Impact of numeracy on parental self-efficacy and treatment outcome of children on complex diets.

Health numeracy, a counterpart to health literacy, can be a mediator of health disparities. This study analyzed the impact of both cognitive and affective numeracy on the pathway linking health behavior to health outcomes, and the role of self-efficacy in this relationship, based on the Health Belief Model. The context was parental management of children\u27s complex diets that require numerical calculations. Parents of children ages 12 months to 12 years with type 1 diabetes (T1D) or phenylketonuria (PKU) were recruited at clinics or community events in east-central states. Ninety-eight participants completed a standardized test of math skills, an instrument to assess attitudes and emotions towards mathematics in daily life, and a questionnaire on parental self-efficacy of caring for a child with T1D or PKU. Health outcome was evaluated via hemoglobin A1c or blood levels of phenylalanine. Engagement was measured by number of blood levels taken during glucose or phenylalanine monitoring, compared to clinic recommendations. Factor analysis indicated affective numeracy was a significant component of the overall variable numeracy. Structural equation modeling did not support a relationship between any variable and health outcome, although bivariate analysis suggested significant relationships between poor math skills, low self-efficacy, less engagement, low income, less education, or more years on the diet, and poor metabolic control. In pathway analysis, cognitive numeracy had a strong positive relationship with engagement, while affective numeracy had an equal but negative predictive effect. Adjustments to the model identified education as the ultimate driver of the relationship. Parental self-efficacy was not a mediator between numeracy and health outcomes or engagement. The relationship between self-efficacy and engagement was strongly influenced by other pathway variables, and parental self-efficacy was significantly lower when the child had been on the diet for a longer time. This study asserts the importance of affective component of numeracy along with cognitive skills, and offers a validated instrument for assessment. Treatment programs for PKU and T1D should recognize that parents with lower numeracy skills and discomfort with math are at risk for less engagement. Further research is needed to clarify the path by which numeracy impacts health outcomes

Does conventional intra-aortic balloon pump trigger timing produce optimal hemodynamic effects in vivo?

Purpose The intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) provides circulatory support through counterpulsation. The hemodynamic effects of the IABP may vary with assisting frequency and depend on IAB inflation/deflation timing. We aimed to assess in vivo the IABP benefits on coronary, aortic, and left ventricular hemodynamics at different assistance frequencies and trigger timings. Methods Six healthy, anesthetized, open-chest sheep received IABP support at 5 timing modes (EC, LC, CC, CE, CL, corresponding to early/late/conventional/conventional/conventional inflation and conventional/conventional/conventional/early/late deflation, respectively) with frequency 1:3 and 1:1. Aortic (Qao) and coronary (Qcor) flow, and aortic (Pao) and left ventricular (PLV) pressure were recorded simultaneously, with and without IABP support. Integrating systolic Qao yielded stroke volume (SV). Results EC at 1:1 produced the lowest end-diastolic Pao (59.5 ± 7.8 mmHg [EC], 63.4 ± 11.1 mmHg [CC]), CC at 1:1 the lowest systolic PLV (69.1 ± 6.5 mmHg [CC], 76.4 ± 6.5 mmHg [control]), CC at 1:1 the highest SV (88.5 ± 34.4 ml [CC], 76.6 ± 31.9 ml [control]) and CC at 1:3 the highest diastolic Qcor (187.2 ± 25.0 ml/min [CC], 149.9 ± 16.6 ml/min [control]). Diastolic Pao augmentation was enhanced by both assistance frequencies alike, and optimal timings were EC for 1:3 (10.4 ± 2.8 mmHg [EC], 6.7 ± 3.8 mmHg [CC]) and CC for 1:1 (10.8 ± 6.7 mmHg [CC], −3.0 ± 3.8 mmHg [control]). Conclusions In our experiments, neither a single frequency nor a single inflation/deflation timing, including conventional IAB timing, has shown superiority by uniformly benefiting all studied hemodynamic parameters. A choice of optimal frequency and IAB timing might need to be made based on individual patient hemodynamic needs rather than as a generalized protocol

