Developing a digital mind body medicine supportive care intervention for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using stakeholder engagement and design thinking

Background Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis disease (ALS) is also called the disease of a thousand farewells. Consequently, it is important to offer supportive care interventions that can be applied continuously during the whole course of the disease. People with ALS are interested in complementary and integrative medicine. Due to ALS’ progressive nature, digital solutions might be most feasible and accessible for people with ALS in the long-term. Objectives In our study, we explored with stakeholders which digital complementary and integrative medicine interventions and formats are considered as supportive for people with ALS, and which settings are needed by the people with ALS to incorporate the interventions in everyday life. Methods We used a participatory research approach and conducted a stakeholder engagement process, applying a design thinking process with qualitative research methods (interviews, workshops). Results Due to the unpredictable course of the disease on their loss of abilities, people with ALS welcome online settings because they are accessible and easy to implement in their daily life. Stakeholders considered the following implementation factors for a complementary and integrative medicine intervention as essential: short-term realization of planned interventions, short duration of interventions, and user-friendliness in terms of accessibility and applicability. Concerning the complementary and integrative medicine interventions, the people with ALS preferred mind body medicine interventions, such as breathing, mindfulness and relaxation exercises. Conclusions Short-term treatment intervals and short online mind body medicine interventions align with the needs of people with ALS. The complementary and integrative medicine interventions as well as the digital infrastructure must meet the special accessibility and applicability needs of people with ALS

Weight estimations with time-reversed point-light displays

Interpreting other’s actions is a very important ability not only in social life, but also in interactive sports. Previous experiments have demonstrated good estimation performances for the weight of lifted objects through point-light displays. The basis for these performances is commonly assigned to the concept of motor simulation regarding observed actions. In this study, we investigated the weak version of the motor simulation hypothesis which claims that the goal of an observed action strongly influences its understanding (Fogassi, Ferrari, Gesierich, Rozzi, Chersi, & Rizzolatti, 2005). Therefore, we conducted a weight judgement task with point-light displays and showed participants videos of a model lifting and lowering three different weights. The experimental manipulation consisted of a goal change of these actions by showing the videos normal and in a time-reversed order of sequence. The results show a systematic overestimation of weights for time-reversed lowering actions (thus looking like lifting actions) while weight estimations for time-reversed lifting actions did not differ from the original playback direction. The results are discussed in terms of motor simulation and different kinematic profiles of the presented actions. © 2020, The Author(s)

PERFORMANCE GAINS IN RELAY SWIMMING (PART I): THE RELAY START BENEFIT COMPONENT

The present study aimed to detect statistical differences in the start performance between relay and individual races accounting for gender and relay start techniques. Race data of relay races and corresponding individual races from European Championships (2019) were analysed. Linear mixed models for repeated measures were applied to compare the differences in the 15 m start times (after toe-off) between relay and individual races accounting for gender and relay start techniques. The results revealed a small time benefit for step-starts over no-step starts in the freestyle races. Furthermore, depending on techniques, male butterfly swimmers showed more pronounced differences in their start performance as compared to female swimmers. However, no statistical differences were found in breaststroke races for either gender or relay start technique. The findings of the present study may improve coaches\u27 and swimmers\u27 understanding of the downsides and benefits of different relay starts. Based on results, we suggest that, at least for freestyle relays, a step-start should be the relay start technique of choice

PERFORMANCE GAINS IN RELAY SWIMMING (PART II) – THE MOTIVATION GAINS COMPONENT

The purpose of this study was to test whether swimmers become further motivated by swimming in a relay team compared to swimming on their own, which results in increased performance. Particularly, we assume that this increased motivation results in a performance that even exceeds their best performance achieved in individual competitions (their personal best). However, because the often-observed performance gains in relay swimming are the sum of relay start benefits and increased motivation caused by teamwork it is necessary to determine the advantage that is caused by a relay start (Fischer, 2017; Qiu et al., 2021) to accurately evaluate relay versus individual performances. But to date, the proportion of these two components remains unclear. The results of the current research show that most of the fastest swimmers from the last 20 years swam faster in a relay race. Thus, they exceeded their personal best (from an individual race) in a relay race due to the social influences of the team membership. Furthermore, the share of the performance that is due to increased motivation is markedly larger than that of the relay start benefit. This study is the first quantifying the motivation gains component in relay swimming

