Determining the Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Tinnitus, Depression, and Anxiety: A Systematic Review

(1) Background: Tinnitus is the awareness of a sound in the absence of an external source. It affects around 10–15% of people, a significant proportion of whom also experience symptoms such as depression or anxiety that negatively affect their quality of life. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a technique involving constant low-intensity direct current delivered via scalp electrodes. It is a potential treatment option for tinnitus, as well as tinnitus-related conditions such as depression and anxiety. This systematic review estimates the effects of tDCS on outcomes relevant to tinnitus. In addition, it sheds light on the relationship between stimulation parameters and the effect of tDCS on these outcomes; (2) Methods: Exhaustive searches of electronic databases were conducted. Randomised controlled trials were included if they reported at least one of the following outcomes: tinnitus symptom severity, anxiety, or depression. Where available, data on quality of life, adverse effects, and neurophysiological changes were also reviewed. GRADE was used to assess the certainty in the estimate; (3) Results: Meta-analyses revealed a statistically significant reduction in tinnitus (moderate certainty) and depression (low certainty)-but not anxiety-following active tDCS compared to sham control. Network meta-analyses revealed potential optimal stimulation parameters; (4) Conclusions: The evidence synthesised in this review suggests tDCS has the potential to reduce symptom severity in tinnitus and depression. It further narrows down the number of potentially optimal stimulation parameters

Physical activity differences between children from migrant and native origin

BACKGROUND: Children from migrant origin are at higher risk for overweight and obesity. As limited physical activity is a key factor in this overweight and obesity risk, in general, the aim of this study is to assess to what degree children from migrant and native Dutch origin differ with regard to levels of physical activity and to determine which home environment aspects contribute to these differences. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey among primary caregivers of primary school children at the age of 8–9 years old (n = 1943) from 101 primary schools in two urban areas in The Netherlands. We used bivariate correlation and multivariate regression techniques to examine the relationship between physical and social environment aspects and the child’s level of physical activity. All outcomes were reported by primary caregivers. Outcome measure was the physical activity level of the child. Main independent variables were migrant background, based on country of birth of the parents, and variables in the physical and social home environment which may enhance or restrict physical activity: the availability and the accessibility of toys and equipment, as well as sport club membership (physical environment), and both parental role modeling, and supportive parental policies (social environment). We controlled for age and sex of the child, and for socio-economic status, as indicated by educational level of the parents. RESULTS: In this sample, physical activity levels were significantly lower in migrant children, as compared to children in the native population. Less physical activity was most often seen in Turkish, Moroccan, and other non-western children (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Although traditional home characteristics in both the physical, and the social environment are often associated with child’s physical activity, these characteristics provided only modest explanation of the differences in physical activity between migrant and non-migrant children in this study. The question arises whether interventions aimed at overweight and obesity should have to focus on home environmental characteristics with regard to physical activity

Impact of cross-section uncertainties on supernova neutrino spectral parameter fitting in the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment

A primary goal of the upcoming Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is to measure the $\mathcal{O}(10)$ MeV neutrinos produced by a Galactic core-collapse supernova if one should occur during the lifetime of the experiment. The liquid-argon-based detectors planned for DUNE are expected to be uniquely sensitive to the $\nu_e$ component of the supernova flux, enabling a wide variety of physics and astrophysics measurements. A key requirement for a correct interpretation of these measurements is a good understanding of the energy-dependent total cross section $\sigma(E_\nu)$ for charged-current $\nu_e$ absorption on argon. In the context of a simulated extraction of supernova $\nu_e$ spectral parameters from a toy analysis, we investigate the impact of $\sigma(E_\nu)$ modeling uncertainties on DUNE's supernova neutrino physics sensitivity for the first time. We find that the currently large theoretical uncertainties on $\sigma(E_\nu)$ must be substantially reduced before the $\nu_e$ flux parameters can be extracted reliably: in the absence of external constraints, a measurement of the integrated neutrino luminosity with less than 10\% bias with DUNE requires $\sigma(E_\nu)$ to be known to about 5%. The neutrino spectral shape parameters can be known to better than 10% for a 20% uncertainty on the cross-section scale, although they will be sensitive to uncertainties on the shape of $\sigma(E_\nu)$. A direct measurement of low-energy $\nu_e$-argon scattering would be invaluable for improving the theoretical precision to the needed level.Comment: 25 pages, 21 figure

