Pre and Postoperative Management of Pediatric Patients with Congenital Heart Diseases

Stabilization during preoperative cardiac surgery especially in neonates has an important role to predict outcome for pediatric congenital heart surgery. We tried to elaborate general guidelines on how to diagnose and some anticipations for emergency treatments tailored by the type of congenital heart disease in neonates. Stabilization consists of medical treatment including emergent prostaglandin institution in some types of duct dependent lesion. The role of interventional catheterization such as patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) stent, balloon pulmonary valvotomy, etc. as modalities for stabilization before surgery was also elaborated. Some general and specific guidelines based on the type of surgeries for postoperative management were also discussed

Correlation Between PlayerTek Performance Data and Fatigue as Measured by the RESTQ-76 Sport Over the Course of a Collegiate Soccer Season

Please enjoy Volume 6, Issue 1 of the JSMAHS. In this issue, you will find Professional, Graduate, and Undergraduate research abstracts, and case reports. Thank you for viewing this 6th Annual OATA Special Edition

Auf dem inklusiven Spielplatz : das Spielerleben, die Partizipation und die soziale Interaktion auf einem inklusiven Spielplatz aus der Perspektive von Kindern mit einer Zerebralparese

Hintergrund: Inklusive Spielplätze sollen Spielpartizipation und soziale Interaktionen für alle Kinder ermöglichen. Es besteht jedoch eine Forschungslücke zum Spielerleben aus der Perspektive von Kindern mit Zerebralparese (CP) auf inklusiven Spielplätzen. Ziel: Diese Arbeit untersucht das Spielerleben, die Partizipation und die soziale Inter-aktion von Kindern mit CP auf einem inklusiven Spielplatz. Methode: In einer Sekundäranalyse werden halbstrukturierte Interviews vom Forschungsprojekt "Spielplatz: Ort der Begegnung für alle?" ausgewertet. Mit einer qualitativen Inhaltsanalyse werden fünf Interviews mit Kindern mit CP (9-12 Jahre) analysiert, welche auf einem inklusiven Spielplatz in der Schweiz geführt wurden. Resultate: Die geschilderten Spielerlebnisse auf dem inklusiven Spielplatz resultieren in vier Kategorien mit den folgenden Inhalten: Die persönliche Bedeutsamkeit des Spielplatzes für die Kinder, Freundschaften und deren Ausprägungen als wichtigste soziale Interaktion auf dem Spielplatz, das vielschichtige Spielerleben der Kinder auf dem Spielplatz sowie die Gestaltungsideen der Kinder. Schlussfolgerungen: Der Spielplatz ist für die Kinder ein bedeutungsvoller Ort und Freundschaften prägen das Spielerleben positiv. Die Kinder erleben sich im Spiel als kompetent und erfahren keine physischen Hindernisse, was auf die inklusive Spielplatzgestaltung zurückgeführt werden kann. Die fehlende Interaktion zwischen Kindern mit und ohne Behinderung bedarf jedoch weiterer Forschung

The effects of polydispersity and metastability on crystal growth kinetics

We investigate the effect of metastable gas-liquid (G-L) separation on crystal growth in a system of either monodisperse or slightly size-polydisperse square well particles, using a simulation setup that allows us to focus on the growth of a single crystal. Our system parameters are such that, inside the metastable G-L binodal, a macroscopic layer of the gas phase "coats" the crystal as it grows, consistent with experiment and theoretical free energy considerations. Crucially, the effect of this metastable G-L separation on the crystal growth rate depends qualitatively on whether the system is polydisperse. We measure reduced polydispersity and qualitatively different local size ordering in the crystal relative to the fluid, proposing that the required fractionation is dynamically facilitated by the gas layer. Our results show that polydispersity and metastability, both ubiquitous in soft matter, must be considered in tandem if their dynamical effects are to be understood.Comment: Published in Soft Matter. DOI: 10.1039/C3SM27627

Trastornos mentales comunes y factores asociados: estudio de las mujeres en una zona rural

