL value, with a mean change of 0.52 doubling concentrations (95% CI 0.26,0.79, range 0,2.06). For the LT data, 19/26 (73%) of horses were within 1 doubling concentration of their BL value, with a mean change of 0.81 doubling concentrations (95% CI 0.45,1.17, range 0.14,3.10). There was no significant difference in reproducibility between the 2 groups of subjects. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Repeated measurements of airway responsiveness obtained with FP/HBP show acceptable reproducibility over time periods up to a year. However, caution must be used when testing horses when ambient air temperature is low. [source] International validation of a health-related quality of life questionnaire in patients with erosive gastro-oesophageal reflux diseaseALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 6 2009G. HOLTMANN Summary Background, Although erosive gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a highly prevalent condition, there is no specific, valid, reliable and sensitive questionnaire that allows evaluating treatment-induced changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Aim, To design a self-administered questionnaire, the GERD Analyzer (GERDyzer), for use in clinical studies. Methods, The GERDyzer comprises 10 dimensions each illustrated by pictogram-like drawings, simplifying communication with the patients. Self-assessment is performed by 100 mm Visual Analogue Scales. For validation, a 5-week clinical trial involving 395 patients (per-protocol) with oesophagitis was conducted. Patients were treated with pantoprazole (40 mg o.d.) for 28 days. Psychometric analyses included internal consistency, test,retest reliability, responsiveness and construct validity. Results, Factor analysis showed consistency of the dimensions and no reduction was necessary. Validation of GERDyzer indicated high internal consistency (Cronbach's , = 0.95) and test,retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient =0.91). Responsiveness of the total score expressed by nonparametric effect size was 1.38. Comparison of scores with other questionnaires resulted in logical correlation levels depending on the respected concepts measured. Conclusions, GERDyzer proved to be highly valid, reproducible and responsive. It allows reliably assessing treatment-induced changes in HRQoL in erosive GERD. [source] Extending Responsiveness to Intervention to Mathematics at First and Third GradesLEARNING DISABILITIES RESEARCH & PRACTICE, Issue 1 2007Lynn S. Fuchs Responsiveness to intervention (RTI) is an innovative approach to the identification of learning disabilities (LD). The central assumption is that RTI can differentiate between two explanations for low achievement: poor instruction versus disability. If the child responds poorly to validated instruction, then the assessment eliminates instructional quality as a viable explanation for poor academic growth and instead provides evidence of a disability. For children who do respond nicely, RTI serves a critical prevention function. Most of RTI research has been focused on early reading. In this article, we describe two ongoing programs of research on RTI in the area of mathematics: one on a comprehensive mathematics curriculum at first grade and the other focused on word problems at third grade. For each research program, we describe the sample, explain how students are identified as at risk for mathematics disability, provide an overview of the interventions to which responsiveness is gauged, and describe some results to date. [source] Responsiveness to General Education Instruction as the First Gate to Learning Disabilities IdentificationLEARNING DISABILITIES RESEARCH & PRACTICE, Issue 3 2003Deborah L. Speece Most definitions of learning disabilities (LD) include a qualification that adequate general education instruction was received and the child with LD did not benefit. Rarely is this tenet assessed in either practice or research before a diagnosis is made. We review three studies that investigated children's responsiveness to general education reading instruction as an indicator of need for more intensive interventions. Adequacy of instruction was quantified by children's level and rate of progress, compared to classmates, as measured by curriculum-based measures of oral reading fluency. We found that the response-to-instruction model tested was valid in that (1) children who differ from their peers on level and slope of performance (dual discrepancy) have more severe academic and behavioral problems than children who have IQ-achievement discrepancies or low achievement; (2) children who demonstrate persistent nonresponsiveness over three years differ from other at-risk children on