Study of the Cognitive Functioning of Medicated and Non-Medicated Elementary School-Aged Children Diagnosed with Attention Deficit HyperactivIty Disorder

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a serious disability that has been shown to adversely affect cognition, affect, and behavior. Research using traditional measures of cognitive functioning, such as intelligence tests has shown that children diagnosed with ADHD perform poorly on cognitive measures of processing speed, and on working memory in particular (Kerns, Mclnerney & Wilde, 2001; Weiler, Bernstein, Bellinger & Waber, 2000). Mahone, et al. (2003), note that reviews involving the Wechsler Scales for children suggest that Full Scale IQ scores (FSIQ) on the WISC-III average 5 to 6 points lower than scores in the WISC-R. It was hypothesized that changes on revised subtests of the WISC-III Performance Scale may place ADHD children at a disadvantage if their performance on these subtests is compared to their performance on analogous WISC-R subtests. Mahone, et al. (2003) theorize that increased executive demands resulted in lower FSIQ scores and call for further analysis upon future Wechsler revisions. Although results are equivocal, research suggests that psychostimulant medication may ameliorate ADHD cognitive deficiencies that adversely impact working memory and processing speed. Brown and Borden (1989) suggest that stimulant drug improvement occurs primarily on rote or simple tasks, but measures emphasizing the processing of higher-order information may be less influenced. Barkley (1998) indicates that the impact of drugs upon behavior and concentration was most salient, with performance on intelligence tests unaffected by medication. However, most of these studies extrapolated IQ scores either from short forms or from several subtests of the Wechsler scales. Research using more traditional measures of cognitive functioning (e.g., standardized intelligence tests), and focusing on long-term effects of cognitive performance (Gillberg, et aI., 1997; Livingston, Mears, Marshall, Gray & Haak, 1996; Mahone, et aI., 2003), suggests that results depend on the measures and methods used. As part of the initial validation of the revised WISC-IV, an ADHD group was compared to a matched control group. Additional research called for investigations comparing the performance of medicated ADHD children with nonmedicated ADHD children. This research used the Wechsler Intelligence Test for Children-fourth edition (WISC-IV) to assess the cognitive performance of medicated ADHD children and nonmedicated ADHD children. Results were used to answer the questions: Are there differences in IQ scores between ADHD children and normal controls, and between medicated ADHD children and nonmedicated ADHD children

Canonical formulation of the embedded theory of gravity equivalent to Einstein's General Relativity

We study the approach in which independent variables describing gravity are functions of the space-time embedding into a flat space of higher dimension. We formulate a canonical formalism for such a theory in a form, which requires imposing additional constraints, which are a part of Einstein's equations. As a result, we obtain a theory with an eight-parameter gauge symmetry. This theory becomes equivalent to Einstein's general relativity either after partial gauge fixing or after rewriting the metric in the form that is invariant under the additional gauge transformations. We write the action for such a theory.Comment: LaTeX, 17 page

Mycobacterium ulcerans treatment - can antibiotic duration be reduced in selected patients?

Mycobacterium ulcerans (M. ulcerans) is a necrotizing skin infection endemic to the Bellarine Peninsula, Australia. Current treatment recommendations include 8 weeks of combination antibiotics, with adjuvant surgery if necessary. However, antibiotic toxicity often results in early treatment cessation and local experience suggests that shorter antibiotic courses may be effective with concurrent surgery. We report the outcomes of patients in the Barwon Health M. ulcerans cohort who received shorter courses of antibiotic therapy than 8 weeks

Adherence to

(MWM) for palliative care has prioritized data collection efforts for evaluating quality in clinical practice. How these measures can be implemented across diverse clinical settings using point-of-care data collection on quality is unknown.To evaluate the implementation of MWM measures by exploring documentation of quality measure adherence across six diverse clinical settings inherent to palliative care practice.We deployed a point-of-care quality data collection system, the Quality Data Collection Tool, across five organizations within the Palliative Care Research Cooperative Group. Quality measures were recorded by clinicians or assistants near care delivery.During the study period, 1989 first visits were included for analysis. Our population was mostly white, female, and with moderate performance status. About half of consultations were seen on hospital general floors. We observed a wide range of adherence. The lowest adherence involved comprehensive assessments during the first visit in hospitalized patients in the intensive care unit (2.71%); the highest adherence across all settings, with an implementation of >95%, involved documentation of management of moderate/severe pain. We observed differences in adherence across clinical settings especially with MWM Measure #2 (Screening for Physical Symptoms, range 45.7%–81.8%); MWM Measure #5 (Discussion of Emotional Needs, range 46.1%–96.1%); and MWM Measure #6 (Documentation of Spiritual/Religious Concerns, range 0–69.6%).Variations in clinician documentation of adherence to MWM quality measures are seen across clinical settings. Additional studies are needed to better understand benchmarks and acceptable ranges for adherence tailored to various clinical settings

