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Subjective Evaluation (subjective + evaluation)
Selected AbstractsRole of color Doppler imaging in diagnosing and managing pregnancies complicated by placental chorioangiomaJOURNAL OF CLINICAL ULTRASOUND, Issue 5 2002Yaron Zalel MD Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of color Doppler imaging in the diagnosis and management of placental chorioangioma. Methods The medical records, sonographic reports, and sonograms of all pregnant women who had placental masses diagnosed in our sonography unit during the years 1992 through 2000 and had been evaluated using both gray-scale and color Doppler sonography were included in this study. Subjective evaluation of the amount and distribution of intralesional vascularity by color Doppler imaging was made in all cases. Cases of chorioangioma of the placenta were compared with cases of placental hemorrhage or subchorionic hematoma. The outcomes of the pregnancies were also recorded. Results Fifteen cases of placental masses were evaluated; 8 of them were identified as placental hemorrhage or subchorionic hematoma on the basis of the sonographic findings. The other 7 cases were identified prenatally as placental chorioangioma, at a mean menstrual age of 23 weeks and a mean maternal age of 29 years. The mean size of the tumor was 6.5 cm (range, 4,13 cm). All cases of chorioangioma showed either substantial internal vascularity or a large feeding vessel within the tumor. Three infants were delivered at term with favorable outcome; 2 of them demonstrated reduction of the intratumoral blood flow during follow-up. The other 4 cases were delivered at or before 32 weeks' menstrual age (1 intrauterine fetal death, 2 terminated pregnancies, and 1 normal infant). No case of placental hematoma demonstrated blood flow within the lesion or was associated with complications of the pregnancy. Conclusions Color Doppler imaging helps differentiate placental chorioangioma from other placental lesions and may be useful in the prenatal follow-up of chorioangioma. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 30:264,269, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI: 10.1002/jcu.10072 [source] Exposure to noise during continuous positive airway pressure: influence of interfaces and delivery systemsACTA ANAESTHESIOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 1 2008F. CAVALIERE Background: We measured noise intensity and perceived noisiness during continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) performed with two interfaces (face-mask, helmet) and four delivery systems. Methods: Eight healthy volunteers received CPAP in random order with: two systems provided with a flow generator using the Venturi effect and a mechanical expiratory valve (A: Venturi, Starmed; B: Whisperflow-2, Caradyne Ltd); one ,free-flow' system provided with high flow O2 and air flowmeters, an inspiratory gas reservoir, and a water valve (C: CF800, Drägerwerk, AG); and a standard mechanical ventilator (Servoventilator 300, Siemens-Elema). Systems A, B, and C were tested with a face-mask and a helmet at a CPAP value of 10 cm H2O; the mechanical ventilator was only tested with the face mask. Noise intensity was measured with a sound-level meter. After each test, participants scored noisiness on a visual analog scale (VAS). Results: The noise levels measured ranged from 57±11 dBA (mechanical ventilator plus mask) to 93±1 and 94±2 dBA (systems A and B plus helmet) and were significantly affected by CPAP systems (A and B noisier than C and D) and interfaces (helmet CPAP noisier than mask CPAP). Subjective evaluation showed that systems A and B plus helmet were perceived as noisier than system C plus mask or helmet. Conclusions: Maximum noise levels observed in this study may potentially cause patient discomfort. Less noisy CPAP systems (not using Venturi effect) and interfaces (facial mask better than helmet) should be preferred, particularly for long or nocturnal treatments. [source] Morphological changes in mouse embryos cryopreserved by different techniquesMICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE, Issue 4 2007A.R.S. Coutinho Abstract Cryopreservation of mammalian embryos is an important tool for the application of reproductive biotechnologies. Subjective evaluation to determine embryo viability is often used. The determination of the best cryopreservation protocol depends on morphological and molecular analysis of cellular injuries. The main objective of this study was to compare two methods of cryopreservation by assessing morphological alterations of frozen embryos using light, fluorescence, and transmission electron microscope. Fresh (control), slow frozen, and vitrified mouse embryos were composed. To evaluate the viability of the embryos, the cell membrane integrity was assessed using Hoechst33342 and propidium iodide (H/PI) staining. Morphological analyses using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining were performed to test different techniques (in situ, paraffin, and historesin) by both light and fluorescence microscopy. Transmission electron microscope was used to detect ultrastructural alterations in Spurr- and Araldite-embedded samples. H/PI staining detected more membrane permeability in the vitrification (69.8%) than in the slow freezing (48.4%) or control (13.8%) groups (P < 0.001). Historesin-embedded samples showed to be more suitable for morphological analyses because cellular structures were better identified. Nuclear evaluation in historesin sections showed the induction of pycnosis in slow freezing and vitrification groups. Cytoplasm evaluation revealed a condensation and an increase in eosinophilic intensity (indicating apoptosis) in the slow freezing group, and weakly eosinophilic structures and degenerated cells (indicating oncosis) in the vitrification group (P < 0.05). Ultrastructural analyses confirmed HE morphological findings. It was concluded that both cryopreservation techniques resulted in oncosis and apoptosis injuries. However, vitrification caused more severe cellular alterations and reduced embryonic viability compared to slow freezing. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2007. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Comparison of the Cobalt Glidescope® video laryngoscope with conventional laryngoscopy in simulated normal and difficult infant airways,PEDIATRIC ANESTHESIA, Issue 11 2009MICHELLE WHITE MB ChB DCH FRCA Summary Aim:, To evaluate the new pediatric Glidescope® (Cobalt GVL® Stat) by assessing the time taken to tracheal intubation under normal and difficult intubation conditions. We hypothesized that the Glidescope® would perform as well as conventional laryngoscopy. Background:, A new pediatric Glidescope® became available in October 2008. It combines a disposable, sterile laryngoscope blade and a reusable video baton. It is narrower and longer than the previous version and is available in a greater range of sizes more appropriate to pediatric use. Methods:, We performed a randomized study of 32 pediatric anesthetists and intensivists to compare the Cobalt GVL® Stat with the Miller laryngoscope under simulated normal and difficult airway conditions in a pediatric manikin. Results:, We found no difference in time taken to tracheal intubation using the Glidescope® or Miller laryngoscope under normal (29.3 vs 26.2 s, P = 0.36) or difficult (45.8 and 44.4 s, P = 0.84) conditions. Subjective evaluation of devices for field of view (excellent: 59% vs 53%) and ease of use (excellent: 69% vs 63%) was similar for the Miller laryngoscope and Glidescope®, respectively. However, only 34% of participants said that they would definitely use the Glidescope® in an emergency compared with 66% who would be willing to use the Miller laryngoscope. Conclusions:, The new Glidescope® performs as well as the Miller laryngoscope under simulated normal and difficult airway conditions. [source] Side-effects of antipsychotic medication and health-related quality of life in schizophreniaACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 2009P. E. Bebbington Objective:, This analysis used data from the large (n = 1208) European Schizophrenia Cohort to examine the association between subjective side-effects of antipsychotic medication and the Mental and Physical Composite Scores (MCS; PCS) of the SF-36 scale. Method:, Relationships between the subjective evaluation of side-effects identified from the Subjective Side-Effects Scale and the adjusted mean score on the PCS and MCS were examined. Where appropriate, these associations of subjective side-effects were compared with those of the same side-effects measured objectively. Results:, In this study, subjective side-effects of antipsychotic medication were linked either to both the PCS and the MCS or, in a few instances, to neither. Subjective evaluations of sexual side-effects were associated only with the MCS, those of sialorrhoea only with the PCS. Objective ratings of extrapyramidal side-effects were related neither to PCS nor to MCS. Conclusion:, These data suggest that side-effects, whether subjective or objective, may need to be considered individually in relation to their impact on quality of life. [source] Repeatability of subjective evaluation of lameness in horsesEQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 2 2010K. G. KEEGAN Summary Reasons for performing study: Previous studies have suggested that agreement between equine veterinarians subjectively evaluating lameness in horses is low. These studies were limited to small numbers of horses, evaluating movement on the treadmill or to evaluating previously-recorded videotape. Objectives: To estimate agreement between equine practitioners performing lameness evaluations in horses in the live, over ground setting. Methods: 131 mature horses were evaluated for lameness by 2,5 clinicians (mean 3.2) with a weighted-average of 18.7 years of experience. Clinicians graded