Egyptian fractions

Egyptian fractions are what we know as unit fractions that are of the form 1/n - with the exception, by the Egyptians, of 2/3. Egyptian fractions have actually played an important part in mathematics history with its primary roots in number theory. This paper will trace the history of Egyptian fractions by starting at the time of the Egyptians, working our way to Fibonacci, a geologist named Farey, continued fractions, Diophantine equations, and unsolved problems in number theory

For hospitalized dementia patients, do nonpharmacological interventions reduce agitation?

https://digitalcommons.psjhealth.org/stvincent-bootcamp/1035/thumbnail.jp

The effect of lactate on myometrial contractility

Strong coordinated uterine contractions are needed in labour and the mechanisms that govern this are well understood. However when these contractions are weak or uncoordinated, labour cannot progress normally. This is termed dysfunctional labour and it accounts for ~20% of all caesarean sections (CS) in the UK. Currently the only treatment available is oxytocin, however this does not reduce the incidence of CS. Lactate is significantly increased in myometrial capillary blood during dystocia suggesting it may be impairing force production, but there are no functional data on the effect of lactate on myometrial contractility. The aims of this work were to a) investigate the effect of lactate and its mechanism of action on myometrial contractility using both human myometrium and an animal model. The effect on spontaneous and oxytocin-stimulated contractions was also examined and b) investigate the presence of lactate transporters MCT-1 and MCT-4 in rat myometrium throughout gestation and in human myometrium was looked at. Lactate, dose-dependently and significantly, decreased spontaneous contractility in rat and human myometrium. Weak acids butyrate, propionate, and pyruvate also significantly reduced contractions in a dose-dependent manner. The effects of lactate were reduced in the presence of oxytocin but not abolished. The effect on pregnant myometrium was greater than in non-pregnant, and was shown to increase towards term in the animal model. In labouring myometrium, there was little effect of lactate on contractility. Using the animal model to investigate lactate’s mechanism in the myometrium, tissue strips were loaded with either Indo-1 AM (a Ca2+ sensitive indicator) or Carboxy SNARF-AM (a pH sensitive indicator). Lactate inhibited Ca2+ transients and had little effect on force when a Ca2+ channel agonist was present. Lactate decreased pHi in a dose dependent manner and this drop in pHi was reduced when the tissue was stimulated by oxytocin or in labour. Both MCT-1 and MCT-4 were found to be present in rat and human myometrium, with MCT-1 at a higher amount in pregnant myometrium. From this work I have shown that lactate in the physiological range potently decreases spontaneous contractility in both rat and human myometrium. The effects of lactate were reduced in the presence of oxytocin or labour but still produced significant decreases and this may be due the difference in alteration of pHi. Other weak acids produce similar effects to lactate suggesting its mechanism of action is not via lactate’s role in metabolism. Lactate inhibited Ca2+ transients, which could be due to a fall of pHi, as it has previously been demonstrated that intracellular acidification decreases Ca2+ current through L-type Ca2+ channels. The difference in MCT-1 and MCT-4 expression between non-pregnant and pregnant tissue may indicate a role in labour. I suggest that differences in myometrial lactate in women can lead to accumulation of extracellular lactate, which as we have shown, will reduce myometrial contractions and could therefore contribute to dysfunctional labour

Risk factors related to familial hemorrhagic stroke

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and is a leading cause of long-term disability. More than 795,000 people have a stroke annually. Ischemic strokes account for 87% of all strokes, and hemorrhagic strokes account for 13% of all strokes. Although family history is an indicator for both types of stroke, ischemic strokes are more closely related to environmental risk factors, such as diet, exercise and smoking. Hemorrhagic strokes also aggregate within families but often occur at younger ages indicating a possible genetic link. The purpose of this study was to identify similarities and differences of the biological risk factors associated with hemorrhagic stroke, such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus and/or high cholesterol, and environmental risk factors, such as exercise, alcohol consumption, smoking, and perceived stress within and between families with a history of hemorrhagic stroke. Methods: 14 individuals (8 with hemorrhagic stroke, 6 without hemorrhagic stroke) participated from 4 families with a family history of hemorrhagic stroke were recruited from stroke support groups in the southeast, social media and Casa Colina Hospital and Medical Center in Pomona, California. Participants completed medical and family history questionnaires, as well as, the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLPII) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Results: Nonparametric statistical analysis and visual representation were utilized to compare biological risk factors associated with hemorrhagic stroke within and between families and to measure the strength and direction of association that exists between groups. Hypertension was the most salient biological risk factor among all study participants (87%), followed by high cholesterol (42.9%) and diabetes mellitus (14.3%). General stress and alcohol consumption was reported in all families (50% and 57% of participants, respectively). Mann-Whitney U Test indicated that PSS scores were significantly higher for participants with hemorrhagic stroke (=24.33) than for participants without hemorrhagic stroke (=15.67), U=4.0, p=.028). Conclusion: There is not one clear biological or environmental factor identified as the cause of familial hemorrhagic stroke; however, hypertension seems aggregate within families with a history of hemorrhagic stroke suggesting that it may be a major risk factor. In addition, perceived stress was significantly higher in participants with hemorrhagic stroke compared to those without hemorrhagic stroke suggesting that it is also a risk factor for familial hemorrhagic stroke