reading, reading-related, and behavioral measures; and (3) at-risk children who participated in specially designed general education interventions had better outcomes than at-risk children who did not participate. We conducted additional analyses to assess low achievement definitional variations and found that they lack sensitivity and coverage compared to a dual discrepancy definition. [source] Validation of a 7-point Global Overall Symptom scale to measure the severity of dyspepsia symptoms in clinical trialsALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 4 2006S. J. O. VELDHUYZEN VAN ZANTEN Summary Background, Currently there is no consensus on the optimal method to measure the severity of dyspepsia symptoms in clinical trials. Aim, To validate the 7-point Global Overall Symptom scale. Methods, The Global Overall Symptom scale uses a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 = no problem to 7 = a very severe problem. Validation was performed in two randomized-controlled trials (n = 1121 and 512). Construct validity: Global Overall Symptom was compared with the Quality of Life in Reflux And Dyspepsia, Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale, Reflux Disease Questionnaire and 10 specific symptoms using Spearman correlation coefficients. Test,retest reliability: The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient was calculated for patients with stable dyspepsia defined by no change in Overall Treatment Effect score over two visits. Responsiveness: effect size and standardized response mean were also calculated. Results, Construct validity: Change in Global Overall Symptom score correlated significantly with Quality of Life for Reflux And Dyspepsia, Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale, Reflux Disease Questionnaire and specific symptoms (all P < 0.0002). Reliability: The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient was 0.62 (n = 205) and 0.42 (n = 270). Responsiveness: There was a positive correlation between change in Global Overall Symptom and change in symptom severity. The effect size and standardized response mean were 1.1 and 2.1, respectively. Conclusion, The Global Overall Symptom scale is a simple, valid outcome measure for dyspepsia treatment trials. [source] Validity of the Spanish version of the Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ) as a standard outcome for quality of life assessment,LIVER TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 1 2006Montserrat Ferrer The Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ) measures the impact on quality of life of chronic liver diseases, regardless of underlying etiology. The aim of this study was to develop a Spanish version of the CLDQ, and to assess its acceptability, reliability, validity, and sensitivity to change. The forward and back-translation method by bilingual translators, with expert panel and pilot testing on patients, was used for the adaptation. The final version was self-administered, together with the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36), on 149 consecutive patients with chronic liver disease. Child-Turcotte-Pugh scores were evaluated by a physician. To assess reproducibility and responsiveness the CLDQ was readministered to a subsample of stable patients and to those who had received a liver transplant. Validity was evaluated via exploratory factor analysis, the CLDQ pattern across severity groups, and correlation coefficients with "itching" and SF-36 scores. Cronbach's alpha and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient for CLDQ global score were 0.93 and 0.90, respectively, demonstrating good reliability. Validity was supported by correlations of the CLDQ with SF-36 and "itching," and CLDQ severity gradient (global score means were 5.5, 5.2, 5.0, and 4.5 in patients with no cirrhosis, cirrhosis Child-Turcotte-Pugh A, B, and C, respectively; P = 0.012). Responsiveness was shown by a high CLDQ improvement in patients who had received liver transplant (mean change = ,1.4; P < 0.001). In conclusion, the Spanish CLDQ is reliable, valid, responsive, and equivalent to the original. These findings support its use as a standard outcome for patients with chronic liver diseases within the whole severity range, from "no cirrhosis" to transplant recipients, both in Spanish and international studies. Liver Transpl 12:95,104, 2006. © 2005 AASLD. [source] Quality of life in functional dyspepsia: responsiveness of the Nepean Dyspepsia Index and development of a new 10-item short formALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 2 2001N. J. Talley Background: The Nepean Dyspepsia Index is a reliable and valid measure of quality of life in functional dyspepsia, but responsiveness