each limb using the AAEP lameness scale by first watching the horse trot in a straight line only and then after full lameness evaluation. Agreement was estimated by calculation of Fleiss' (,). Evaluators agreed if they picked the same limb as lame or not lame regardless of the severity of perceived lameness. Results: After only evaluating the horse trot in a straight line clinicians agreed whether a limb was lame or not 76.6% of the time (,= 0.44). After full lameness evaluation clinicians agreed whether a limb was lame or not 72.9% of the time (,= 0.45). Agreement on forelimb lameness was slightly higher than on hindlimb lameness. When the mean AAEP lameness score was >1.5 clinicians agreed whether or not a limb was lame 93.1% of the time (,= 0.86), but when the mean score was ,1.5 they agreed 61.9% (,= 0.23) of the time. When given the task of picking whether or not the horse was lame and picking the worst limb after full lameness evaluation, clinicians agreed 51.6% (,= 0.37) of the time. Conclusions: For horses with mild lameness subjective evaluation of lameness is not very reliable. Potential relevance: A search for and the development of more objective and reliable methods of lameness evaluation is justified and should be encouraged and supported. [source] Which parameters differ in very old patients with chronic atrial fibrillation treated by anticoagulant or aspirin?FUNDAMENTAL & CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 5 2008Antithrombotic treatment of atrial fibrillation in the elderly Abstract The objective was to determine the main parameters taken into account for the decision of antithrombotic treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) by vitamin K antagonist or aspirin. This was a prospective clinical study of four clinical services of geriatric medicine. Two hundred and nine inpatients, 84.7 ± 7 years (women 60.8%), with chronic AF were included. The patients were distributed into two groups (anticoagulant or aspirin) according to medical decision. All the decision criteria for treatment were recorded: cardiopathy, conditions of life, clinical examination (nutrition and autonomy, mini-mental state examination (MMSE), walking evaluation, comorbidity), subjective evaluation of risk of falls and glomerular filtration rate. The thromboembolic risk and the bleeding risk, evaluated subjectively for each patient, were compared with two scores of thrombo-embolic risk and bleeding risk. The evolution of the patients was recorded after 3 months. Student's t -test and chi-squared tests were used for statistical analysis. One hundred and two patients (48.8%) received anticoagulant and 107 patients received aspirin. Patients in the aspirin group were significantly older (86.5 ± 6.5 vs. 82.9 ± 7.1 years), with more frequent social isolation, higher systolic blood pressure, and had more important subjective bleeding risk and risk of falls. Patients in the anticoagulant group had significantly more valvulopathies and a more important subjective thromboembolic risk. Thrombo-phlebitis antecedents, dementia, denutrition and walking alterations were only slightly more frequent in patients in the aspirin group. Physicians underestimated thromboembolic risk (one-third of patients) and they overestimated bleeding risk (half of the patients). After 3 months, the two groups did not significantly differ for death, bleeding or ischaemic events. In common practice, the decision of antithrombotic treatment for AF should take into account not only cardiovascular but also geriatric criteria. [source] Functional cognitive assessment scale (FUCAS): a new scale to assess executive cognitive function in daily life activities in patients with dementia and mild cognitive impairmentHUMAN PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY: CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL, Issue 5 2006Fotini Kounti Abstract Background Several tests have been developed to examine performance of demented patients in daily life activities. However, most of them are based either on the subjective evaluation of performance by the patient him/herself, or on the reports of relatives. Functional Cognitive Assessment Scale (FUCAS) is a new reliable (,,>,0.89,,,0.92) cognitive-behavioral scale that assesses executive function in daily life activities directly in patients with dementia. Aims This study aimed at testing FUCAS' internal consistency of items, criterion-related validity, interrater reliability, discriminative ability, and effect of age, sex, and education on FUCAS scores. Results Criterion-related validity was supported by significant correlations between FUCAS, CAMCOG, MMSE, and FRSSD. The interrater reliability of FUCAS' total score for two raters was r 0.997 and we found no significant effect of age, sex, or education on FUCAS' total performance. Discriminant analysis has identified that FUCAS was able to sufficiently discriminate the patients with MCI from those with moderate-severe dementia. Conclusion FUCAS is a useful and reliable diagnostic tool for MCI. Cognitive-behavioral assessment such as that provided by FUCAS can provide objective information that can serve to enhance the quality of clinical decision-making. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Representation of the subjective evaluation of the fabric hand using fuzzy techniquesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS, Issue 3 2003Xianyi Zeng This article presents a fuzzy logic,based method for representing and analyzing results of subjective evaluation on the fabric hand given by experts in fashion or quality inspection. This method permits the generation of a quantitative criterion characterizing the quality of textile products and modeling relationships between the subjective fabric hand evaluation and objective numerical data measured on the Kawabata evaluation system (KES). © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Democratic demand for a social Europe?INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WELFARE, Issue 2 2005Preferences of the European citizenry Within the literature on European integration there is a widespread assumption that Europe is in need of intensified and more effective supranational social policy cooperation. However, on the political level it is doubtful whether such measures are welcomed by the national electorates. This article addresses this issue empirically by asking whether there is public demand for promoting greater European welfare policy cooperation and what are the determinants of such a demand. The data source used is the Eurobarometer survey 2000. A number of hypotheses dealing with socio-structural differences, the effects of welfare regime types, the subjective evaluation of the integration process and the role of identity will be scrutinised. Overall, the results indicate that at the attitudinal ,grass root' level there is no unequivocal support for a European welfare responsibility and that some fundamental cleavages are present. It is the regional and cultural aspects, especially, which turn out to be having an effect and to be influencing future political conflicts. A common European welfare arrangement, therefore, cannot be regarded as a solution to the problems the European Union is facing; rather it will raise new and severe problems of finding social and political support. [source] Comparative prospective study on splint therapy of anterior disc displacement without reductionJOURNAL OF ORAL REHABILITATION, Issue 7 2005M. STIESCH-SCHOLZ summary A prospective randomized study was carried out to compare the therapeutic success of two different types of splint in patients with painful anterior disc displacement of the temporomandibular joint. The patients in Group I (n = 20) received stabilization splint therapy and the patients in Group II (n = 20) pivot splint therapy. Clinical investigation of the craniomandibular system was performed before and 1, 2 and 3 months after therapy and this was accompanied by subjective evaluation by the patients of their symptoms, using a validated questionnaire with visual analogue scales (VAS). There was a significant increase in maximum jaw opening and a significant reduction in subjective pain in both groups during the course of therapy (Wilcoxon test, P < 0·05). Active jaw opening increased by a mean of 8·05 mm in the group of patients treated with a stabilization splint (Group I). The comparable figure with pivot splint therapy (Group II) was 8·26 mm. The VAS scale value in Group I was reduced by 30·54 units and in Group II by 39·36 scale units. However, neither of these differences between the groups was statistically significant (Mann,WhitneyU -test, P > 0·05). It can be concluded that both types of splint provided effective therapy in patients with anterior disc displacement. [source] Chewing ability and quality of life among the elderly residing in a rural community in JapanJOURNAL OF ORAL REHABILITATION, Issue 8 2000H. Miura The present study statistically evaluates the relationship between chewing ability and quality of life (QOL) in elderly Japanese residents. We used a subjective evaluation and a mastication score determined by the food intake status to evaluate chewing ability. The PGC morale scale was used to evaluate the QOL level. The mastication score was significantly related to the QOL level in the subject group (P<0·05). The relationship between the subjective evaluation of chewing ability and the score on the PGC morale scale showed a similar tendency. In the section of the PGC morale scale that assesses agitation, attitude towards own aging, and lonely dissatisfaction, chewing ability was correlated with attitude toward own aging in particular (P<0·05). These results have suggested that the chewing ability is closely related to the QOL of the elderly residing in a rural community in Japan. [source] Are there differences between women with urge predominant and stress predominant mixed urinary incontinence?,NEUROUROLOGY