The clinical utility of the Jesness Inventory

Because previous research findings on the Jesness Inventory have been relatively inconsistent, the current study was conducted to further examine this instrument\u27s reliability, convergent validity and classificatory ability. A 3 to 11 month test-retest interval used with 42 adjudicated adolescents yielded a mean correlation coefficient of .60 and suggested that the stability of the 11 individual subscales is questionable. Using 42 adjudicated adolescents and 48 outpatients, many significant correlations were obtained between the Jesness Inventory and the Adolescent Multiphasic Personality Inventory subscales. Similarly, the Asocial Index accurately classified the adjudicated adolescents as delinquent and the outpatient adolescents as nondelinquent, as 64% of the sample was correctly classified. Current findings suggest that the Jesness Inventory may be useful for clinicians who wish to detect delinquency proneness and assess progress

Evidence for suboxic nitrification in recent marine sediments

The classical scheme of biogeochemical zones (BGZ) is known to be an oversimplification of the microbial processes that occur in organic-rich marine sediments. Results from a coupled deployment of pore-water gel probes in Loch Duich, Scotland, provide direct evidence for rapid recycling within the iron reduction (FeR) and sulphate reduction (SR) zones. High resolution porewater profiles obtained using diffusive equilibrium in thin films (DET) gel probes found a nitrate peak at the boundary between the FeR and SR zones. This non-steady state feature is consistent with recycling of reduced N occurring throughout the FeR zone. Both conventional pore-water iron profiles and results from diffusive gradient in thin films (DGT) probes indicate that iron is solubilised and precipitated in rapid Fe/S recycling reactions throughout the SR zone. The presence of such complex recycling reactions confirms the oversimplification of the classical BGZ scheme

Classification of lower extremity movement patterns based on visual assessment: reliability and correlation with 2-dimensional video analysis

CONTEXT: Abnormal movement patterns have been implicated in lower extremity injury. Reliable, valid, and easily implemented assessment methods are needed to examine existing musculoskeletal disorders and investigate predictive factors for lower extremity injury. OBJECTIVE: To determine the reliability of experienced and novice testers in making visual assessments of lower extremity movement patterns and to characterize the construct validity of the visual assessments. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: University athletic department and research laboratory. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of 30 undergraduate and graduate students who regularly participate in athletics (age = 19.3 ± 4.5 years). Testers were 2 experienced physical therapists and 1 novice postdoctoral fellow (nonclinician). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): We took videos of 30 athletes performing the single-legged squat. Three testers observed the videos on 2 occasions and classified the lower extremity movement as dynamic valgus, no change, or dynamic varus. The classification was based on the estimated change in frontal-plane projection angle (FPPA) of the knee from single-legged stance to maximum single-legged squat depth. The actual FPPA change was measured quantitatively. We used percentage agreement and weighted κ to examine tester reliability and to determine construct validity of the visual assessment. RESULTS: The κ values for intratester and intertester reliability ranged from 0.75 to 0.90, indicating substantial to excellent reliability. Percentage agreement between the visual assessment and the quantitative FPPA change category was 90%, with a κ value of 0.85. CONCLUSIONS: Visual assessments were made reliably by experienced and novice testers. Additionally, movement-pattern categories based on visual assessments were in excellent agreement with objective methods to measure FPPA change. Therefore, visual assessments can be used in the clinic to assess movement patterns associated with musculoskeletal disorders and in large epidemiologic studies to assess the association between lower extremity movement patterns and musculoskeletal injury

Anoxic nitrification in marine sediments

Nitrate peaks are found in pore-water profiles in marine sediments at depths considerably below the conventional zone of oxic nitrification. These have been interpreted to represent nonsteady- state effects produced by the activity of nitrifying bacteria, and suggest that nitrification occurs throughout the anoxic sediment region. In this study, ΣNO3 peaks and molecular analysis of DNA and RNA extracted from anoxic sediments of Loch Duich, an organic-rich marine fjord, are consistent with nitrification occurring in the anoxic zone. Analysis of ammonia oxidiser 16S rRNA gene fragments amplified from sediment DNA indicated the abundance of autotrophic ammonia-oxidising bacteria throughout the sediment depth sampled (40 cm), while RT-PCR analysis indicated their potential activity throughout this region. A large non-steady-state pore-water ΣNO3 peak at ~21 cm correlated with discontinuities in this ammonia-oxidiser community. In addition, a subsurface nitrate peak at ~8 cm below the oxygen penetration depth, correlated with the depth of a peak in nitrification rate, assessed by transformation of 15N-labelled ammonia. The source of the oxidant required to support nitrification within the anoxic region is uncertain. It is suggested that rapid recycling of N is occurring, based on a coupled reaction involving Mn oxides (or possibly highly labile Fe oxides) buried during small-scale slumping events. However, to fully investigate this coupling, advances in the capability of high-resolution pore-water techniques are required

A pilot case series of a brief acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)-based guided self-help intervention for improving quality of life and mood in muscle disorders

This study aimed to demonstrate proof of concept and acceptability of a brief acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)-based guided self-help intervention for improving quality of life (QoL) and mood for people with muscle disorders (MD). A case-series with an AB design was used to assess changes in primary (QoL) and secondary (depression and anxiety) outcome variables across the period of study. Change in the psychological process targeted by ACT – psychological flexibility – was also investigated, to allow insight into possible treatment mechanisms. Post-intervention, participants also completed a brief free-text evaluation. Relative to pre-intervention scores, four (of seven) participants showed varying degrees of improvement in all primary and secondary outcome variables and were thus considered responders. However, consistent concomitant improvements in psychological flexibility were not apparent. Participants reported a mostly positive experience of the intervention; all appeared to complete the intervention, and no adverse events were reported. Nonetheless, there was evidence that those with compromised concentration or who report good initial QoL and low levels of distress may derive less benefit. Although several methodological weaknesses limit the strength of our conclusions, this ACT-based guided self-help intervention shows encouraging utility for improving QoL and mood in MD

