609 research outputs found

    Wireless Accelerometer for Neonatal MRI Motion Artifact Correction

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    A wireless accelerometer has been used in conjunction with a dedicated 3T neonatal MRI system installed on a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to measure in-plane rotation which is a common problem with neonatal MRI. Rotational data has been acquired in real-time from phantoms simultaneously with MR images which shows that the wireless accelerometer can be used in close proximity to the MR system. No artifacts were observed on the MR images from the accelerometer or from the MR system on the accelerometer output. Initial attempts to correct the raw data using the measured rotational angles have been performed, but further work will be required to make a robust correction algorithm

    Accelerating Change for Women and Girls: The Role of Women's Funds

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    In recent years, interest in philanthropy for and by women has intensified, accompanied by a growing acceptance of the idea that philanthropic investments in women and girls can accelerate positive change in communities. To understand this evolution in thinking and practice within philanthropy, the Foundation Center partnered with the Women's Funding Network, a global movement of women's funds, to chart the current landscape of philanthropy focused on women and girls and document the specific role played by women's funds

    A study of organelle Ca2+ dynamics in cardiac muscle

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    Organelle Ca2+ dynamics of cardiac muscle were studied using fluorescent indicators and a bioluminescent Ca2+ probe, namely aequorin that was targeted to SR. Enzymatically dissociated adult cardiac myocytes were subjected to prolonged incubation with acetoxymethyl (AM) derivatives of Fura-2, FuraFF and MgFura-2 which each have different Ca2+ affinities. This prolonged incubation allowed indicator loading into sub-cellular compartments. Permeabilisation with saponin and subsequent washout removed cytosolic component of the indicator. Results from the fluorescent indicator studies can be summarised as follows: 1. Studies with Fura-2-AM loaded cardiomyocytes revealed the existence of a sub-cellular compartment or compartments, which exchanges Ca2+ passively with a very slow time course. The identity of this is unclear, although likely candidates include mitochondria and nuclear envelope. 2. The signal from FuraFF-AM loaded cardiomyocytes appears to be almost exclusively from mitochondria with no contribution by SR. Parallel studies were done with SR vesicles and mitochondria prepared from cardiac tissue. Mitochondrial signals were very similar to that from permeabilised cells. However, SR vesicles loaded with FuraFF-AM did not appear to be responsive to changes in external [Ca2+]. The inability of AM loading to introduce dye with Ca2+ sensitivity into SR vesicles may be a consequence of low esterase activity. This may explain the lack of a clear SR signal in measurements from permeabilised cells. An adenovirus vector was developed to allow over-expression of the bioluminescent Ca2+ sensitive protein aequorin specifically targeted to SR (Ad-CSQ-Aeq). Experiments were carried with these over-expressing cells in the presence of 5μM ruthenium red and therefore absence of RyRa Ca2+ flux. [Ca2+]CYT was clamped at 162nM and 380nM. Under these conditions [Ca2+]SR was measured as 5.20 +/- 0.230 x 10-4 M ([Ca2+]CYT =162nM, n=6) and 1.21 +/- 0.180 X 10-3 M ([Ca2+]CYT =380nM. n=14). The relationship between [Ca2+]SR and rate of Ca2+ uptake in the absence of RyR2 flux, revealed a non-linear lumenal dependence. High [Ca2+]SR has a negative feedback effect upon SERCA2a resulting in a slower rate of uptake. The non-linearity of the lumenal dependence suggests a mechanism other than a simple trans-SR gradient. Analysis of leak in the presence of 25μM thapsigargin and 6muM ruthenium red indicates a simple linear relationship between [Ca2+]SR and the rate of Ca2+ leak. The kinetics of this relationship suggests a simple leak 'channel' or pathway, the identity of which is unclear. It is unlikely to be via RyR2 or reverse mode of SERCA2a due to presence of inhibitors. On the basis of a mean uptake and leak uptake curve an estimate of the equilibrium value of [Ca2+]SR in absence of RyR2 activity is approximately 960?M