AND URODYNAMICS, Issue 2 2007Jack B. Lewis Abstract Objective We sought to determine if there are differences in clinical and urodynamic parameters between women with urge predominant and those with stress predominant mixed urinary incontinence (MUI). Methods Charts of 99 female patients with complaints of MUI were reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups based on the subjective predominance of either stress incontinence (MSUI) or urge incontinence (MUUI). All patients completed a subjective evaluation including an AUA Symptom Index, Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6), and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7). Objective non-invasive measures included physical exam, 48-hr voiding diary, and a 24-hr pad test. Videourodynamics studies (VUDS), performed in all patients, were reviewed and the presence and characteristics of detrusor overactivity (DO) and stress incontinence were noted. Results There were no significant differences between groups with respect to symptom scores. MUUI patients had significantly higher pad usage, and lower maximum and average voided volumes than MSUI patients. They were also more likely to have lower urodynamic bladder capacities and demonstrable DO (70% vs. 26%) on VUDS with contractions occurring at lower bladder volumes and with higher amplitude. MSUI patients were more likely to have demonstrable SUI on physical examination (63% vs. 16%) and on VUDS (100% vs. 61%). Conclusions There do appear to be differences in clinical and urodynamic parameters between patients with stress predominant and urge predominant MUI. These may help to determine which component of the mixed incontinence is more problematic. Neurourol. Urodynam. 26:204,207, 2007. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Users' subjective evaluation of electronic vision enhancement systemsOPHTHALMIC AND PHYSIOLOGICAL OPTICS, Issue 2 2009Louise E. Culham Abstract The aims of this study were (1) to elicit the users' responses to four electronic head-mounted devices (Jordy, Flipperport, Maxport and NuVision) and (2) to correlate users' opinion with performance. Ten patients with early onset macular disease (EOMD) and 10 with age-related macular disease (AMD) used these electronic vision enhancement systems (EVESs) for a variety of visual tasks. A questionnaire designed in-house and a modified VF-14 were used to evaluate the responses. Following initial experience of the devices in the laboratory, every patient took home two of the four devices for 1 week each. Responses were re-evaluated after this period of home loan. No single EVES stood out as the strong preference for all aspects evaluated. In the laboratory-based appraisal, Flipperport typically received the best overall ratings and highest score for image quality and ability to magnify, but after home loan there was no significant difference between devices. Comfort of device, although important, was not predictive of rating once magnification had been taken into account. For actual performance, a threshold effect was seen whereby ratings increased as reading speed improved up to 60 words per minute. Newly diagnosed patients responded most positively to EVESs, but otherwise users' opinion could not be predicted by age, gender, diagnosis or previous CCTV experience. User feedback is essential in our quest to understand the benefits and shortcoming of EVESs. Such information should help guide both prescribing and future development of low vision devices. [source] Postoperative Pain and Side Effects After Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, Laser-Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty, and Radiofrequency Tissue Volume Reduction in Primary SnoringTHE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 12 2003Philippe Rombaux MD Abstract Objectives We compared, in a prospective study, the side effects and the postoperative complications of three procedures commonly used for the treatment of primary snoring. Method Forty-nine patients underwent velopharyngeal surgery for primary snoring (17 for uvulopalatopharyngoplasty [UPPP]; 15 for laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty [LAUP], and 17 for radiofrequency tissue volume reduction [RFTVR]). Preoperative full polysomnographic studies ruled out obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Each patient's evaluation encompassed postoperative pharyngeal pain (as measured by a 5-point visual analogue scale) and use of narcotic drugs in the early postoperative period as well as a subjective evaluation of late postoperative complaints. A surgeon's examination was performed to report postoperative complications in the oropharynx. Results Postoperative pharyngeal pain was less important in the RFTVR group than in the UPPP and LAUP groups. Mean scores at days 3, 7, 16 were as follows: 4.2, 4.0, and 2.4, respectively, for UPPP; 4.6, 3.8, and 1.6 for LAUP; and 2.4, 2.0, and 0.7 for RFTVR. Mean duration of pain with a