Development and preliminary reliability testing of an assessment of patient independence in performing a treatment program: Standardized scenarios

BACKGROUND: Physical therapists often assess patient independence through observation, however it is not known if therapists make these judgments reliably. We have developed a standardized method to assess a patient’s ability to perform his or her treatment program independently. OBJECTIVES: To develop a standardized assessment of patient independence in performance of a treatment program and examine the intra- and inter-rater reliability decisions made by two physical therapists. DESIGN: Test-retest. METHODS: An assessment of patient independence in performance was developed. Standardized patient scenarios were used to assess the intra- and inter-tester reliability of two physical therapists. Percentage of agreement (%) and kappa’s coefficient (k and k(w)) indexed rater reliability. RESULTS: Intra-rater reliability of Therapist 1 was as follows: knowledge: %=95, k=.90; performance: %=95, k(w)=.82. Intra-rater reliability of Therapist 2 was as follows: knowledge: %=85, k=.68; performance: %=94, k(w)=.80. Inter-rater reliability for knowledge was %=91 and k=.79 and for performance was %=91 and k(w)=.72. CONCLUSION: Trained therapists displayed substantial to excellent intra-rater reliability and substantial inter-rater reliability in assessing a patient’s independence in a treatment program

Edge effects in electrostatic calibrations for the measurement of the Casimir force

We have performed numerical simulations to evaluate the effect on the capacitance of finite size boundaries realistically present in the parallel plane, sphere-plane, and cylinder-plane geometries. The potential impact of edge effects in assessing the accuracy of the parameters obtained in the electrostatic calibrations of Casimir force experiments is then discussed

Bony abnormalities of the hip joint: a new comprehensive, reliable and radiation-free measurement method using magnetic resonance imaging

The objective of this study was to develop comprehensive and reliable radiation-free methods to quantify femoral and acetabular morphology using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Thirty-two hips [16 subjects, 6 with intra-articular hip disorder (IAHD); 10 controls] were included. A 1.5-T magnetic resonance system was used to obtain three-dimensional fat-suppressed gradient-echo images at the pelvis and distal femora. After acquisition, pelvic images were post-processed to correct for coronal, axial and sagittal rotation. Measurements performed included acetabular version (AV), femoral version (FV), lateral center-edge angle (LCEA), femoral neck angle (FNA) and alpha angle (AA) at 3, 2, 1 and 12 a.m. Two experienced raters, a musculoskeletal radiologist and an orthopedic physical therapist, and a novice rater, a research assistant, completed reliability testing. Raters measured all hips twice with minimum 2 weeks between sessions. Intra-class Correlation Coefficients (ICCs) were used to determine rater reliability; standard error of measurements was reported to estimate the reasonable limits of the expected error in the different raters’ scores. Inter-rater reliability was good to excellent for all raters for AV, FV, FNA and LCEA (ICCs: 0.82–0.98); good to excellent between experienced raters (ICCs: 0.78–0.86) and poor to good between novice and experienced raters (ICCs: 0.23–0.78) for AA. Intra-rater reliability was good to excellent for all raters for AV, FV and FNA (ICCs: 0.93–0.99); for one experienced and novice rater for LCEA (ICCs: 0.84–0.89); moderate to excellent for the experienced raters for AA (ICCs: 0.72-0.89). Intra-rater reliability was poor for the second experienced rater for LCEA (ICC: 0.56), due to a single measurement error and for the novice rater for AA (ICCs: 0.17–0.38). We described MRI methods to comprehensively assess femoral and acetabular morphology. Measurements such as AV, FV and FNA and the LCEA can be made reliably by both experienced and novice raters; however, the AA measurement was reliable only among experienced raters

Interferon gamma replacement as salvage therapy in chronic pulmonary aspergillosis: effects on frequency of acute exacerbation and all-cause hospital admission.

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is often poorly responsive to antifungal treatment; secondary infections increase morbidity/mortality, particularly in progressive cases. Interferon gamma (IFNγ) has been implicated in not only Aspergillus control but also bacterial clearance. Clinical notes of patients with CPA treated with IFNγ (2011-2018) were retrospectively hand-searched. In patients treated for >12 months (n=20), the frequency of acute exacerbation reduced from 3.1 to 1.4 episodes/year (p=0.006) in the 12 months after treatment initiation compared with the 12 months before. A significant reduction in the frequency of hospital admissions/year was also observed (0.8 to 0.3, p=0.04). These findings support further prospective studies

Plantlife - we’re all in the wild: An inclusive guide to supporting young people with SEN/D to discover their local outdoor spaces

This guide has been created as a practical guide to assist: 1. Practitioners who work with SEN/D young people to support them to discover their local outdoor spaces. 2. Practitioners who work in outdoor spaces to support them to work with young people with SEN/D. It is important to understand both of these perspectives. The guide contains short stories – Magic Moments – used to highlight the key learning points from the ‘We’re in the Wild’ project. It also includes tips for developing and managing a similar project – taking you from the first steps of having a good idea for an activity, to the final steps of assessing its effectiveness