has been little studied. The Nepean Dyspepsia Index originally contained 42 items designed to measure impairment of a subject's ability to engage in relevant aspects of their life because of dyspepsia, and their enjoyment of these aspects; in addition, the individual importance of areas was assessed. It was subsequently shortened to 25 items, yielding five sub-scales. Aim: To test the Nepean Dyspepsia Index's responsiveness and develop a responsive, very short form. Methods: A randomized, double-blind controlled trial was performed in 589 patients with documented functional dyspepsia. Symptoms and quality of life were measured at baseline, 2 and 4 weeks. Responsiveness of the Nepean Dyspepsia Index quality-of-life section was evaluated by correlation with symptom scores and calculation of standardized changes in scores. Two items from each sub-scale which best represented the area of life (by factor loadings) were selected to create the 10-item short form (SF; short form-Nepean Dyspepsia Index). Internal consistency was assessed by Cronbach's alpha and responsiveness was assessed as above. Results: The Nepean Dyspepsia Index quality-of-life scales demonstrated excellent responsiveness to change in both the active and placebo arms (standardized response means all > 1.0). The Nepean Dyspepsia Index accounted for only 8% of the variance in percentage change in symptoms (by visual analogue scales), indicating that it was evaluating areas of life not covered by symptoms. The 10-item short form had adequate internal consistency (all scales , 0.70) and all strongly (and significantly) correlated with the long form sub-scales; it was also highly responsive. Conclusion: The Nepean Dyspepsia Index is a responsive disease-specific quality-of-life measure; the 10-item short form can be applied in clinical trials of functional dyspepsia. [source] Novel Biomembrane-Mimicking Polymer Surface with Environmental ResponsivenessMACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS, Issue 17 2005Hong Tan Abstract Summary: In this article, we designed and synthesized novel segmented poly(carbonate urethane)s containing both hydrophobic fluorinated alkyl group and hydrophilic phosphatidylcholine polar head groups on the side chain. The contact angle measurement, XPS, together with ATR-IR investigation indicated a reversible overturn of the phosphatidylcholine groups with the movement of the hydrophobic fluorinated alkyl groups when the samples were treated in dry air or water. The change in environment from air to water induced a reorganization of the surface in order to minimize the interfacial free energy, resulting in a macroscopic change of surface wettability. The good environmental responsiveness of such biomembrane-mimicking films may find successful applications as biomaterials. Environmentally responsive surface using FPCPCU50 as an example; FPCPCU50 coated on aligned carbon nanotube film and dried in vacuum at 50,°C for 7 h and sample c treated in hot water at 80,°C for 1 h. [source] Chemokine responsiveness of CD4+ CD25+ regulatory and CD4+ CD25, T cells from atopic and nonatopic donorsALLERGY, Issue 8 2009D. Ahern Background:, Allergic inflammation is associated with Th2-type T cells, which can be suppressed by CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs). Both express chemokine receptors (CCR) 4 and CCR8, but the dynamics of expression and effect of atopic status are unknown. Objective:, To examine the expression of chemokine receptors by CD4+ CD25+ and CD4+ CD25, T cells from atopic and nonatopic donors, and document response to allergen stimulation in vitro. Methods:, Chemokine receptor expression was examined by flow cytometry and quantitative PCR of CD4+ CD25hi and CD4+ CD25, T cells from atopics and nonatopics. Responsiveness to chemokines was by actin polymerization. Dynamics of chemokine receptor expression in 6-day allergen-stimulated cultures was analysed by carboxyfluoroscein succinimidyl ester labelling. Results:, CD4+ CD25hi Tregs preferentially expressed CCR3, CCR4, CCR5, CCR6 and CCR8. CD4+ CD25hi Tregs responded to the chemokine ligands for CCR4, CCR6 and CCR8 (CCL17, 22, 20 and 1 respectively), with no differences between atopic and nonatopic donors. Over 6-day allergen stimulation, CD4+ CD25+ T-cells downregulated CCR4 and upregulated CCR7, in contrast to CD4+ CD25, effector cells, which downregulated CCR7 and upregulated CCR4. Conclusions:, CCR4, CCR6 and CCR8 have potential roles in localization of both CD4+ CD25+ regulatory and CD4+ CD25, effector T cells to sites of allergic inflammation. Upregulation of CCR7 and downregulation of CCR4 upon allergen stimulation of Tregs may allow their recirculation from sites of inflammation, in