SB27-20/21: Resolution Creating a Code of Ethics

SB27-20/21: Resolution Creating a Code of Ethics. This resolution was approved unanimously during the September 23, 2020 meeting of the Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM)

Patterns of bruising in preschool children with inherited bleeding disorders: a longitudinal study

Objective The extent that inherited bleeding disorders affect; number, size and location of bruises in young children <6 years. Design Prospective, longitudinal, observational study. Setting Community. Patients 105 children with bleeding disorders, were compared with 328 without a bleeding disorder and classified by mobility: premobile (non-rolling/rolling over/ sitting), early mobile (crawling/cruising) and walking and by disease severity: severe bleeding disorder factor VIII/IX/XI <1 IU/dL or type 3 von Willebrand disease. Interventions Number, size and location of bruises recorded in each child weekly for up to 12 weeks. Outcomes The interventions were compared between children with severe and mild/moderate bleeding disorders and those without bleeding disorders. Multiple collections for individual children were analysed by multilevel modelling. Results Children with bleeding disorders had more and larger bruises, especially when premobile. Compared with premobile children without a bleeding disorder; the modelled ratio of means (95% CI) for number of bruises/ collection was 31.82 (8.39 to 65.42) for severe bleeding disorders and 5.15 (1.23 to 11.17) for mild/moderate, and was 1.81 (1.13 to 2.23) for size of bruises. Children with bleeding disorders rarely had bruises on the ears, neck, cheeks, eyes or genitalia. Conclusions Children with bleeding disorder have more and larger bruises at all developmental stages. The differences were greatest in premobile children. In this age group for children with unexplained bruising, it is essential that coagulation studies are done early to avoid the erroneous diagnosis of physical abuse when the child actually has a serious bleeding disorder, however a blood test compatible with a mild/moderate bleeding disorder cannot be assumed to be the cause of bruising

The Prevalence of Evidence-Based Drug Use Prevention Curricula in U.S. Middle Schools in 2005

Since the promulgation of its Principles of Effectiveness in 1998, the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools of the U.S. Department of Education has promoted the use of evidence-based drug prevention programs in the nation’s schools. We report the results of a survey, conducted in 2005, of a nationally representative sample of 1,721 schools with middle school grades. Respondents comprised the staff member in the school identified as most knowledgeable about the school’s drug prevention programs. The total response rate was 78%. Respondents answered questions concerning which drug use prevention curricula they used, and, if they used more than one, which one they used the most frequently. Three federally-sponsored registries were used to specify which curricula were considered evidence-based. Findings from 2005 were then compared to earlier estimates based on a similar 1999 survey. We found that 42.6% of the nation’s schools with middle school grades were using an evidence-based curriculum, an increase of 8% from our 1999 estimate. The two most prevalent curricula in use, at 19% each, were Life Skills Training and Project ALERT. We note, however, that only 8% of Life Skills Training users and 9% of Project ALERT users reported using those curricula the most, and that only 23% of respondents overall reported that they used an evidence-based curriculum the most. More information is needed as to why over three-quarters of the nation’s schools with middle school grades continue to administer curricula that have not been identified as effective

Challenges to the provision of diabetes care in first nations communities: results from a national survey of healthcare providers in Canada

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Aboriginal peoples globally, and First Nations peoples in Canada particularly, suffer from high rates of type 2 diabetes and related complications compared with the general population. Research into the unique barriers faced by healthcare providers working in on-reserve First Nations communities is essential for developing effective quality improvement strategies.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In Phase I of this two-phased study, semi-structured interviews and focus groups were held with 24 healthcare providers in the Sioux Lookout Zone in north-western Ontario. A follow-up survey was conducted in Phase II as part of a larger project, the Canadian First Nations Diabetes Clinical Management and Epidemiologic (CIRCLE) study. The survey was completed with 244 healthcare providers in 19 First Nations communities in 7 Canadian provinces, representing three isolation levels (isolated, semi-isolated, non-isolated). Interviews, focus groups and survey questions all related to barriers to providing optimal diabetes care in First Nations communities.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>the key factors emerging from interviews and focus group discussions were at the patient, provider, and systemic level. Survey results indicated that, across three isolation levels, healthcare providers' perceived patient factors as having the largest impact on diabetes care. However, physicians and nurses were more likely to rank patient factors as having a large impact on care than community health representatives (CHRs) and physicians were significantly less likely to rank patient-provider communication as having a large impact than CHRs.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Addressing patient factors was considered the highest impact strategy for improving diabetes care. While this may reflect "patient blaming," it also suggests that self-management strategies may be well-suited for this context. Program planning should focus on training programs for CHRs, who provide a unique link between patients and clinical services. Research incorporating patient perspectives is needed to complete this picture and inform quality improvement initiatives.</p

Evolutionary consequences of feedbacks between within-host competition and disease control

Lay Summary: Competition often occurs among diverse parasites within a single host, but control efforts could change its strength. We examined how the interplay between competition and control could shape the evolution of parasite traits like drug resistance and disease severity