score greater than 2 was calculated as follows: UPPP, 21.3 days; LAUP, 15.1 days; and RFTVR, 6.1 days. Mean duration of narcotic drug use for the patients who needed this medication was 10.1 days for UPPP, 7.2 days for LAUP, and 1.3 for RFTVR. Postoperative side effects (trouble with smell and taste, pharyngeal dryness, globus sensation, voice change, and pharyngonasal reflux) were more present in the UPPP and LAUP groups than in the RFTVR group. Surgeon's assessment for postoperative complications reported more wound infection, dehiscence, and posterior pillar narrowing in the UPPP and LAUP groups than in the RFTVR group. Conclusion RFTVR is a safer and less painful procedure than UPPP and LAUP for the treatment of primary snoring. Postoperative discomfort after LAUP and after UPPP appears to be very similar. [source] Short-term clinical effects of commercially available gel containing Acacia arabica: a randomized controlled clinical trialAUSTRALIAN DENTAL JOURNAL, Issue 1 2010AR Pradeep Abstract Background:, Certain plants used in folk medicine serve as a source of therapeutic agent by having antimicrobial and other multi-potential effects. This prospective, randomized, placebo and positively controlled clinical trial was designed to evaluate the short-term clinical effects of a commercially available gel containing Acacia arabica in the reduction of plaque and gingival inflammation in subjects with gingivitis. Methods:, Ninety subjects diagnosed with chronic generalized gingivitis were selected and randomly divided into three groups: Group I , placebo gel, Group II , gumtone gel and Group III , 1% chlorhexidine gel. Clinical evaluation was undertaken using the gingival index of Loe and Silness and the plaque index at baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 6 weeks. A subjective evaluation was undertaken by questionnaire. Results:, Gumtone gel showed significant clinical improvement in gingival and plaque index scores as compared to a placebo gel. This improvement was comparable to 1% chlorhexidine gel. Unlike chlorhexidine gel, gumtone gel was not associated with any discolouration of teeth or unpleasant taste. Conclusions:, Gumtone gel may be a useful herbal formulation for chemical plaque control agent and improvement in plaque and gingival status. [source] A randomised trial of a retropubic tension-free vaginal tape versus a mini-sling for stress incontinenceBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 6 2010M Basu Please cite this paper as: Basu M, Duckett J. A randomised trial of a retropubic tension-free vaginal tape versus a mini-sling for stress incontinence. BJOG 2010; DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2010.02513.x. Objective, To compare a mini-sling with a retropubic tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and urodynamic stress incontinence (USI). Design, Randomised trial. Setting, Urogynaecology unit in large UK district general hospital. Population, Women with USI resistant to conservative management and requiring a suburethral sling. Methods, A total of 71 women with SUI and confirmed USI were randomised to undergo treatment with either a retropubic TVT or mini-sling. Follow-up was at 6 weeks, with a history, examination and quality of life questionnaire, and at 6 months with further subjective evaluation and twin-channel subtraction cystometry and pressure-flow studies. Main outcome measures, The presence of SUI at 6 weeks and 6 months after treatment. Results, The mini-sling was associated with a significantly higher rate of persistent SUI at 6 weeks (OR 9.49, 95% CI 2.8,32.6) and 6 months (OR 8.14, 95% CI 2.7,24.7), and of USI at 6 months (OR 7.58, 95% CI 2.7,24.7). The rate of complication was similar in the two groups. Conclusions, The mini-sling is associated with a higher failure rate than a retropubic TVT. Longer term and multicentre outcome data are necessary to explore these findings further. Until this is available, the mini-sling should be used with caution. [source] Computational Models for the Combination of Advice and Individual LearningCOGNITIVE SCIENCE - A MULTIDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL, Issue 2 2009Guido Biele Abstract Decision making often takes place in social environments where other actors influence individuals' decisions. The present article examines how advice affects individual learning. Five social learning models combining advice and individual learning-four based on reinforcement learning and one on Bayesian learning-and one individual learning model are tested against each other. In two experiments, some participants received good or bad advice prior to a repeated multioption choice task. Receivers of advice adhered to the advice, so that good advice improved performance. The social learning models described the observed learning processes better than the individual learning model. Of the models tested, the best social learning model assumes that outcomes from recommended options are more