Development and initial validation of a sensory threshold examination protocol (STEP) for phenotyping canine pain syndromes

Objective To study feasibility and test-retest repeatability of a sensory threshold examination protocol (STEP) and report quantitative sensory threshold distributions in healthy dogs. Study design Prospective, observational, cohort study. Animals Twenty-five healthy client-owned dogs. Methods Tactile sensitivity (TST) (von Frey filaments), mechanical thresholds (MT with 2, 4 and 8 mm probes), heat thresholds (HT) and responsiveness to cold stimulus (CT at 0 °C) were quantitatively assessed for five body areas (BA: tibias, humeri, neck, thoracolumbar region and abdomen) in a randomized order on three different occasions. Linear Mixed Model and Generalised Linear Mixed models were used to evaluate the effects of body weight category, age, sex, BA, occasion, feasibility score and investigator experience. Test-retest repeatability was evaluated with the Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC). Results The STEP lasted 90 minutes without side effects. The BA affected most tests (p = 0.001). Higher thresholds and longer cold latencies were scored in the neck (p = 0.024) compared to other BAs. Weight category affected all thresholds (p = 0.037). Small dogs had lower MT (~1.4 N mean difference) and HT (1.1 0C mean difference) than other dogs (p = 0.029). Young dogs had higher HT than adults (2.2 0C mean difference) (p = 0.035). Gender also affected TST, MT and HT (p < 0.05) (females versus males: TST OR= 0.5, MT= 1.3 N mean difference, HT= 2.2 0C mean difference). Repeatability was substantial to moderate for all tests, but poor for TST. There was no difference in thresholds between occasions, except for CT. Test-retest repeatability was slightly better with the 2 mm MT probe compared to other diameters and improved with operator experience. Conclusions and clinical relevance The STEP was feasible, well tolerated and showed substantial test-retest repeatability in healthy dogs. Further validation is needed in dogs suffering pain

Los 365 gestos de la Giralda de Amalio

El presente artículo trata sobre la obra pictórica sobre las Giraldas de Amalio, como esta ha sido abordada, mantenida y sostenida por este pintor que se enamoro de la Torre sevillana. Tratando sobre un mismo tema en diversos conceptos artísticos y modalidades temáticas, que abarcan desde los paisajes figurativos que tratan de reflejar la estación del año, el día, la hora y el lugar desde donde fueron pintados, hasta las representaciones menos realistas e interpretaciones muy personales, sin olvidar que esta obra se hizo para la ciudad de Sevilla que se identifica con esta torre, Sevilla sin su Giralda no sería Sevilla.The present article is abaut the pictorial worns about the Giraldas of Amalio, as that has been approached, maintained and supported by this painter who foelt in love with topic Sevillan tower trearting about the same the me in diferents artistic concepts and the matics categories that cover from lanscapes that try to reflect the diferants seasons, the day, the time and the place where they were painted, untill the less realistic representations and very personal interpretations, without forget that this work was done for Seville that is associated with this tower. Seville without its Giralda would not be Sevilla

Monitoring of offshore geological carbon storage integrity: Implications of natural variability in the marine system and the assessment of anomaly detection criteria

The design of efficient monitoring programmes required for the assurance of offshore geological storage requires an understanding of the variability and heterogeneity of marine carbonate chemistry. In the absence of sufficient observational data and for extrapolation both spatially and seasonally, models have a significant role to play. In this study a previously evaluated hydrodynamic-biogeochemical model is used to characterise carbonate chemistry, in particular pH heterogeneity in the vicinity of the sea floor. Using three contrasting regions, the seasonal and short term variability are analysed and criteria that could be considered as indicators of anomalous carbonate chemistry identified. These criteria are then tested by imposing a number of randomised DIC perturbations on the model data, representing a comprehensive range of leakage scenarios. In conclusion optimal criteria and general rules for developing monitoring strategies are identified. Detection criteria will be site specific and vary seasonally and monitoring may be more efficient at periods of low dynamics. Analysis suggests that by using high frequency, sub-hourly monitoring anomalies as small as 0.01 of a pH unit or less may be successfully discriminated from natural variability – thereby allowing detection of small leaks or at distance from a leakage source. Conversely assurance of no leakage would be profound. Detection at deeper sites is likely to be more efficient than at shallow sites where the near bed system is closely coupled to surface processes. Although this study is based on North Sea target sites for geological storage, the model and the general conclusions are relevant to the majority of offshore storage sites lying on the continental shelf