Perspectives on Finances and Mental Health Status among Low-Income Los Angeles Latinas

Abstract Research has established a link between financial challenges and mental health outcomes. Understanding this linkage among low-income Latinas who face unique experiences and challenges in relation to managing their household finances is important. This study utilized a community-based participatory qualitative research method to explore perspectives on financial and mental health among Latinas residing in Los Angeles County. The implications of this study are applicable when conducting a culturally responsive financial therapy program. Three focus groups were conducted with mainly immigrant, Spanish-speaking, low-income Latinas (n = 37). The study found that though participants face financial stressors tied to managing finances, they were eager to learn new skills and tools for improved financial practices and mental health therapies. For financial education interventions targeted to Latinas, it is best to use interventions that incorporate peer-support groups, improve knowledge about financial management tools and financial products available in the community, and therapeutic interventions to address financial stress. Key words: immigrants, household financial decision-making, savings, formal financial services, financial stres

Towards Value-Sensitive Learning Analytics Design

To support ethical considerations and system integrity in learning analytics, this paper introduces two cases of applying the Value Sensitive Design methodology to learning analytics design. The first study applied two methods of Value Sensitive Design, namely stakeholder analysis and value analysis, to a conceptual investigation of an existing learning analytics tool. This investigation uncovered a number of values and value tensions, leading to design trade-offs to be considered in future tool refinements. The second study holistically applied Value Sensitive Design to the design of a recommendation system for the Wikipedia WikiProjects. To proactively consider values among stakeholders, we derived a multi-stage design process that included literature analysis, empirical investigations, prototype development, community engagement, iterative testing and refinement, and continuous evaluation. By reporting on these two cases, this paper responds to a need of practical means to support ethical considerations and human values in learning analytics systems. These two cases demonstrate that Value Sensitive Design could be a viable approach for balancing a wide range of human values, which tend to encompass and surpass ethical issues, in learning analytics design.Comment: The 9th International Learning Analytics & Knowledge Conference (LAK19

Geometry of Brane-Worlds

The most general geometrical scenario in which the brane-world program can be implemented is investigated. The basic requirement is that it should be consistent with the confinement of gauge interaction, the existence of quantum states and the embedding in a bulk with arbitrary dimensions, signature and topology. It is found that the embedding equations are compatible with a wide class of Lagrangians, starting with a modified Einstein-Hilbert Lagrangian as the simplest one, provided minimal boundaries are added to the bulk. A non-trivial canonical structure is derived, suggesting a canonical quantization of the brane-world geometry relative to the extra dimensions, where the quantum states are set in correspondence with high frequency gravitational waves. It is shown that in the cases of at least six dimensions, there exists a confined gauge field included in the embedding structure. The size of extra dimensions compatible with the embedding is calculated and found to be different from the one derived with product topology.Comment: Minor changes and a correction to equation (22). 9 pages twocolumn Revte

Geodetic Brane Gravity

Within the framework of geodetic brane gravity, the Universe is described as a 4-dimensional extended object evolving geodetically in a higher dimensional flat background. In this paper, by introducing a new pair of canonical fields {lambda, P_{lambda}}, we derive the quadratic Hamiltonian for such a brane Universe; the inclusion of matter then resembles minimal coupling. Second class constraints enter the game, invoking the Dirac bracket formalism. The algebra of the first class constraints is calculated, and the BRST generator of the brane Universe turns out to be rank-1. At the quantum level, the road is open for canonical and/or functional integral quantization. The main advantages of geodetic brane gravity are: (i) It introduces an intrinsic, geometrically originated, 'dark matter' component, (ii) It offers, owing to the Lorentzian bulk time coordinate, a novel solution to the 'problem of time', and (iii) It enables calculation of meaningful probabilities within quantum cosmology without any auxiliary scalar field. Intriguingly, the general relativity limit is associated with lambda being a vanishing (degenerate) eigenvalue.Comment: 23 pages, 1 figure, minor change

Isolation and mapping of Mu nu mutants which grow in him mutants of E. coli

Mu nuA and Mu nuB mutants were selected by their ability to form plaques on lawns of Escherichia coli himA and himB mutants, respectively. Deletion mapping of the nuA and nuB mutations by marker rescue from [lambda]pMu transducing phages or from hosts containing deleted Mu prophages indicated that nuA mutations are located within or to the left of gene A and that nuB mutations are located within or between Mu genes G and I.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/23925/1/0000170.pd