contrast to retention of effector T cells. [source] Responsiveness of rabbits to superovulation treatment by a single injection of follicle-stimulating hormone with aluminum hydroxide gelMOLECULAR REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 9 2007Shu Hashimoto Abstract Aluminum hydroxide gel (Al-gel), which is used as an adjuvant, can absorb macromolecules. We investigated the applicability of Al-gel to the sustained release of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) as a simplified method of superovulation (SOV) in rabbits. The responsiveness of rabbits to SOV by a single injection of FSH dissolved in Al-gel suspension (3.2 mg Al/ml) and in 10% (w/v) polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and by multiple injections of FSH in saline was examined. The numbers of total and fertilized eggs recovered from rabbits treated with FSH in Al-gel (40.5 and 26.3, respectively) were similar to multiple injections (47.4 and 28.6, respectively) and were significantly greater (P,<,0.05) than single injection of FSH with PVP (17.3 and 11.5, respectively). We also compared the plasma FSH levels of rabbits which were induced SOV by multiple or a single injection of Al-gel. Al-gel provided sustained release of FSH to the blood stream at a high enough dose for SOV. Moreover, the developmental competence of the pups of DNA-injected embryos from rabbits treated with a single injection of FSH mixed with Al-gel (18%) was similar to that of DNA-injected embryos, recovered from rabbits treated with FSH dissolved in saline (21%). Two transgenic pups were obtained from embryos recovered from rabbits by a single injection of FSH with Al-gel. These results indicate that a single injection of FSH with Al-gel is an effective method for SOV of rabbit and that this technique is applicable to research requiring large numbers of rabbit embryos such as the production of transgenic rabbits. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 74: 1208,1212, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Comparison between impairment and disability scales in immune-mediated polyneuropathiesMUSCLE AND NERVE, Issue 1 2003Ingemar S.J. Merkies MD Abstract The ability of a scale to detect clinical relevant changes over time, i.e., its "responsiveness," may help clinicians to choose among valid and reliable measures. Therefore, we investigated the responsiveness' rank ordering (best to worse) of six selected valid and reliable scales, namely the Medical Research Council (MRC)-sumscore, sensory-sumscore, grip-strength (Vigorimeter), nine-hole peg, ten-meters walking, and a disability-sumscore, in immune-mediated polyneuropathies. Patients with newly diagnosed Guillain,Barré syndrome (n = 7) or chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (n = 13) were examined over 52 weeks. Responsiveness of each scale was measured using different methods (effect-size, standardized response mean score, Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank, and a newly devised Schmitz's distribution-free responsiveness score), and the obtained scores in each method were plotted against the follow-up period, thus allowing area-under-the-curve calculations (higher area-under-the-curve indicating better responsiveness). Also, longitudinal correlations were performed between the scales' values and patients' own clinical judgments (deteriorated, unchanged, improved) (higher correlation = better responsiveness). A consistent rank ordering was observed in each technique with the disability-sumscore, MRC-sumscore, and Vigorimeter being among the best responsive scales. Hence, the primary use of these measures is suggested in studies of immune-mediated polyneuropathies. Muscle Nerve 28: 93,100, 2003 [source] Seasonality and Wage Responsiveness in a Developing Agrarian EconomyOXFORD BULLETIN OF ECONOMICS & STATISTICS, Issue 2 2004Sunil Kanwar Abstract This paper studies the wage responsiveness of labour supply and demand, simultaneously addressing the twin issues of the non-clearing of developing rural labour markets and seasonality. It employs a data set pertaining to south-central India, and limits itself to the agricultural market for daily-rated labour (by far the predominant form of wage contract in the sample villages). Estimating a theoretically robust and empirically justified disequilibrium model of the agricultural labour market, we find no evidence of backward-bending supply curves or ,vertical' demand curves, contrary to findings in the literature. Further, while the agricultural labour market appears to be in equilibrium during the kharif (or rainy) season, it manifests excess supply in the rabi (or post-rainy) season. 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