The effect of polyphenol-rich Interventions on cardiovascular risk factors in haemodialysis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

End-stage kidney disease is a strong risk factor for cardiovascular-specific mortality. Polyphenol-rich interventions may attenuate cardiovascular disease risk factors; however, this has not been systematically evaluated in the hemodialysis population. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, the following databases were searched: Cochrane Library (http://www.cochranelibrary.com/), MEDLINE (https://health.ebsco.com/products/medline-with-full-text), Embase (https://www.elsevier.com/solutions/embase-biomedical-research), and CINAHL (https://www.ebscohost.com/nursing/products/cinahl-databases/cinahl-complete). Meta-analyses were conducted for measures of lipid profile, inflammation, oxidative stress, and blood pressure. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias tool and quality of the body of evidence was assessed by the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. Twelve studies were included for review. Polyphenol-rich interventions included soy, cocoa, pomegranate, grape, and turmeric. Polyphenol-rich interventions significantly improved diastolic blood pressure (Mean Difference (MD) −5.62 mmHg (95% Confidence Interval (CI) −8.47, −2.78); I2 = 2%; p = 0.0001), triglyceride levels (MD −26.52 mg/dL (95% CI −47.22, −5.83); I2 = 57%; p = 0.01), and myeloperoxidase (MD −90.10 (95% CI −135.84, −44.36); I2 = 0%; p = 0.0001). Included studies generally had low or unclear risks of bias. The results of this review provide preliminary support for the use of polyphenol-rich interventions for improving cardiovascular risk markers in haemodialysis patients. Due to the limited number of studies for individual polyphenol interventions, further studies are required to provide recommendations regarding individual polyphenol intervention and dose

Social decision making in autistic adolescents: the role of theory of mind, executive functioning and emotion regulation

Social decision making is often challenging for autistic individuals. Twenty autistic adolescents made decisions in the socially interactive context of a one-shot ultimatum game, and performance was compared to a large matched typical reference sample. Theory of mind, executive functioning and emotion regulation were measured via direct assessments, self- and parent report. Relative to the reference sample, autistic adolescents proposed fewer fair offers, and this was associated with poorer theory of mind. Autistic adolescents responded similarly to the reference sample when making decisions about offers proposed to them, however they did not appear to down regulate their negative emotion in response to unfair treatment in the same way. Atypical processes may underpin even apparently typical decisions made by autistic adolescents

System and Method of Optical Axis Alignment Monitor and Feedback Control for a Spectrometer

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of a real-time, monitoring and control feedback system for a 2-D spectrometer application, to correct for active optical axis pointing misalignments or jitter (i.e., tip, tilt), that result in degraded scientific image integrity, unwanted spatial crosstalk and image blurring artifacts which severely limit the applications for high resolution spectrometer image data. The present invention provides a unique system architecture which ensures the most direct optical axis motion detection and control capability that will enable sub-pixel image motion monitoring and boresight control stability, thus, maximizing the science image quality

Optical Design of the WFIRST Phase-A Wide Field Instrument

The WFIRST Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope TMA optical design provides 0.28-sq degrees FOV at 0.11 pixel scale to the Wide Field Instrument, operating between 0.48-2.0 micrometers, including a spectrograph mode (1.0-2.0 micrometers). An Integral Field Channel provides 2-D discrete spectroscopy at 0.15 & 0.3 sampling

Depresión, ansiedad y somnolencia diurna en cuidadores primarios de niños con parálisis cerebral

