799 research outputs found
The effectiveness of mindfulness and acceptance based interventions for informal caregivers of people with dementia: a meta-analysis
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The application of mindfulness- and acceptance-based interventions (MABIs) for informal caregivers of people with dementia (PwD) is relatively novel, and the current state of the evidence base is unclear. This meta-analysis examined the effectiveness of MABIs on reducing symptoms of depression and burden in informal caregivers of PwD. The quality of included studies was evaluated and moderator variables explored. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A literature search of six electronic databases (PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, MEDLINE Complete, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and ProQuest) was conducted from the first available date to 20 December 2016. Inclusion criteria involved studies that quantitatively investigated the impact of MABIs on depression and/or burden in informal caregivers of PwD. RESULTS: Twelve studies, providing data on 321 caregivers, were included. Most used mindfulness-based stress reduction and were conducted in the United States. The average attrition among participants was 15.83%. The pre-post effect of MABIs was large for depression and moderate for burden. These effects were largely maintained at follow-up. Significant heterogeneity of effect sizes was observed, with no significant moderators identified. Study quality varied from very poor to moderately good. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: The low attrition and moderate to large effects suggest that MABIs are acceptable and beneficial for informal caregivers of PwD. The lack of significant moderators could advocate services using more cost-effective forms of MABIs. Further higher-quality research is needed to improve the robustness of the evidence base and enable a meta-analysis to thoroughly examine and quantify moderator variables
An expression for stationary distribution in nonequilibrium steady state
We study the nonequilibrium steady state realized in a general stochastic
system attached to multiple heat baths and/or driven by an external force.
Starting from the detailed fluctuation theorem we derive concise and suggestive
expressions for the corresponding stationary distribution which are correct up
to the second order in thermodynamic forces. The probability of a microstate
is proportional to where
is the excess entropy change.
Here is the difference between two kinds of conditioned
path ensemble averages of excess heat transfer from the -th heat bath whose
inverse temperature is . Our expression may be verified experimentally
in nonequilibrium states realized, for example, in mesoscopic systems.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure
Prevalence of depression and burden among informal caregivers of people with dementia: a meta-analysis
This meta-analysis examined the prevalence of depression and burden among informal care-givers of people with dementia (PwD) and compared the prevalence of depression between male and female, and spousal and non-spousal, care-givers. The quality of studies was evaluated and moderator variables explored. A search of six electronic databases (PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, MEDLINE Complete, SCOPUS, Web of Science and ProQuest) was conducted from the first available date to the 31 October 2017. Inclusion criteria involved observational studies on the prevalence of burden or depression among informal care-givers of PwD. Forty-three studies were examined with a total of 16,911 participants. The adjusted pooled prevalence of depression was 31.24 per cent (95% confidence interval (CI) = 27.70, 35.01) and burden was 49.26 per cent (95% CI = 37.15, 61.46), although heterogeneity among prevalence estimates was high. Depression prevalence estimates differed according to the instrument used and the continent where the study was conducted. The odds of having depression were almost one and a half times higher in female compared to male care-givers. No significant difference was observed between spouses and non-spouses. Most studies had a medium risk of bias. Results suggest a great need within this population for interventions that are effective at reducing burden and depressive symptoms. It therefore appears imperative for dementia services that are not providing such interventions to do so
Critical Scale-invariance in Healthy Human Heart Rate
We demonstrate the robust scale-invariance in the probability density
function (PDF) of detrended healthy human heart rate increments, which is
preserved not only in a quiescent condition, but also in a dynamic state where
the mean level of heart rate is dramatically changing. This scale-independent
and fractal structure is markedly different from the scale-dependent PDF
evolution observed in a turbulent-like, cascade heart rate model. These results
strongly support the view that healthy human heart rate is controlled to
converge continually to a critical state.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures. Phys. Rev. Lett., to appear (2004
