983 research outputs found
Казахстан на страницах Туркестанского сборника
Presently most adolescent anxiety disorder screening instruments make their determination of running a high risk for an anxiety disorder on the basis of a cut-off score measured by a single screening which can lead to false positives. Therefore, the goal of this study is to examine whether a repeated administration of the SCARED screening instrument for DSM-5 anxiety disorder symptoms could help in the detection of true positives while also avoiding false positives. Participants were 923 early adolescents from the general community. The adolescents’ ages at the first annual screening ranged from 10 to 15 with an average of 12.5 years. In a prospective five-year longitudinal design, the adolescents completed the SCARED screening instrument for anxiety disorder symptoms on a yearly basis. To detect true positives and avoid false positives, the data were analyzed with Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) cut-off score analyses. ROC cut-off score analyses revealed that the sensitivity and specificity of high risk were greatly improved for repeated screenings above those of a single screening. The findings of this study demonstrate that a screening instrument (such as the SCARED) should be administered not just once but several times in order to better determine true positives and avoid false positives
The effect of ozone exposure on the release of eicosanoids in guinea-pig BAL fluid in relation to cellular damage and inflammation
The observed effects after ozone exposure strongly depend on ozone concentration and exposure time. We hypothesized that depending on the O3 exposure protocol, mainly either an oxidant damage or an inflammation will determine the O3 toxicity. We compared two different ozone exposure protocols: an acute exposure (3 ppm 2 h) for studying the oxidant damage and an exposure (1 ppm 12 h) where an inflammatory component is also probably involved. We measured LDH activity and protein and albumin exudation as markers for cellular damage. After the acute exposure an increase in LDH activity was measured and after exposure to 1 ppm ozone for 12 h the exudation of protein and albumin was also enhanced. The histological examinations showed a neutrophilic inflammatory response only after exposure to 1 ppm ozone for 12 h. The acute exposure protocol resulted in an increased release of PGE2, PGD2, PGF2α and 6-ketoPGF1α whereas exposure to 1 ppm ozone for 12 h led to an additional release of LTB4. No effects were measured on the release of TxB2 and LTC4/D4/E4. These changed amounts of eicosanoids will probably contribute to the ozone-induced lung function changes
IRAS08281-4850 and IRAS14325-6428: two A-type post-AGB stars with s-process enrichment
One of the puzzling findings in the study of the chemical evolution of
(post-)AGB stars is why very similar stars (in terms of metallicity, spectral
type, infrared properties, etc...) show a very different photospheric
composition. We aim at extending the still limited sample of s-process enriched
post-AGB stars, in order to obtain a statistically large enough sample that
allows us to formulate conclusions concerning the 3rd dredge-up occurrence. We
selected two post-AGB stars on the basis of IR colours indicative of a past
history of heavy mass loss: IRAS08281-4850 and IRAS14325-6428. They are cool
sources in the locus of the Planetary Nebulae (PNe) in the IRAS colour-colour
diagram. Abundances of both objects were derived for the first time on the
basis of high-quality UVES and EMMI spectra, using a critically compiled line
list with accurate log(gf) values, together with the latest Kurucz model
atmospheres. Both objects have very similar spectroscopically defined effective
temperatures of 7750-8000K. They are strongly carbon and s-process enriched,
with a C/O ratio of 1.9 and 1.6, and an [ls/Fe] of +1.7 and +1.2, for IRAS08281
and IRAS14325 resp. Moreover, the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) point to
heavy mass-loss during the preceding AGB phase. IRAS08281 and IRAS14325 are
prototypical post-AGB objects in the sense that they show strong post 3rd
dredge-up chemical enrichments. The neutron irradiation has been extremely
efficient, despite the only mild sub-solar metallicity. This is not conform
with the recent chemical models. The existence of very similar post-AGB stars
without any enrichment emphasizes our poor knowledge of the details of the AGB
nucleosynthesis and dredge-up phenomena. We call for a very systematic chemical
study of all cool sources in the PN region of the IRAS colour-colour diagram.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, accepted by A&
OH-selected AGB and post-AGB objects I.Infrared and maser properties
Using 766 compact objects from a survey of the galactic Plane in the 1612-MHz
OH line, new light is cast on the infrared properties of evolved stars on the
TP-AGB and beyond. The usual mid-infrared selection criteria, based on IRAS
colours, largely fail to distinguish early post-AGB stages. A two-colour
diagram from narrower-band MSX flux densities, with bimodal distributions,
provides a better tool to do the latter. Four mutually consistent selection
criteria for OH-masing red PPNe are given, as well as two for early post-AGB
masers and one for all post--AGB masers, including the earliest ones. All these
criteria miss a group of blue, high-outflow post-AGB sources with 60-mum
excess; these will be discussed in detail in Paper II. The majority of post-AGB
sources show regular double-peaked spectra in the OH 1612-MHz line, with fairly
low outflow velocities, although the fractions of single peaks and irregular
spectra may vary with age and mass. The OH flux density shows a fairly regular
relation with the stellar flux and the envelope optical depth, with the maser
efficiency increasing with IRAS colour R21. The OH flux density is linearly
correlated with the 60-mum flux density.Comment: 16 pages, LaTex, 22 figures, AJ (accepted
Herschel Planetary Nebula Survey (HerPlaNS) - First Detection of OH+ in Planetary Nebulae
We report the first detections of OH emission in planetary nebulae (PNe).