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate depression, anxiety and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) levels in primary caregivers of children with cerebral palsy (CCP) and to trace the relationships with their socioeconomic conditions and child neurological characteristics, as compared with caregivers of typical children (CTC). METHODS: 45 CCP and 50 CTC were randomly chosen and answered a semi-structured questionnaire. We evaluated EDS on the Epworth scale. Beck depression inventory (BDI) and the state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) identified depressive and anxious symptoms, respectively. RESULTS: The majority of subjects were mothers with low socioeconomic level. Self-perception of anxiety and depressive symptoms of CCP were confirmed through BDI and STAI. EDS was statistically related to high levels of depression. Children's disabilities did not influence the results. CONCLUSIONS: Depression, anxiety symptoms and sleep disruption were common in CCP. Child functional level did not influence the results.OBJETIVO: Evaluar los niveles de depresión, ansiedad y somnolencia diurna excesiva en cuidadores primarios de niños con parálisis cerebral relacionándolos a las condiciones socioeconómicas del cuidador y a las características neurológicas del niño y comparándolos a cuidadores de niños sanos. MÉTODOS: Se incluyeron aleatoriamente en el estudio a 45 cuidadores de niños con parálisis cerebral y a 50 cuidadores de niños sanos, y contestaron a un cuestionario semiestructurado. Se evaluaron los niveles de depresión, ansiedad y somnolencia diurna excesiva mediante las escalas de Beck, ansiedad estado-rasgo y Epworth, respectivamente. RESULTADOS: La mayoría de los entrevistados eran madres con bajo nivel socioeconómico. Los que se autoevaluaron ansiosos y depresivos presentaron resultados comprobatorios de ansiedad y depresión con los inventarios de estado-rasgo y Beck para los cuidadores de niños con parálisis cerebral. Los niveles de somnolencia diurna excesiva estuvieron estadísticamente relacionados a los elevados niveles de depresión. El comprometimiento neurológico de los niños no influenció los resultados sobre los cuidadores. CONCLUSIONES: Depresión, ansiedad y problemas relacionados al sueño son comunes en cuidadores de niños con parálisis cerebral. El nivel de funcionalidad neurológica del niño no influencia los resultados.OBJETIVO: Avaliar os níveis de depressão, ansiedade e sonolência diurna excessiva em cuidadores primários de crianças com paralisia cerebral, relacionando-os às condições socioeconômicas do cuidador e às características neurológicas da criança e comparando-os a cuidadores de crianças saudáveis. MÉTODOS: 45 cuidadores de crianças com paralisia cerebral e 50 cuidadores de crianças saudáveis foram aleatoriamente incluídos no estudo e responderam a um questionário semiestruturado. Avaliaram-se os níveis de depressão, ansiedade e sonolência diurna excessiva por meio das escalas de Beck, ansiedade estado-traço e Epworth, respectivamente. RESULTADOS: A maioria dos entrevistados eram mães com baixo nível socioeconômico. Os que se autoavaliaram como ansiosos e depressivos apresentaram resultados comprobatórios de ansiedade e depressão com as escalas de ansiedade estado-traço e Beck para os cuidadores de crianças com paralisia cerebral. Os níveis de sonolência diurna excessiva estiveram relacionados a elevados níveis de depressão. O comprometimento neurológico das crianças não influenciou os resultados sobre os cuidadores. CONCLUSÕES: Depressão, ansiedade e problemas relacionados ao sono foram comuns em cuidadores de crianças com paralisia cerebral. O nível de funcionalidade neurológica da criança não influenciou os resultados.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Neurologia e NeurocirurgiaUNIFESP, Depto. de Neurologia e NeurocirurgiaSciEL

Lab Demonstration of the Hybrid Doppler Wind Lidar (HDWL) Transceiver

The recommended design approach for the 3D Tropospheric Winds mission is a hybrid Doppler lidar which combines the best elements of both a coherent aerosol Doppler lidar operating at 2 microns and a direct detection molecular Doppler lidar operating at 0.355 microns. In support of the mission, we built a novel, compact, light-weighted multi-field of view transceiver where multiple telescopes are used to cover the required four fields of view. A small mechanism sequentially selects both the "transmit" and "receive" fields of view. The four fields are combined to stimulate both the 0.355 micron receiver and the 2 micron receiver. This version is scaled (0.2 m diameter aperture) from the space-based version but still demonstrates the feasibility of the hybrid approach. The primary mirrors were conventionally light-weighted and coated with dielectric, high reflectivity coatings with high laser damage thresholds at both 2 microns and 0.355 microns. The mechanical structure and mounts were fabricated from composites to achieve dimensional stability while significantly reducing the mass. In the laboratory, we demonstrated the system level functionality at 0.355 microns and at 2 microns, raising the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) from 2 to 4

WFIRST-AFTA Overview Technology needs summary Mirror Technology Conference 2015

Presentation covers the overview of the science and hardware of the WFIRST-AFTA (Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope) (Astrophysics Focused Telescope Assets) mission. It includes an overview of the technology, with an emphasis on optics technology. It also introduces the WFIRST talks that come later, one on the Wide Field Instrument filters and the other on the CoronaGraph Instrument