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Another Aim (another + aim)
Selected AbstractsEffects of dyslexia on postural control in adultsDYSLEXIA, Issue 2 2010M. Patel Abstract Dyslexia has been shown to affect postural control. The aim of the present study was to investigate the difference in postural stability measured as torque variance in an adult dyslexic group (n=14, determined using the Adult Dyslexia Checklist (ADCL) and nonsense word repetition test) and an adult non-dyslexic group (n=39) on a firm surface and on a foam block and with eyes open and eyes closed. Another aim was to investigate the correlation between ADCL scores and postural stability. Findings showed that ADCL scores correlated with torque variance in the anteroposterior direction on foam with eyes closed (p=0.001) and in the lateral direction on the foam surface with eyes closed (p=0.040) and open (p=0.010). General Linear Model analysis showed that high dyslexia scores were associated with increased torque variance (p<0.001). However, we found no significant difference between dyslexics and non-dyslexics, though there were indications of larger torque variance in the dyslexics. The findings suggest that adults with high dyslexic ADCL scores may experience sub-clinical balance deficits. Hence, assessing motor ability and postural control in those with high ADCL scores is motivated. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Adaptation of normal and hypofunctional masseter muscle after bite-raising in growing ratsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORAL SCIENCES, Issue 6 2000Andrea Bresin The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of prolonged muscular elongation induced by bite-raising on the length of the muscle belly, sarcomeres and aponeurosis of the anterior deep masseter in the growing rat. Another aim was to determine the role of different functional conditions of this muscle in the adaptation process. Ninety-six young male rats were split into two groups: one was fed a hard diet and the other a soft diet to develop different functional capacities in the masticatory muscles. After 2 wk, half of the rats in both groups were fitted with an appliance that raised the bite by 2 mm. The measurements on the muscles were performed in situ. The insertion of the appliance stretched the anterior masseter muscle. After 4 wk, the vertical dentoskeletal dimension, the muscle belly, and the sarcomeres showed no difference in length among the groups. However, the aponeurosis was longer in the rats wearing the appliance compared to the controls, and among the bite block groups it was longer in the rats fed a hard diet. Length adaptation occurred in the aponeurosis. Clinically this may imply a need for reactivation of functional appliances to increase their efficiency, at a rate possibly depending on masseter muscles functional condition. [source] Effect kinetics of desmopressin-induced platelet retention in healthy volunteers treated with aspirin or placeboHAEMOPHILIA, Issue 1 2000Lethagen Desmopressin is often used for haemostatic treatment in platelet dysfunction, but the effect kinetics of platelet responses and the mechanism of action are poorly known. This study aimed to determine the kinetics of platelet function responses induced by desmopressin in healthy volunteers treated with aspirin or placebo. Another aim was to correlate platelet responses to changes of von Willebrand factor (vWF) in plasma. We measured platelet function with a glass bead retention test, Ivy bleeding time, vWF:Ag and multimeric structure in plasma. Median baseline platelet retention was 12% (normal reference range 16,27%) during aspirin treatment and 18% during placebo. Median peak platelet retention after desmopressin was 33% during aspirin treatment and 34% during placebo. After about 3 h platelet function had returned to baseline. A second desmopressin dose after 3 h stimulated platelet retention to a similar extent as the first dose. There was no correlation between platelet responses and quantitative or qualitative changes of vWF in plasma. Platelet count did not change significantly. Thus, desmopressin's effect on platelet function lasts for about 3 h, but may be prolonged by a second dose immediately thereafter. These findings may have important clinical implications for patients with aspirin-induced platelet dysfunction undergoing surgery. [source] ON SOCIAL NETWORK ANALYSIS IN A SUPPLY CHAIN CONTEXT,JOURNAL OF SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2009STEPHEN P. BORGATTI The network perspective is rapidly becoming a lingua franca across virtually all of the sciences from anthropology to physics. In this paper, we provide supply chain researchers with an overview of social network analysis, covering both specific concepts (such as structural holes or betweenness centrality) and the generic explanatory mechanisms that network theorists often invoke to relate network variables to outcomes of interest. One reason for discussing mechanisms is to facilitate appropriate translation and context-specific modification of concepts rather than blind copying. We have also taken care to apply network concepts to both "hard" types of ties (e.g., materials and money flows) and "soft" types of ties (e.g., friendships and sharing-of-information), as both are crucial (and mutually embedded) in the supply chain context. Another aim of the review is to point to areas in other fields that we think are particularly suitable for supply chain management (SCM) to draw network concepts from, such as sociology, ecology, input,output research and even the study of romantic networks. We believe the portability of many network concepts provides a potential for unifying many fields, and a consequence of this for SCM may be to decrease the distance between SCM and other branches of management science. [source] Polyester composites reinforced with noncrimp stitched glass fabrics: Experimental