OBJECTIVE Identifying the prevalence of Common Mental Disorders and analyzing the influence of sociodemographic, economic, behavioral and reproductive health variables on Common Mental Disorders in women of childbearing age living in the rural area of Uberaba-MG, Brazil. METHOD An observational and cross-sectional study. Socio-demographic, economic, behavioral and reproductive health instruments were used, along with the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) to identify common mental disorders. Multiple logistic regression was used for multivariate data analysis. RESULTS 280 women participated in the study. The prevalence of Common Mental Disorders was 35.7%. In the logistic regression analysis, the variables of living with a partner and education level were associated with Common Mental Disorders, even after adjusting for the other variables. CONCLUSION Our findings evidenced an association of social and behavioral factors with Common Mental Disorders among rural women. Identification and individualized care in primary health care are essential for the quality of life of these women.OBJETIVO Identificar la prevalencia de trastornos mentales comunes y analizar la influencia de las variables socio-demográficas, económicas, de comportamiento y de salud reproductiva en el trastorno mental común en las mujeres en edad fértil, que viven en el municipio rural de Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brasil. MÉTODO Estudio observacional y transversal. Se usaron instrumentos sociodemográficos, económicos, de comportamiento y salud reproductiva, y el Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) para identificar los trastornos mentales comunes. En el análisis multifactorial de los datos, se utilizó la regresión logística múltiple. RESULTADOS El estudio incluyó a 280 mujeres. La prevalencia de los trastornos mentales comunes fue de 35,7%. En el análisis de regresión logística, las variables convivencia con su pareja y la escolarización se asociaron con trastorno mental común, incluso después de ajustar por otras variables. CONCLUSIÓN Los resultados muestran la relación entre los factores sociales y de comportamiento con el trastorno mental común entre las mujeres rurales. La identificación y la atención individual en la atención primaria de salud son esenciales para la calidad de vida de las mujeres.OBJETIVO Identificar a prevalência do transtorno mental comum e analisar a influência de variáveis sociodemográficas, econômicas, comportamentais e de saúde reprodutiva sobre o transtorno mental comum em mulheres em idade fértil, residentes na zona rural do município de Uberaba-MG, Brasil. MÉTODO Estudo observacional e transversal. Foram utilizados instrumentos de caracterização sociodemográfica, econômica, comportamental e de saúde reprodutiva, e o Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) para identificar os transtornos mentais comuns. Na análise multivariada dos dados, foi utilizada a regressão logística múltipla. RESULTADOS Participaram do estudo 280 mulheres. A prevalência do transtorno mental comum foi de 35,7%. Na análise de regressão logística, as variáveis convivência com o companheiro e escolaridade, associaram-se ao transtorno mental comum, mesmo após o ajuste para as demais variáveis. CONCLUSÃO Os achados evidenciaram a associação de fatores sociais e comportamentais com o transtorno mental comum, entre mulheres rurais. A identificação e a assistência individualizada na atenção primária de saúde são essenciais para a qualidade de vida destas mulheres

Wnt target genes identified by DNA microarrays in immature CD34+ thymocytes regulate proliferation and cell adhesion

The thymus is seeded by very small numbers of progenitor cells that undergo massive proliferation before differentiation and rearrangement of TCR genes occurs. Various signals mediate proliferation and differentiation of these cells, including Wnt signals. Wnt signals induce the interaction of the cytoplasmic cofactor beta-catenin with nuclear T cell factor (TCF) transcription factors. We identified target genes of the Wnt/beta-catenin/TCF pathway in the most immature (CD4-CD8-CD34+) thymocytes using Affymetrix DNA microarrays in combination with three different functional assays for in vitro induction of Wnt signaling. A relatively small number (approximately 30) of genes changed expression, including several proliferation-inducing transcription factors such as c-fos and c-jun, protein phosphatases, and adhesion molecules, but no genes involved in differentiation to mature T cell stages. The adhesion molecules likely confine the proliferating immature thymocytes to the appropriate anatomical sites in the thymus. For several of these target genes, we validated that they are true Wnt/beta-catenin/TCF target genes using real-time quantitative PCR and reporter gene assays. The same core set of genes was repressed in Tcf-1-null mice, explaining the block in early thymocyte development in these mice. In conclusion, Wnt signals mediate proliferation and cell adhesion, but not differentiation of the immature thymic progenitor pool