Bloodstain Pattern Dynamics in Microgravity: Observations of a Pilot Study in the Next Frontier of Forensic Science

As humanity advances into a space-faring species, the risk of injury by multiple means and intentions will follow. Expanding understanding of how forensic science adapts to extraterrestrial environments is a novel and inevitable expansion into the next forensic frontier. This study considers the unique challenges of bloodstain pattern analysis in microgravity environments. Specifically, observation in novel experimentation aboard a parabolic flight research airplane which yielded fluid dynamic behaviors in a microgravity environment that provides practical understanding of Earth-based and off-world bloodstain applications

Personal relations and social media: The emotional experience on Instagram

Τα κοινωνικά δίκτυα όπως το Facebook και το Instagram αποτελούν πλέον έναν διαδικτυακό τόπο όπου τα άτομα σήμερα δημιουργούν και διατηρούν σχέσεις, κοινωνικοποιούνται και ανταλλάζουν κοινωνική ή άλλου είδους πληροφορία. Η παρούσα μελέτη εξερευνά την εμπειρία του Instagram και τις επιπτώσεις της στα συναισθήματα, το άγχος και σε μία σειρά από άλλες σχετικές μεταβλητές. Τα αποτελέσματα της ποσοτικής συσχετιστικής μεθόδου μέσω αυτοαναφοράς (n=289) ανέδειξαν την αδιαφορία ως το κύριο συναίσθημα που σχετίζεται με τη χρήση του Instagram γενικότερα, με την ευτυχία, την αγάπη και την περηφάνεια να υπερέχουν ελάχιστα μόνο στις περιπτώσεις εκείνες όπου η χρήση του Instagram ήταν θετικά προσωποποιημένη. Αναφορικά με το άγχος στο Instagram, βρέθηκε αρνητική συσχέτιση με την ηλικία, θετική συσχέτιση με το χρόνο χρήσης, ενώ δε βρέθηκαν διαφορές φύλου. Το άγχος στο Instagram βρέθηκε, επίσης, να παρουσιάζει συσχέτιση με την κοινωνική σύγκριση, την παθητική και ενεργητική χρήση καθώς επίσης και με την κοινωνική παρουσία, ευρήματα που καταδεικνύουν ότι το περιεχόμενο και το είδος της εμπλοκής είναι πιθανό να έχουν συναισθηματικές και ψυχολογικές επιπτώσεις. Βρέθηκε, επίσης, υψηλή συσχέτιση μεταξύ άγχους στο Instagram και προβληματικής χρήσης. Η αυτοεκτίμηση βρέθηκε να συσχετίζεται αρνητικά με το άγχος στο Instagram. Θετική σχέση συσχέτισης βρέθηκε μεταξύ κοινωνικής σύγκρισης και χρήσης, ενεργητικής η παθητικής. Τέλος, ο αριθμός των χρηστών που ακολουθεί ένα άτομο βρέθηκε να παίζει ρόλο στα επίπεδα του άγχους στο Instagram.Social network sites such as Facebook and Instagram have become an online venue where people nowadays form and maintain relationships, socialize and exchange social or other information. This study explores the Instagram experience and its effects on feelings, anxiety and a series of other related variables. Results of the self-report quantitative correlative method (n=289) revealed indifference as the primary feeling associated with Instagram use in general, slightly surpassed by happiness, love and pride only in cases when Instagram use was positively personalized. Regarding Instagram anxiety, results showed no sex differences, a negative correlation with age and a positive correlation with amount of use. Instagram anxiety was also found to correlate with social comparison, passive and active use as well as social presence, indicating that content and type of involvement is likely to have emotional and psychological effects. A high correlation was found between Instagram anxiety and problematic use. Self-esteem was found to correlate negatively with Instagram anxiety. A positive relationship was found between social comparison and use, active or passive. Finally, the number of users one follows was found to play a role in the amount of Instagram anxiety

How much of the intraaortic balloon volume is displaced toward the coronary circulation?