Regularization of odd-dimensional AdS gravity: Kounterterms

As an alternative to the Dirichlet counterterms prescription, I introduce the concept of Kounterterms as the boundary terms with explicit dependence on the extrinsic curvature K_{ij} that regularize the AdS gravity action. Instead of a Dirichlet boundary condition on the metric, a suitable choice of the boundary conditions --compatible with any asymptotically AdS (AAdS) spacetime-- ensures a finite action principle for all odd dimensions. Background-independent conserved quantities are obtained as Noether charges associated to asymptotic symmetries and their general expression appears naturally split in two parts. The first one gives the correct mass and angular momentum for AAdS black holes and vanishes identically for globally AdS spacetimes. Thus, the second part is a covariant formula for the vacuum energy in AAdS spacetimes and reproduces the results obtained by the Dirichlet counterterms method in a number of cases. It is also shown that this Kounterterms series regularizes the Euclidean action and recovers the correct black hole thermodynamics in odd dimensions.Comment: 35+6 pages, 8 references and an appendix added, improved discussion on boundary conditions and geometrical origin of Kounterterms. Version accepted in JHE

Excitability in a nonlinear magnetoacoustic resonator

We report a nonlinear acoustic system displaying excitability. The considered system is a magnetostrictive material where acoustic waves are parametrically generated. For a set of parameters, the system presents homoclinic and heteroclinic dynamics, whose boundaries define a excitability domain. The excitable behaviour is characterized by analyzing the response of the system to different external stimuli. Single spiking and bursting regimes have been identified.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Functional barriers to the adoption of electronic banking: The moderating effect of gender

The adoption of electronic banking in Spain is lower compared to other countries. This study analyzes the barriers that prevent its adoption, with the conceptual framework of the theory of resistance to innovation. In addition, it analyzes the moderating effect of gender on these barriers. Using structural equations, through PLS and multi-group analysis, the results confirm consumer resistance to electronic banking adoption by functional barriers. It highlights the importance of the value barrier, being this aspect of particular relevance for men, while women are more affected by the complexity in the use of electronic banking. These results have implications for management in overcoming non-adopters’ resistance to the innovation. La adopción de la banca electrónica en España es menor en comparación con otros países. Este estudio analiza las barreras que impiden su adopción, con el marco conceptual de la teoría de la resistencia a la innovación. Además, analiza el efecto moderador del género sobre estas barreras. Utilizando ecuaciones estructurales, a través de PLS y análisis multi-grupo, los resultados confirman la resistencia del consumidor a la adopción de la banca electrónica por barreras funcionales. Destaca la importancia de la barrera de valor, siendo este aspecto de especial relevancia para los hombres, mientras que a las mujeres les impacta más la complejidad en el uso de la banca electrónica. Estos resultados tienen implicaciones para la gestión para superar la resistencia de los no adoptantes a la innovación

Penerapan Collaborative Learning Bagi Pendidik Sebaya di Sekolah Tentang Pendidikan Seksual dengan Metode Evalusi Kirkpatrick

Evaluation of collaborative learning for peer educators of sexual education with Kirkpatrick methodPurposeThis research aimed to evaluate the collaborative learning outcomes of the application of Kirkpatrick method for peer educators on sexual education in schools. MethodThis research was a quantitative study with a quasi-experimental design. Educators/peer tutors from two schools were grouped into two groups, namely the intervention group and the control group. ResultsResults of the study describes the Kirkpatrick evaluation on collaborative learning methods in peer educators in schools, namely: 1) The majority of participants were satisfied with the results of the intervention group training; 2) there was an increase in knowledge and skills in the control group and intervention during the pretest and posttest; 3) increased knowledge and skills of collaborative learning participants with better training than in the control group; and 4) the intervention group could conduct collaborative learning as a result of the training given. ConclusionThrough the training methods of collaborative learning, the knowledge and skills of participants increased significantly compared to the control group, and participants could apply the training about sexual education in schools while doing health education and distributing brochures on sexual education

Steps in the bacterial flagellar motor

The bacterial flagellar motor is a highly efficient rotary machine used by many bacteria to propel themselves. It has recently been shown that at low speeds its rotation proceeds in steps [Sowa et al. (2005) Nature 437, 916--919]. Here we propose a simple physical model that accounts for this stepping behavior as a random walk in a tilted corrugated potential that combines torque and contact forces. We argue that the absolute angular position of the rotor is crucial for understanding step properties, and show this hypothesis to be consistent with the available data, in particular the observation that backward steps are smaller on average than forward steps. Our model also predicts a sublinear torque-speed relationship at low torque, and a peak in rotor diffusion as a function of torque