Usability and acceptability assessment of an empathic virtual agent to prevent major depression

In Human-Computer Interaction, the adaptation of the content and the way of how this content is communicated to the users in interactive sessions is a critical issue to promote the acceptability and usability of any computational system. We present a user-adapted interactive platform to identify and provide an early intervention for symptoms of depression and suicide. In particular, we describe the work performed to assess users' system acceptability and usability. An empathic Virtual Agent is the main interface with the user, and it has been designed to generate the appropriate dialogues and emotions during the interactions according to the detected user's specific needs. This personalization is based on a dynamic user model nurtured with clinical, demographical and behavioural information. The evaluation was performed with 60 participants from the university community. The obtained results were promising, allowing the execution of a further clinical trial. The system's usability score was 75.7%, and the score of the user-adapted content and the emotional responses of the Virtual Agent was 70.9%.The work presented in this manuscript has been partially funded by the Conselleria de Sanidad of Generalitat Valenciana, in the research project entitled 'Sistema computacional de ayuda a la prevencion de episodios de depresion y suicidio - PREVENDEP'. We thank the company Faceshift (www.faceshift.com) for providing their software to perform facial motion capture in order to develop the talking head that represent our empathic virtual agent.Bresó Guardado, A.; Martinez-Miranda, J.; Botella Arbona, C.; Baños Rivera, RM.; García Gómez, JM. (2016). Usability and acceptability assessment of an empathic virtual agent to prevent major depression. Expert Systems. 33(4):297-312. doi:10.1111/exsy.12151S29731233

Performance assessment and microbial diversity of two pilot scale multi-stage sub-surface flow constructed wetland systems

This study assessed the performance and diversity of microbial communities in multi-stage sub-surface flow constructed wetland systems (CWs). Our aim was to assess the impact of configuration on treatment performance and microbial diversity in the systems. Results indicate that at loading rates up to 100g-BOD5/m2.day, similar treatment performances can be achieved using either a 3 or 4 stage configuration. In the case of phosphorus (P), the impact of configuration was less obvious and a minimum of 80% P removal can be expected for loadings up to 10g–P/m2.day based on the performance results obtained within the first 16 months of operation. Microbial analysis showed an increased bacterial diversity in stage four compared to the first stage. These results indicate that the design and configuration of multi-stage constructed wetland systems may have an impact on the treatment performance and the composition of the microbial community in the systems, and such knowledge can be used to improve their design and performance

New insights on human T cell development by quantitative T cell receptor gene rearrangement studies and gene expression profiling

To gain more insight into initiation and regulation of T cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangement during human T cell development, we analyzed TCR gene rearrangements by quantitative PCR analysis in nine consecutive T cell developmental stages, including CD34+ lin− cord blood cells as a reference. The same stages were used for gene expression profiling using DNA microarrays. We show that TCR loci rearrange in a highly ordered way (TCRD-TCRG-TCRB-TCRA) and that the initiating Dδ2-Dδ3 rearrangement occurs at the most immature CD34+CD38−CD1a− stage. TCRB rearrangement starts at the CD34+CD38+CD1a− stage and complete in-frame TCRB rearrangements were first detected in the immature single positive stage. TCRB rearrangement data together with the PTCRA (pTα) expression pattern show that human TCRβ-selection occurs at the CD34+CD38+CD1a+ stage. By combining the TCR rearrangement data with gene expression data, we identified candidate factors for the initiation/regulation of TCR recombination. Our data demonstrate that a number of key events occur earlier than assumed previously; therefore, human T cell development is much more similar to murine T cell development than reported before