Small intestinal volvulus in 47 cows

OBJECTIVE: To describe the findings, treatment, and outcome of small intestinal volvulus (SIV) in 47 cows. ANIMALS AND PROCEDURE: Retrospective analysis of medical records. Comparison of the findings for 18 surviving and 29 non-surviving cows. RESULTS: The most common abnormal vital signs were tachycardia (68.0%), tachypnea (59.6%), and decreased rectal temperature (51.1%). Signs of colic occurred in 66.0% of cows in the study. Rumen motility was reduced or absent in 93.6% of cows, and intestinal motility in 76.6%. Clinical signs on ballottement and/or percussion and simultaneous auscultation were positive on the right side in 78.7% of cows. Transrectal examination showed dilated small intestines in 48.9% of cows. The rectum contained little or no feces in 93.6% of cows. The principal laboratory abnormalities were hypocalcemia (74.1%), hypokalemia (73.8%), azotemia (62.8%), hypermagnesemia (61.6%), and hemoconcentration (60.0%). The principal ultrasonographic findings were dilated small intestines (87.1%) and reduced or absent small intestinal motility (85.2%). Forty-one of the 47 cows underwent right flank laparotomy and the SIV was reduced in 21 cows. When comparing the clinical and laboratory findings of 18 surviving and 29 non-surviving cows, the groups differed significantly with respect to severely abnormal general condition (16.7 versus 37.9%), rumen stasis (22.2 versus 79.3%), intestinal atony (16.7 versus 48.3%), serum urea concentration (6.5 versus 9.8 mmol/L), and serum magnesium concentration (0.98 versus 1.30 mmol/L). In summary, 38.3% of the cows were discharged and 61.7% were euthanized before, during, or after surgery. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: An acute course of disease, little or no feces in the rectum, and dilated small intestines were characteristic of SIV in this study population

On the trail of the print: subversion and resistance

Em tempos em que a polarização política separa multidões e eleições aproximam-se, parece oportuno revisitar parte da história sociopolítica da nação brasileira para trazer à luz os desmandos que um Governo envolvo em autoritarismo pode causar. “Impressos subversivos  - arte, cultura e política no Brasil 1924-1964”, da historiadora Maria Luiza Tucci Carneiro, do Departamento de História da Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH) da Universidade de São Paulo (USP), organiza este compêndio a partir de materiais impressos considerados subversivos em um sistema de conflitos entre Estado e artistas, intelectuais, estudantes e todos aqueles que ousavam se rebelar contra o poderio do sistema político instituído no período e, assim, foram rotulados como anarquistas, comunistas, marxistas.In times when political polarization separates crowds and elections are approaching, it seems opportune to revisit part of the sociopolitical history of the Brazilian nation to bring to light the excesses that a government involved in authoritarianism can cause. “Subversive prints  - art, culture and politics in Brazil 1924-1964”, by historian Maria Luiza Tucci Carneiro, from the Department of History of the Faculty of Philosophy, Letters and Human Sciences (FFLCH) of the University of São Paulo (USP), organizes this compendium from printed materials considered subversive in a system of conflicts between the State and artists, intellectuals, students and all those who dared to rebel against the power of the political system established at the time and, thus, were labeled as anarchists, communists, marxists

II Colóquio Brasileiro de Comunicação Eclesial

Foi realizado na Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, em São Paulo, nos dias 30 e 31 de outubro de 2007, o II Co­lóquio Brasileiro de Comunicação Eclesial (Eclesiocom). Trata-se de um evento vinculado à Cátedra Unesco-Metodista de Comunicação, com sede na Universidade Metodista de São Paulo. Com o Eclesiocom a cátedra inaugurou, em 2006, uma nova li­nha de pesquisa em comunicação, com o intuito de capitalizar o crescente interesse por essa temática

Absence of ectopic epithelial inclusions in 3,904 axillary lymph nodes examined in sentinel technique