characterization of composites and investigation on the interaction between glass fiber and polyester matrixPOLYMER COMPOSITES, Issue 3 2008Volkan Cecen The primary purpose of the study was to investigate the anisotropic behavior of different noncrimp stitched fabric reinforced polyester composites. The effects of geometric variables on composite structural integrity and strength are illustrated. Hence, tensile, three-point bending flexural and short beam shear tests were conducted up to failure on specimens strengthened with different layouts of fibrous plies in noncrimp stitched fabric. The remark, based on the observations while tensile testing, is that the stress,strain curves of polyester based composites were linear in the direction of fibers. However, in the matrix dominated orientations nonlinear relation between the stress and the strain was observed. Another aim of the present work was to investigate the interaction between glass fiber and polyester matrix. The experiments, in conjunction with scanning electron photomicrographs of fractured surfaces of composites, were interpreted in an attempt to explain the interaction between glass fiber and polyester and were interpreted in an attempt to explain the instability of polyester resin,glass fiber interfaces. It was concluded that the polymer was either deposited between adjacent fibers or as widely separated islands on the fiber surface. Infrared spectra of the cured polyester and its glass fiber composite were obtained by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers [source] Initiation of stimulant and antidepressant medication and clinical presentation in juvenile bipolar I disorderBIPOLAR DISORDERS, Issue 2 2008Maria E Pagano Objectives:, The primary purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which the initiation of stimulant and antidepressant medication was associated with the subsequent onset of juvenile bipolar I disorder (BP I). Another aim was to investigate differences in clinical presentation between youths prescribed stimulant or antidepressant medication before and after the onset of juvenile BP I disorder. Methods:, Youths between the ages of 5 and 17 years meeting full, unmodified DSM-IV diagnostic symptom criteria for BP were included in this study. Data regarding the age of onset of BP I, psychiatric comorbidities, and current symptoms of mania and depression were obtained. Medication history was recorded as part of the assessment interview with parents and youths. Results:, Of the 245 youths with BP I, 65% (n = 160) were treated with stimulant medication; 32% (56/173) were treated after the onset of BP I, and 19% (32/173) were treated before the onset of BP I. Forty-six percent (113/245) were treated with antidepressant medication; 33% (67/206) were treated after the onset of BP I, and 3% (7/206) were treated before the onset of BP I. Patients who were treated with stimulants after the onset of BP I were significantly more likely to be younger (p < 0.0001). Patients who were treated with antidepressants before the onset of BP I were significantly more likely to be older and to have lower levels of mania on the Young Mania Rating Scale at assessment (p < 0.01). Conclusions:, Data from this retrospective case series do not support the association between initial stimulant or antidepressant use and the onset of BP I or presenting symptoms of depression or manic symptoms. [source] Comparison between aortic annulus motion and mitral annulus motion obtained using echocardiographyCLINICAL PHYSIOLOGY AND FUNCTIONAL IMAGING, Issue 5 2006K. Emilsson Summary Earlier studies have shown that the aortic root, in analogy with the mitral annulus, moves towards the left ventricular apex during systole. However, there are no earlier studies comparing the amplitude of the aortic annulus motion (AAM) with that of the mitral annulus (MAM), which was the main aim of the study. Another aim was to study the intra- and interobserver reproducibility (IIOR) of measuring AAM with M-mode and 2-D echocardiography as it is not obvious which of the methods that should be used. Twenty-one healthy subjects were examined by echocardiography. AAM and MAM were measured at different sites. IIOR was measured in 10 of the subjects. There was no significant difference between average AAM (15·3 ± 1·5 mm) and average MAM (15·6 ± 1·5 mm) and there was a rather good agreement between the variables. There was also no significant difference between AAM at the septal site (16·3 ± 2 mm) and average MAM, but a significant difference between AAM at the lateral site (14·2 ± 1·6 mm) and average MAM (P<0·001) and between the both sites of measuring AAM (P<0·001). The significant difference between the two sites of measuring AAM may have anatomical reasons but may also depend on difficulties in measuring AAM at the septal site where it has lower reproducibility than at the lateral site. IIOR of measuring AAM was good when using M-mode but poor when using 2-D echocardiography and AAM should preferably be measured using M-mode and not using 2-D echocardiography. [source] Comparing and contrasting some environmental and experimental design problems,ENVIRONMETRICS, Issue 4 2001R. J. Martin Abstract Designing an unreplicated field trial essentially involves firstly selecting the plots for the check varieties, and secondly arranging the check varieties among these plots. Selecting the check plots appears to be very similar to choosing sites for a monitoring network, or choosing sites in a region at which to take a sample. The problems appear to be even closer if spatial dependence is postulated, when another aim in choosing the sites is to allow efficient estimation of the dependence. In this paper, the designs of monitoring networks and spatial samples, and some related design problems, are considered to see if they have implications for the design of unreplicated field trials. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | ||||||||||