A systematic review of three approaches for constructing physical activity messages: What messages work and what improvements are needed?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To motivate individuals to adhere to a regular physical activity regime, guidelines must be supplemented with persuasive messages that are disseminated widely. While substantial research has examined effective strategies for disseminating physical activity messages, there has been no systematic effort to examine optimal message content. This paper reviews studies that evaluate the effectiveness of three approaches for constructing physical activity messages including tailoring messages to suit individual characteristics of message recipients (message tailoring), framing messages in terms of gains versus losses (message framing), and targeting messages to affect change in self-efficacy (i.e., a theoretical determinant of behavior change).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We searched the MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE and CINAHL databases up to July 2008. Relevant reference lists also were searched. We included intervention trials, field experiments, and laboratory-based studies that aimed to test the efficacy or effectiveness of tailored messages, framed messages and self-efficacy change messages among healthy adults. We used a descriptive approach to analyze emerging patterns in research findings. Based on this evidence we made recommendations for practice and future research.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Twenty-two studies were identified. Twelve studies evaluated message tailoring. In 10 of these studies, tailored messages resulted in greater physical activity than a control message. Six studies evaluated framed messages. Five of these studies demonstrated that gain-framed messages lead to stronger intentions to be active compared to a control message. Moreover, a gain-frame advantage was evident in three of the four studies that assessed physical activity. Four studies evaluated self-efficacy change messages. The two studies that used an experimental design provide a clear indication that individuals' beliefs can be affected by messages that incorporate types of information known to be determinants of self-efficacy. Overall, strong evidence to support definitive recommendations for optimal message content and structure was lacking.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Additional research testing the optimal content of messages used to supplement physical activity guidelines is needed. Tailored messages, gain-framed messages, and self-efficacy change messages hold promise as strategies for constructing physical activity messages and should be a focus of future research.</p

Medium development strategies and scale down models for a high density high productivity cell line

Medium Development at Regeneron continues to enhance fed batch culture productivity. These efforts have been enabled through the development of high throughput scale down models in shake flasks and the ambr® 250. Design of Experiment (DOE) approaches have been applied to optimize the operating conditions in the small scale models leading to performance for growth and titer that match benchtop bioreactor with no off-set. The development of these representative scale down models and our approach to medium development will be described. A medium development case study will be presented from a recent Regeneron fed batch process with a cell line achieving high cell densities and depleting the culture of key amino acids. The traditional medium development approach of supplementing the culture with the depleted nutrients was unsuccessful: high amino acid consumption rates required large amounts of amino acids resulting in significantly increased culture osmolality and reduced productivity. Leveraging high throughput culture systems and multifactor DOEs, multiple medium composition factors in combination were rapidly evaluated. Mathematical models relating medium input factors to process outputs are generated that allow for process optimization. Using this approach, a new feeding strategy was developed that limits increases in osmolality and yields titers approaching 10g/L in both the scale down systems and a process that has been implemented for clinical scale manufacturing of a monoclonal antibody

An analysis of the relationships between speech and reading abilities of four hundred and twenty-five first grade children.

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

Development of scale down models for perfusion bioreactor medium optimization

Due to the complex nature of balancing \u3e50 individual media components, the development and optimization of bioreactor medium for high performing perfusion bioreactors is a resource intensive, multivariate problem that greatly benefits from the availability of predictive high through-put scale-down models that simulate the bioreactor system. For that purpose, both a 10 mL long-term block model and 50 mL shaker tube model were developed and optimized to settings that balance oxygen transfer, culture health, and productivity. The long-term block model was limited by the volume needed for culture sampling; as a result, the shaker tube model was developed with a 7.5x increase in working volume. This shaker tube model was then applied to adequately characterize cell nutrient consumption profiles and subsequently inform medium development through multivariate design of experiments (DOE). Within two rounds of studies in the scale-down models, Regeneron’s first-generation perfusion medium formulation achieved approximately 100% increase in productivity compared to the initial medium. The improved nutrient strategy optimized in shaker tubes translated to several cell lines in the benchtop and pilot scale bioreactor perfusion system, indicating the predictive capabilities of the small-scale model. These results highlight the benefits of using small-scale models to shorten development time for perfusion process implementation

Wildlife Damage to Seedlings in Reforested in Hardwood Sites in Mississippi

Herbivory assessments were conducted on seven reforested sites that were less than one year old in the following Mississippi counties: Bolivar, Leflore, and Attala. At each site, 100ft. x 100 ft. plots were established and randomly selected seedlings were marked and measured to determine seedling species, height, condition, survival, and type and extent of animal feeding sign. Surveys were conducted in March/April, May, and August 2004. Herbivory rates were highest during May with approximately 47% of seedlings showing signs of herbivory. In March/ April and August, the percentage of seedlings exhibiting signs of herbivory was 37% and 30%, respectively. Foraging by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) was recorded on \u3e 90% of the damaged seedlings during each survey. Tree mortality for all study sites and tree species was negligible, with the highest amount (7%) recorded during August, despite the recorded rates of herbivory by white-tailed deer. Herbivory by rabbits (Sylvilagus spp.) and rodents occurred on approximately 6% of the seedlings throughout the 2004 growing season

