Progression of socio-cognitive impairment from healthy aging to Alzheimer’s dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Trajectories of decline across different socio-cognitive domains in healthy older adults and in pathological aging conditions have not been investigated. This was addressed in the present systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: MEDLINE, Web of Science Core Collection, CENTRAL, and PsycInfo were searched for studies investigating social cognition across four domains (Theory of Mind, ToM; emotion recognition, ER; Social-decision making, SD; visual perspective taking, VPT) in healthy older individuals, individuals with subjective and mild cognitive impairment (SCD, MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted. Results: Of 8137 screened studies, 132 studies were included in the review. ToM and ER showed a clear progression of impairment from normal aging to AD. Differential patterns of decline were identified for different types of ToM and ER. Conclusion: This systematic review identified progression of impairment of specific socio-cognitive abilities, which is the necessary pre-requisite for developing targeted interventions. We identified a lack of research on socio-cognitive decline in different populations (e.g., middle age, SCD and MCI-subtypes) and domains (SDM, VPT)

Evaluation of low-cost computer monitors for the detection of cervical spine injuries in the emergency room: an observer confidence-based study

Background: To compare the diagnostic value of low-cost computer monitors and a Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) workstation for the evaluation of cervical spine fractures in the emergency room. Methods: Two groups of readers blinded to the diagnoses (2 radiologists and 3 orthopaedic surgeons) independently assessed–digital radiographs of the cervical spine (anterior–posterior, oblique and trans-oral-dens views). The radiographs of 57 patients who arrived consecutively to the emergency room in 2004 with clinical suspicion of a cervical spine injury were evaluated. The diagnostic values of these radiographs were scored on a 3-point scale (1 = diagnosis not possible/bad image quality, 2 = diagnosis uncertain, 3 = clear diagnosis of fracture or no fracture) on a PACS workstation and on two different liquid crystal display (LCD) personal computer monitors. The images were randomised to avoid memory effects. We used logistic mixed-effects models to determine the possible effects of monitor type on the evaluation of x ray images. To determine the overall effects of monitor type, this variable was used as a fixed effect, and the image number and reader group (radiologist or orthopaedic surgeon) were used as random effects on display quality. Group-specific effects were examined, with the reader group and additional fixed effects as terms. A significance level of 0.05 was established for assessing the contribution of each fixed effect to the model. Results: Overall, the diagnostic score did not differ significantly between standard personal computer monitors and the PACS workstation (both p values were 0.78). Conclusion: Low-cost LCD personal computer monitors may be useful in establishing a diagnosis of cervical spine fractures in the emergency room

Optical emission spectroscopy of electron-cyclotron-resonance-heated helium mirror plasmas

In this experiment emission spectroscopy in the 3000–5000 Å range has been utilized to determine the electron temperature (15–60 eV) and ion density (2–5 x 10 11 cm −3 ) of helium plasmas produced by the Michigan mirror machine (1) (MIMI). The plasma is generated and heated by whistler-mode electron-cyclotron resonance (ECR) waves at 7.43 GHz with 400–900 W power in 80-ms-long pulses. Gas fueling is provided at the midplane region by a leak valve with a range in pressure of 3 x 10 to 2 x 10 4 Torr. Emission line intensities are interpreted using a model of the important collisional and radiative processes occurring in the plasma. The model examines secondary processes such as radiation trapping, excitation transfer between levels of the carne principle quantum number, and excitation front metastable states for plasmas in the parameter range of MIMI ( n c = 1−6 x 10 11 cm −3 ). Front the analysis of line intensity ratios for neutral helium, the electron temperature is measured and its dependence upon the gas pressure and microwave power is determined. These temperatures agree with those obtained by Langmuir probe measurements. Art analysis of the line intensity ratio between singly ionized helium and neutral helium yields a measurement of the ion density which is in good agreement with electron density measurements made by a microwave interferometer.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/45473/1/11090_2005_Article_BF01447032.pd

Validate evidences of Experience in Close Relationships (ECR) inventory to Brazil = Evidências de validade do experience in close relationships (ECR) inventory para o Brasil

Instruments that assess adult attachment are based on the notion that patterns of bonding established in early childhood transpose to romantic relationships in adult life. The aim of this research was to seek validity evidences of an instrument to assess adult attachment, translated and adapted to Brazil: Experience in Close Relationships Inventory (ECR). Two consecutive studies were performed. In the first the ECR was translated and responded by 230 college students. From the results, items were changed and the scale was responded by 618 people from five regions of Brazil. The results indicated a two-dimensional structure to ECR-Brazil, attachment-related anxiety and avoidance, as well as appropriate indices of reliability. Correlations in line with the theory have been found among the two-dimensional construct, levels of love and sociosexuality. The instrument also differentiated people in committed and non-committed relationship. We consider that ECR-Brazil showed satisfactory evidence of validity and reliability

A Fluid Simulation of the AMPTE Lithium Gas Releases in the Solar Wind

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