This is a post-print version of the published article. Copyright @ 2010 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery.This article has been made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund.Objective: During intraaortic balloon inflation, blood volume is displaced toward the heart (Vtip), traveling retrograde in the descending aorta, passing by the arch vessels, reaching the aortic root (Vroot), and eventually perfusing the coronary circulation (Vcor). Vcor leads to coronary flow augmentation, one of the main benefits of the intraaortic balloon pump. The aim of this study was to assess Vroot and Vcor in vivo and in vitro, respectively. Methods: During intraaortic balloon inflation, Vroot was obtained by integrating over time the aortic root flow signals measured in 10 patients with intraaortic balloon assistance frequencies of 1:1 and 1:2. In a mock circulation system, flow measurements were recorded simultaneously upstream of the intraaortic balloon tip and at each of the arch and coronary branches of a silicone aorta during 1:1 and 1:2 intraaortic balloon support. Integration over time of the flow signals during inflation yielded Vcor and the distribution of Vtip. Results: In patients, Vroot was 6.4% ± 4.8% of the intraaortic balloon volume during 1:1 assistance and 10.0% ± 5.0% during 1:2 assistance. In vitro and with an artificial heart simulating the native heart, Vcor was smaller, 3.7% and 3.8%, respectively. The distribution of Vtip in vitro varied, with less volume displaced toward the arch and coronary branches and more volume stored in the compliant aortic wall when the artificial heart was not operating. Conclusion: The blood volume displaced toward the coronary circulation as the result of intraaortic balloon inflation is a small percentage of the nominal intraaortic balloon volume. Although small, this percentage is still a significant fraction of baseline coronary flow.This article is available through the Open Access Publishing Fund

A Comparison Efficacy Study of Commercial Nasopharyngeal Swabs versus a Novel 3D Printed Swab for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2

The large volume of diagnostic tests required by the response to the pandemic of COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a shortage of commercial nasopharyngeal swabs. In an effort to alleviate the shortage, swabs created by 3D printing may be a solution. We designed and produced 3D printed swabs and sought to compare their ability to detect SARS-CoV-2 in patients admitted for COVID-19 or who were suspected of having COVID-19. A total of 30 patients were swabbed with a commercial and printed 3D swab. Results matched in 28 of 31 patients (90%). Two patients were discordant with a positive commercial swab and a negative 3D printed swab and another was discordant because the 3D printed swab was positive and the commercial swab was negative. The sensitivity was 89%, specificity was 92% and Cohen’s kappa coefficient was 0.80. The 3D printed swabs performed acceptably compared to the commercial swab and may be considered for use in lieu of a commercial swab

Minimally Invasive Expeditionary Surgical Care Using Human-Inspired Robots

This technical report serves as an updated collection of subject matter experts on surgical care using human-inspired robotics for human exploration. It is a summary of the Blue Sky Meeting, organized by the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC), Pensacola, Florida, and held on October 2-3, 2018. It contains an executive summary, the final report, all of the presentation materials, and an updated reference list

Is the meiofauna a good indicator for climate change and anthropogenic impacts?

Our planet is changing, and one of the most pressing challenges facing the scientific community revolves around understanding how ecological communities respond to global changes. From coastal to deep-sea ecosystems, ecologists are exploring new areas of research to find model organisms that help predict the future of life on our planet. Among the different categories of organisms, meiofauna offer several advantages for the study of marine benthic ecosystems. This paper reviews the advances in the study of meiofauna with regard to climate change and anthropogenic impacts. Four taxonomic groups are valuable for predicting global changes: foraminifers (especially calcareous forms), nematodes, copepods and ostracods. Environmental variables are fundamental in the interpretation of meiofaunal patterns and multistressor experiments are more informative than single stressor ones, revealing complex ecological and biological interactions. Global change has a general negative effect on meiofauna, with important consequences on benthic food webs. However, some meiofaunal species can be favoured by the extreme conditions induced by global change, as they can exhibit remarkable physiological adaptations. This review highlights the need to incorporate studies on taxonomy, genetics and function of meiofaunal taxa into global change impact research