Cobalt ions recruit inflammatory cells in vitro through human Toll-like receptor 4

AbstractMetal-on-metal (MoM) hip replacements, often manufactured from a cobalt-chrome alloy, are associated with adverse reactions including soft tissue necrosis and osteolysis. Histopathological analysis of MoM peri-implant tissues reveals an inflammatory cell infiltrate that includes macrophages, monocytes and neutrophils.Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is an innate immune receptor activated by bacterial lipopolysaccharide. Recent studies have demonstrated that cobalt ions from metal-on-metal joints also activate human TLR4, increasing cellular secretion of inflammatory chemokines including interleukin-8 (IL-8, CXCL8) and CCL2. Chemokines recruit immune cells to the site of inflammation, and their overall effect depends on the chemokine profile produced.This study investigated the effect of cobalt on the secretion of inflammatory cytokines CCL20 and IL-6. The chemotactic potential of conditioned media from a cobalt-stimulated human monocyte cell line on primary monocytes and neutrophils was investigated using an in vitro transwell migration assay. The role of TLR4 in observed effects was studied using a small molecule TLR4-specific antagonist.Cobalt ions significantly increased release of CCL2 and IL-6 by MonoMac 6 cells (P<0.001). Conditioned media from cobalt-stimulated cells significantly increased monocyte and neutrophil chemotaxis in vitro (P<0.001). These effects were abrogated by the TLR4 antagonist (P<0.001) suggesting that they occur through cobalt activation of TLR4.This study demonstrates the role of TLR4 in cobalt-mediated immune cell chemotaxis and provides a potential mechanism by which cobalt ions may contribute to the immune cell infiltrate surrounding failed metal hip replacements. It also highlights the TLR4 signalling pathway as a potential therapeutic target in preventing cobalt-mediated inflammation

Evaluating the Effects of Dimensionality in Advanced Avionic Display Concepts for Synthetic Vision Systems

Synthetic vision systems provide an in-cockpit view of terrain and other hazards via a computer-generated display representation. Two experiments examined several display concepts for synthetic vision and evaluated how such displays modulate pilot performance. Experiment 1 (24 general aviation pilots) compared three navigational display (ND) concepts: 2D coplanar, 3D, and split-screen. Experiment 2 (12 commercial airline pilots) evaluated baseline 'blue sky/brown ground' or synthetic vision-enabled primary flight displays (PFDs) and three ND concepts: 2D coplanar with and without synthetic vision and a dynamic multi-mode rotatable exocentric format. In general, the results pointed to an overall advantage for a split-screen format, whether it be stand-alone (Experiment 1) or available via rotatable viewpoints (Experiment 2). Furthermore, Experiment 2 revealed benefits associated with utilizing synthetic vision in both the PFD and ND representations and the value of combined ego- and exocentric presentations

The effects of extraverted temperament on agoraphobia in panic disorder

Although situational avoidance is viewed as the most disabling aspect of panic disorder, few studies have evaluated how dimensions of neurotic (i.e., neuroticism, behavioral inhibition) and extraverted (i.e., extraversion, behavioral activation) temperament may influence the presence and severity of agoraphobia. Using logistic regression and structural equation modeling, we examined the unique effects of extraverted temperament on situational avoidance in a sample of 274 outpatients with a diagnosis of panic disorder with and without agoraphobia. Results showed low extraverted temperament (i.e., introversion) to be associated with both the presence and the severity of situational avoidance. Findings are discussed in regard to conceptualizations of conditioned avoidance, activity levels, sociability, and positive emotions within the context of panic disorder with agoraphobia

Leukocyte Subset Changes in Response to a 164-km Road Cycle Ride in a Hot Environment

International Journal of Exercise Science 9(1): 34-46, 2016. The purpose of this observational study was to determine the circulating leukocyte subset response to completing the 2013 Hotter’N Hell Hundred recreational 164-km road cycle event in a hot and humid environmental condition. Twenty-eight men and four women were included in this study. Whole blood samples were obtained 1-2 hours before (PRE) and immediately after (POST) the event. Electronic sizing/sorting and cytometry were used to determine complete blood counts (CBC) including neutrophil, monocyte, and lymphocyte subsets. The concentration of circulating total leukocytes (103·µL-1) increased 134% from PRE to POST with the greatest increase in neutrophils (319%, p\u3c0.0001). Circulating monocytes (including macrophages) increased 24% (p=0.004) and circulating lymphocytes including B and T cells increased 53% (p\u3c0.0001). No association was observed between rolling time or relative intensity and leukocyte subset. Completing the Hotter n’ Hell Hundred (HHH), a 100 mile recreational cycling race in extreme (hot and humid) environmental conditions, induces a substantial increase in total leukocytes in circulation. The contribution of increases in specific immune cell subsets is not equal, with neutrophils increasing to greater than 4-fold starting values from PRE to POST race. It is likely that exercise in stressful environmental conditions affects the complement of circulating immune cells, although activational state and characterization of specific leukocyte subsets remains unclear. The observed increase in circulating cell sub-populations suggests that the circulating immune surveillance system may be acutely affected by exercise in hot and humid conditions