In vitro and in vivo flow characteristics of glaucoma drainage implants

PURPOSE: To determine pressure-flow characteristics at physiologic flow rates in vitro and in vivo in rabbits for Ahmed, Baerveldt, Krupin disk, and OptiMed glaucoma implants. The Molteno dual-chamber implant also was evaluated in vivo only. METHODS: Five samples of each glaucoma implant were studied. Baerveldt implants were ligated partially for in vitro testing. Opening and closing pressures in air or after immersion in balanced salt solution or plasma were evaluated for the valved devices (Ahmed and Krupin). Pressures were measured in vitro and in vivo in normal rabbits at flow rates preset at between 2 and 25 microliters/minute after the tubes were connected to a closed manometric system. In vivo measurements were made 24 hours after implantation. Resistance to flow was calculated using Poiseuille's equation after at least three separate flow rate readings. RESULTS: In air, the Ahmed and Krupin valves had opening pressures of 9.2 +/- 3.4 and 7.2 +/- 0.6 mmHg and closing pressures of 5.2 +/- 0.9 and 3.9 +/- 1 mmHg, respectively. Neither opening nor closing pressures could be determined when Ahmed and Krupin valves were immersed. In vitro, the Ahmed and OptiMed devices had higher pressures than did other devices at a 2-microliters/minute flow rate of balanced salt solution. During perfusion with plasma, only the OptiMed device maintained higher pressures than with balanced salt. With all devices, pressures fell rapidly to zero after flow was stopped. The OptiMed device demonstrated the highest resistance values. In vivo, the Ahmed device provided pressures of 7.5 +/- 0.8 mmHg and the OptiMed device gave pressures of 19.6 +/- 5.6 mmHg at a 2-microliters/minute flow rate. After 15 minutes of flow shutdown, the OptiMed implant maintained pressures of 7.1 +/- 1.1 mmHg. The Baerveldt (nonligatured), Krupin, and Molteno dual-chamber implants had similar resistances and pressures in vivo. Pressures with all devices in vivo fell rapidly to zero after conjunctival wound disruption. CONCLUSION: Neither the Ahmed nor Krupin devices had demonstrable opening or closing pressures when tested in vitro immersed in balanced salt solution or plasma. With all devices, pressures were higher in vivo than in vitro due to tissue-induced resistance around the explant. Both Ahmed and Krupin valves functioned as flow-restricting devices at the flow rates studied, but did not close after initial perfusion with fluid

Theories of constitution in the early Soviet State (2)

AIM: To explore whether primary school children of migrant and native Dutch origins differ regarding their sleep duration per night, a risk for overweight and obesity, and to determine to what degree differences in parenting styles contribute to these differences. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey, including 1,943 children aged 8-9 years old and their primary caregivers, was performed. Data were collected from primary schools in cities and adjacent municipalities in The Netherlands: Eindhoven and Rotterdam. The outcome measure was mean sleep duration per night. The main independent variable was migrant background, based on the country of birth of the parents. A possible mediating variable was parenting style (rejecting, neglecting, permissive, authoritarian, authoritative). Age and sex of the child as well as parental socioeconomic status, as indicated by educational level, were added as confounders. RESULTS: Dutch children have the highest sleep duration: more than 11 h (mean = 670.1; SD = 27.7). All migrant children show less than 11 h of sleep per night. Migrant children of non-Western origin, especially Turkish and Moroccan children, show the lowest sleep duration per night. Parenting styles do not contribute to these differences. CONCLUSION: Migrant background is associated with sleep duration. As children of migrant origin are, in general, at higher risk for overweight and obesity and sleep duration is regarded as a risk factor for overweight and obesity, further investigation of this association is needed