Rapid Detection and Quantification of Triacylglycerol by HPLC–ELSD in \u3ci\u3eChlamydomonas reinhardtii\u3c/i\u3e and \u3ci\u3eChlorella\u3c/i\u3e Strains
Triacylglycerol (TAG) analysis and quantification are commonly performed by first obtaining a purified TAG fraction from a total neutral lipid extract using thinlayer chromatography (TLC), and then analyzing the fatty
acid composition of the purified TAG fraction by gas chromatography (GC). This process is time-consuming, labor
intensive and is not suitable for analysis of small sample sizes or large numbers. A rapid and efficient method for monitoring oil accumulation in algae using high performance liquid chromatography for separation of all lipid classes combined with detection by evaporative light scattering (HPLC–ELSD) was developed and compared to the conventional TLC/GC method. TAG accumulation in two Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (21 gr and CC503) and three
Chlorella strains (UTEX 1230, CS01 and UTEX 2229) grown under conditions of nitrogen depletion was measured. The TAG levels were found to be 3–6 % DW (Chlamydomonas strains) and 7–12 % DW (Chlorella strains) respectively by both HPLC–ELSD and TLC/GC methods. HPLC–ELSD resolved the major lipid classes such as carotenoids, TAG, diacylglycerol (DAG), free fatty acids, phospholipids, and galactolipids in a 15-min run. Quantitation of TAG content was based on comparison to calibration curves of trihexadecanoin (16:0 TAG) and trioctadecadienoin (18:2 TAG) and showed linearity from 0.2 to 10 lg. Algal TAG levels \u3e0.5 lg/g DW were detectable by this method. Furthermore TAG content in Chlorella kessleri UTEX 2229 could be detected. TAG as well as DAG and TAG content were estimated at 1.6 % DWby HPLC–ELSD, while it was undetectable by TLC/GC method
Digital microscopy: A useful technique for measuring root elongation in solution
Decreased root elongation and rupture of outer cells, major effects of soluble aluminum (Al), may be studied using digital microscopy with little interference by the experimental technique. Single roots of 3-d-old mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) or soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) seedlings were marked with activated charcoal particles and grown for ca. 2 h in 500 mL 1 mM CaCl solution at pH 6, followed by the imposition of an Al treatment. A digital image at 25-time magnification was recorded every 5 min for up to 7 h. Examination of the digital images showed that Al exerted its rhizotoxic effects rapidly (ca. 20-50 min) by reducing cell expansion in the elongation zone. Rupture of epidermal and outer cortical cells occurred later (after≥4 h) and closer to the root tip. Digital microscopy has a number of inherent benefits and problems, but is overall a valuable technique that may find wide use in studies on root growth
Characterization of three \u3ci\u3eChlorella sorokiniana\u3c/i\u3e strains in anaerobic digested effluent from cattle manure
Chlorella sorokiniana CS-01, UTEX 1230 and UTEX 2714 were maintained in 10% anaerobic digester effluent (ADE) from cattle manure digestion and compared with algal cultivation in Bold’s Basal Medium (BBM). Biomass of CS-01 and UTEX 1230 in ADE produced similar or greater than 280 mg/L after 21 days in BBM, however, UTEX 2714 growth in ADE was suppressed by more than 50% demonstrating a significant species bias to synthetic compared to organic waste-based media. The highest accumulation of protein and starch was exhibited in UTEX 1230 in ADE yielding 34% and 23% ash free dry weight (AFDW), respectively, though fatty acid methyl ester total lipid measured less than 12% AFDW. Results suggest that biomass from UTEX 1230 in ADE may serve as a candidate alga and growth system combination sustainable for animal feed production considering high yields of protein, starch and low lipid accumulation
The Declined Activity in the Nucleus of NGC 1316
NGC 1316 (Fornax A) is a radio galaxy with prototypical double lobes, where
the magnetic field intensity is accurately measured via the inverse-Compton
technique. The radio-emitting electrons in the lobes are inferred to have a
synchrotron life time of 0.1 Gyr. Considering the lobe energetics, we estimate
the past nuclear X-ray luminosity of NGC 1316 to be at least 4 times 10^{34} W
(4 times 10^{41} erg s^{-1}). Thus, the nucleus was rather active at least 0.1
Gyr ago. In contrast, we confirmed with ASCA and ROSAT that the nucleus of NGC
1316 is very faint in X-rays at present, with the 2--10 keV luminosity of any
AGN-like hard component being < 2 times 10^{33} W (2 times 10^{40} erg s^{-1})
even assuming a nuclear obscuration up to 10^{28} m^{-2} (10^{24} cm^{-2}).
This is at least an order of magnitude lower than the estimated past activity,
indicating that the nucleus is presently very inactive. From these two results,
we conclude that the nucleus of NGC 1316 has become dormant during the last 0.1
Gyr. This suggests the possible abundance of ``dormant'' quasars in nearby
galaxies.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, to be published in the Astrophysical Journal
Letter
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