Intraoperative examination of sentinel axillary lymph nodes can be done by imprint cytology, frozen section, or, most recently, by PCR-based amplification of a cytokeratin signal. Using this technique, benign epithelial inclusions, representing mammary tissue displaced along the milk line, will likely generate a positive PCR signal and lead to a false-positive diagnosis of metastatic disease. To better appreciate the incidence of ectopic epithelial inclusions in axillary lymph nodes, we have performed an autopsy study, examining on 100μm step sections3,904 lymph nodes obtained from 160 axillary dissections in 80 patients. The median number of lymph nodes per axilla was 23 (15, 6, and 1 in levels 1, 2, and 3, respectively). A total of 30,450 hematoxylin-eosin stained slides were examined, as well as 8,825 slides immunostained with pan-cytokeratin antibodies. Despite this meticulous work-up, not a single epithelial inclusion was found in this study, suggesting that the incidence of such inclusions is much lower than the assumed 5% reported in the literatur

Microdomain Ca2+ Activation during Exocytosis in Paramecium Cells. Superposition of Local Subplasmalemmal Calcium Store Activation by Local Ca2+ Influx

In Paramecium tetraurelia, polyamine-triggered exocytosis is accompanied by the activation of Ca2+-activated currents across the cell membrane (Erxleben, C., and H. Plattner. 1994. J. Cell Biol. 127:935– 945). We now show by voltage clamp and extracellular recordings that the product of current × time (As) closely parallels the number of exocytotic events. We suggest that Ca2+ mobilization from subplasmalemmal storage compartments, covering almost the entire cell surface, is a key event. In fact, after local stimulation, Ca2+ imaging with high time resolution reveals rapid, transient, local signals even when extracellular Ca2+ is quenched to or below resting intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]e ⩽ [Ca2+]i). Under these conditions, quenched-flow/freeze-fracture analysis shows that membrane fusion is only partially inhibited. Increasing [Ca2+]e alone, i.e., without secretagogue, causes rapid, strong cortical increase of [Ca2+]i but no exocytosis. In various cells, the ratio of maximal vs. minimal currents registered during maximal stimulation or single exocytotic events, respectively, correlate nicely with the number of Ca stores available. Since no quantal current steps could be observed, this is again compatible with the combined occurrence of Ca2+ mobilization from stores (providing close to threshold Ca2+ levels) and Ca2+ influx from the medium (which per se does not cause exocytosis). This implies that only the combination of Ca2+ flushes, primarily from internal and secondarily from external sources, can produce a signal triggering rapid, local exocytotic responses, as requested for Paramecium defense

Sex determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2) amplification is an independent indicator of disease recurrence in sinonasal cancer.

The transcription factor SOX2 (3q26.3-q27) is an embryonic stem cell factor contributing to the induction of pluripotency in terminally differentiated somatic cells. Recently, amplification of the SOX2 gene locus has been described in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of different organ sites. Aim of this study was to investigate amplification and expression status of SOX2 in sinonasal carcinomas and to correlate the results with clinico-pathological data. A total of 119 primary tumor samples from the sinonasal region were assessed by fluorescence in-situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry for SOX2 gene amplification and protein expression, respectively. Of these, 59 were SSCs, 18 sinonasal undifferentiated carcinomas (SNUC), 10 carcinomas associated with an inverted papilloma (INVC), 19 adenocarcinomas (AD) and 13 adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACC). SOX2 amplifications were found in subsets of SCCs (37.5%), SNUCs (35.3%), INVCs (37.5%) and ADs (8.3%) but not in ACCs. SOX2 amplification resulted in increased protein expression. Patients with SOX2-amplified sinonasal carcinomas showed a significantly higher rate of tumor recurrences than SOX2 non-amplified tumors. This is the first study assessing SOX2 amplification and expression in a large cohort of sinonasal carcinomas. As opposed to AD and ACC, SOX2 amplifications were detected in more than 1/3 of all SCCs, SNUCs and INVCs. We therefore suggest that SNUCs are molecularly closely related to SCCs and INVCs and that these entities represent a subgroup of sinonasal carcinomas relying on SOX2 acquisition during oncogenesis. SOX2 amplification appears to identify sinonasal carcinomas that are more likely to relapse after primary therapy, suggesting that these patients might benefit from a more aggressive therapy regime