positively evaluated than outcomes from nonrecommended options. This model correctly predicted that receivers first adhere to advice, then explore other options, and finally return to the recommended option. The model also predicted accurately that good advice has a stronger impact on learning than bad advice. One-time advice can have a long-lasting influence on learning by changing the subjective evaluation of outcomes of recommended options. [source] The influence of attachment representation on parental perception and interpretation of infant emotions: A multilevel approachDEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOBIOLOGY, Issue 5 2010Gottfried Spangler Abstract The aim of the study was to investigate parental perception and interpretation of infant emotional expression depending on their attachment representation. Forty-six parents' responses to infant pictures depicting positive, neutral, and negative emotions were assessed on the level of affective judgments (valence, arousal), mimic responses (facial muscle activity), and of the eyelid reflex (using the startle paradigm). Results revealed small differences between parents of different attachment representations with respect to their subjective evaluations. However, secure parents, as compared to insecure ones, showed a positive bias in their mimic responses to infant pictures. The modulation of the startle response indicated a negative evaluation of negative infant emotion expressions in dismissing parents, while an augmentation of the startle response to negative infant emotions could not be observed in secure and preoccupied parents. The findings highlight the role of attachment experiences for emotional information processing in parents and its consequences for parental behavior. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 52: 411,423, 2010. [source] Effect of gender on acute pain prediction and memory in periodontal surgeryEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORAL SCIENCES, Issue 2 2000Ilana Eli Pain is a complex experience that is affected by factors such as gender, stress, anxiety and cognitions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the inter-relationship between gender and acute pain prediction and memory under periodontal surgery treatment. The study was conducted on 15 male and 22 female dental patients (mean age 34 yr, mean education level 14.7 yr), who were scheduled for periodontal surgery. Patients were evaluated during four consecutive appointments: at initial check-up, immediately pre-operatively, 1 wk post-operatively, and at 4 wk post-operative follow-up. Patients were requested to complete questionnaires concerning their anxiety at each appointment and to indicate their subjective evaluations concerning pain (on a visual analogue scale). Evaluations concerning expectation to experience pain during the planned surgery (pain prediction) were made at the first two appointments and evaluations of the experienced pain as remembered from the surgery (pain memory) were made at the last two appointments. Gender had a significant effect on pain prediction and pain memory. Men expected to experience more pain pre-operatively than women but remembered less pain post-operatively. It was concluded that cognitive pain perception in clinical situations differs between genders. [source] Parental perception and interpretation of infant emotions: psychological and physiological processesINFANT AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT, Issue 4 2005Gottfried Spangler Abstract To study parental experience and perception of infant emotional expressions parents' responses to infant pictures depicting positive, neutral and negative emotions were assessed on the level of affective judgments (perceived and experienced valence and arousal), of mimic responses (facial muscle activity) and of the eyelid reflex (using the startle paradigm). In general, while parents were able to appropriately perceive infant emotions and were clearly affected by them, they exhibited a bias for positive interpretation. This was obvious from their subjective evaluations which, e.g. were more positive for experienced than for perceived valence, as well as from their mimic responses indicating positive responses in general. In addition, infant pictures including the negative ones lead to an inhibition of the startle reflex, indicating a positive evaluation of infant emotions on the sub-cortical level. These effects were most prominent when parents were faced with pictures of their own infants as compared to unfamiliar ones. The way parents process information about infant emotions may facilitate appropriate responsiveness to infants' needs. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Predicting needs for nursing home admission , does sense of coherence delay nursing home admission in care dependent older people?INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OLDER PEOPLE NURSING, Issue 1 2009A longitudinal study Objectives., This study examined predisposing, enabling and need variables (Andersen's Behavioral Model) influencing the need for nursing home admission (NHA) in older people receiving home nursing care. In particular, the potential role of coping ability, measured as ,sense of coherence' (SOC), was studied. Design, sample, and measurements., A survey with baseline- and follow-up data after a 2-year period was undertaken with 208 patients aged 75+. The measures used were: gender, education, age, social visits, SOC, social provision scale (SPS), self-rated health (SRH), general health questionnaire (GHQ), clinical dementia rating (CDR), Barthel activities of daily living (ADL) index, and registered illnesses (RI). A Cox proportional model was used to examine factors that could explain risk of NHA. Results., Measures with predictive properties were Barthel ADL index, SPS, SRH, and gender. SOC, along with subjective health complaints, general health questionnaire, RI and social visits did not predict NHA. Conclusions., It is concluded that the patients' subjective evaluations of both their health and perceived social support were important predictors of future NHA needs, and should be seriously taken into consideration, along with the more commonly used objective measures of ADL and CDR. [source] Do radiologists agree on the quality of computed tomography enterography?JOURNAL OF MEDICAL IMAGING AND RADIATION ONCOLOGY, Issue 4 2009Kari Ersland Summary This study aimed to assess variation between radiologists evaluating the quality of multi-detector computed tomography enterography. For 40 consecutive examinations, three experienced radiologists independently rated the following quality variables: % length of adequately filled bowel, bowel lumen diameters, bowel wall delineation, superior mesenteric vein, and bowel wall enhancement, artefacts, and total quality. We calculated the mean difference between observers with standard deviation (SD) for continuous variables and % total agreement, exact Fleiss kappa, and P -values (McNemar's test) for categorical variables. Depending on bowel segment (duodenum distal to bulb, jejunum, ileum, terminal ileum), mean difference between observers ranged from two to 33 (SD from 11 to 32) for % length of adequately filled bowel judged subjectively, 0,2 (SD 0,3) mm for smallest bowel lumen diameter and 0,4 (SD 3,7) mm for largest bowel lumen diameter. Agreement on bowel wall delineation was 80%/kappa 0.50 in duodenum, 90%/kappa 0.57 in jejunum, 75%/kappa 0.14 in ileum and 88%/kappa 0.17 in terminal ileum, where ratings differed between observers (P < 0.04). Agreement was 65%/kappa 0.18 for bowel wall enhancement judged subjectively. For contrast enhancement measured in Hounsfield Units, mean difference between observers ranged from two to 11 (SD 12,15) in normal jejunum wall and zero to one (SD 4,5) in the superior mesenteric vein depending on observer pair. Agreement was 78%/kappa 0.12 for image artefacts. Rating of total examination quality (good/optimal versus poor/very poor) differed between observers (P < 0.01); agreement was 60%/kappa 0.41. Many subjective evaluations varied between observers. We believe that measurements of bowel lumen diameters and contrast enhancement may be preferable. [source] Playing to win: Biological imperatives, self-regulation, and trade-offs in the game of career successJOURNAL OF ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR, Issue 2 2005Nigel Nicholson The article applies evolutionary theory to the concept of career success, to argue the primacy of ,objective' outcomes, utilities such as status and wealth, and to analyze why the relationship with subjective career success is not stronger. Although there are grounds for expecting subjective evaluations to be sympathetic secondary accompaniments of objective success and failure, there are substantial numbers of paradoxically ,happy losers' and ,unhappy winners' in the career game. These are explored theoretically as adaptive outcomes of self-regulation and sense-making processes. The nature of that game is then explored by a closer examination of the interrelations and decay functions of the major objective success outcomes. This is undertaken as a theoretical exercise, and also by reference to the evidence in the literature. Both approaches support the existence of close linkages among most of these outcomes, though empirical data reveal variations that highlight the importance for careerists to be aware of trade-offs and risks in career strategies. Context mediates these relationships, especially key contingencies such as individual differences, gender, career stage, culture, and business sector. The implications are discussed; in particular the role of careers theory and research in helping to cut through some of the ideological aspects of ,subjective' careers in order to help raise the awareness of actors in the labor market about objective career realities. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||