As part of an imaging and spectroscopy survey of 11 PNe in the far-IR using the
PACS and SPIRE instruments aboard the Herschel Space Observatory, we performed
a line survey in these PNe over the entire spectral range between 51 and
672m to look for new detections. OH rotational emission lines at
152.99, 290.20, 308.48, and 329.77m were detected in the spectra of three
planetary nebulae: NGC 6445, NGC 6720, and NGC 6781. Excitation temperatures
and column densities derived from these lines are in the range of 27 to 47 K
and 210 to 4 10 cm, respectively. In PNe,
the OH+ rotational line emission appears to be produced in the
photodissociation region (PDR) in these objects. The emission of OH+ is
observed only in PNe with hot central stars (T > 100000 K), suggesting
that high-energy photons may play a role in the OH+ formation and its line
excitation in these objects, as it seems to be the case for ultraluminous
galaxies.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures; accepted for publication in A&
The living environment and thermal behaviours of older South Australians: a multi-focus group study
Ageing brings about physiological changes that affect people’s thermal sensitivity and thermoregulation. The majority of older Australians prefer to age in place and modifications to the home environment are often required to accommodate the occupants as they age and possibly become frail. However, modifications to aid thermal comfort are not always considered. Using a qualitative approach this study aims to understand the thermal qualities of the existing living environment of older South Australians, their strategies for keeping cool in hot weather and warm in cold weather and to identify existing problems related to planning and house design, and the use of heating and cooling. Data were gathered via seven focus group sessions with 49 older people living in three climate zones in South Australia. The sessions yielded four main themes, namely ‘personal factors’, ‘feeling’, ‘knowing’ and ‘doing’. These themes can be used as a basis to develop information and guidelines for older people in dealing with hot and cold weather.Joost van Hoof, Helen Bennetts, Alana Hansen, Jan K. Kazak and Veronica Soebart
Herschel/PACS observations of the 69 band of crystalline olivine around evolved stars
We present 48 Herschel/PACS spectra of evolved stars in the wavelength range
of 67-72 m. This wavelength range covers the 69 m band of crystalline
olivine (). The width and
wavelength position of this band are sensitive to the temperature and
composition of the crystalline olivine. Our sample covers a wide range of
objects: from high mass-loss rate AGB stars (OH/IR stars,
M/yr), through post-AGB stars with and without circumbinary disks, to
planetary nebulae and even a few massive evolved stars. The goal of this study
is to exploit the spectral properties of the 69 m band to determine the
composition and temperature of the crystalline olivine. Since the objects cover
a range of evolutionary phases, we study the physical and chemical properties
in this range of physical environments. We fit the 69 m band and use its
width and position to probe the composition and temperature of the crystalline
olivine. For 27 sources in the sample, we detected the 69 m band of
crystalline olivine (). The
69 m band shows that all the sources produce pure forsterite grains
containing no iron in their lattice structure. The temperature of the
crystalline olivine as indicated by the 69 m band, shows that on average
the temperature of the crystalline olivine is highest in the group of OH/IR
stars and the post-AGB stars with confirmed Keplerian disks. The temperature is
lower for the other post-AGB stars and lowest for the planetary nebulae. A
couple of the detected 69 m bands are broader than those of pure
magnesium-rich crystalline olivine, which we show can be due to a temperature
gradient in the circumstellar environment of these stars. continued...Comment: Accepted for publication in A&
Caregiver strain on informal caregivers when providing care for older patients undergoing major abdominal surgery:A longitudinal prospective cohort study
Background: Health-care systems nowadays rely on complementary patient care by informal caregivers. The need for, and burden on, informal caregivers will likely increase in the upcoming years. This study aimed to examine the burden on caregivers when providing care for elderly patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. Methods: A single-centre longitudinal cohort study was conducted between November 2015 and June 2018 in the Amphia hospital in Breda, the Netherlands. Patients aged 70+ undergoing elective surgery for colorectal carcinoma (CRC) or an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) were included in this study. Informal caregiver burden was assessed and compared over time using the Caregiver Strain Index (CSI) at the outpatient clinic visit, at discharge, 2 weeks post-discharge and after 6 and 12 months. The effects of patient- and caregiver-related factors on the experienced caregiver strain were examined. Results: CSI scores of 248 caregivers were significantly increased at discharge (3.5 vs 2.6; p < 0.001) and 2 weeks post-discharge (3.3 vs 2.6; p < 0.001). After 12 months, scores dropped below baseline scores (1.8 vs 2.6; p = 0.012). The highest strain was observed 2 weeks post-discharge for AAA patients and at discharge for CRC patients. Older age, physical or cognitive impairment and burden of comorbidity were associated with an increased caregiver strain at baseline. Type of surgery was independently associated with the change in mean CSI scores over time; a bigger change in caregiver burden is observed after open surgery. Conclusion: In the early postoperative period, perceived caregiver strain was significantly increased. Psychological support for caregivers may be advisable, with timing of this support depending on diagnosis and patient-related factors. Trial registration: This manuscript was retrospectively registered on 05-04-2016 in the Netherlands Trial Register (NTR5932). http://www.trialregister.nl/trialreg/admin/rctview.asp?TC=593
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