    The experiences of migrants to Australia who stutter

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    Purpose: Migration is a contemporary, global matter. With the number of international migrants doubling over the past four decades, speech-language pathologists will likely work with migrants who have childhood-onset stuttering. However, combined migration and stuttering experiences have never been investigated specifically. This study is the first to investigate the experiences of migrants to Australia who stutter. Methods: Three women and six men, aged 23 to 66 years old, participated. Data from individual interviews were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to examine the ‘lived experience’ of participants, as well as with NVivo 12 software for the management of coding. Participants also completed The Overall Assessment of the Speaker\u27s Experience of Stuttering (OASES™). Results: The stress experienced from migration interacted and compounded the existing stress of stuttering. Central themes emerged pertaining to the impact of increased stress on self-identity, the interactions of the stresses, as well as the coping strategies/facilitators. Stuttering and other personal factors, such as language(s) spoken and accent, had a negative impact on communication skills. Conclusion: Migration cannot be experienced independently of a stutter, as both are intrinsically linked to self-identity. The combined stress of migration with stuttering amplified the perception of feeling abnormal and resulted in difficulties with establishing a stable self-identity and a sense of belonging in the new context. Participants found strength in the company of others and considered Australia to be accepting of stuttering

    Young people and illicit drug use : a health promotion model to differentiate abstinence or recreational drug use from misuse

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    The thesis is a study of illicit drug use and attitudes to drugs education amongst young people from different socio-economic backgrounds. The thesis reviews the existing literature and finds that there may be a link between poverty and drug use that hasn't been fully explored and that there has been a lack of attention to young people's perspectives and views on drug use. The findings are reported of an empirical research project that consisted of quantitative and qualitative research with 206 young people in five different settings: at university, in a youth club, in schools, in a pupil referral unit, and service for young offenders. The data from these different sources are analysed and a conceptual model has been developed, setting out some factors that are indicative of problematic or non-problematic drug use. The model was circulated amongst a small group of professionals in relevant fields for comment. The thesis concludes that young people in university settings reported using illicit drugs recreationally and apparently without problems, while the 'vulnerable' young people reported using more drugs, at an earlier age, and more frequently, and for reasons to do with boredom, depression and anxiety. The author suggests that 'vulnerable' young people are disadvantaged by their circumstances at home, including social deprivation and parental separation, and their lack of engagement with education. It is argued that health promotion models need to recognise the importance of contextual and broader structural factors influencing drug use among young people, and that health promotion efforts need to play a role in tackling inequalities and reducing deprivation, as well as making health promotion messages relevant to their target audience.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

    Arcuate fasciculus and pre-reading language development in children with prenatal alcohol exposure

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    IntroductionPrenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) contributes to widespread neurodevelopmental challenges, including reading, and has been associated with altered white matter. Here, we aimed to investigate whether arcuate fasciculus (AF) development is associated with pre-reading language skills in young children with PAE.MethodsA total of 51 children with confirmed PAE (25 males; 5.6 ± 1.1 years) and 116 unexposed controls (57 males; 4.6 ± 1.2 years) underwent longitudinal diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), for a total of 111 scans from participants with PAE and 381 scans in the unexposed control group. We delineated the left and right AF and extracted mean fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD). Pre-reading language ability was assessed using age-standardized phonological processing (PP) and speeded naming (SN) scores of the NEPSY-II. Linear mixed effects models were run to determine the relationship between diffusion metrics and age, group, sex, and age-by-group interactions, with subject modeled as a random factor. A secondary mixed effect model analysis assessed the influence of white matter microstructure and PAE on pre-reading language ability using diffusion metric-by-age-by-group interactions, with 51 age- and sex-matched unexposed controls.ResultsPhonological processing (PP) and SN scores were significantly lower in the PAE group (p < 0.001). In the right AF, there were significant age-by-group interactions for FA (p < 0.001) and MD (p = 0.0173). In the left AF, there was a nominally significant age-by-group interaction for MD that failed to survive correction (p = 0.0418). For the pre-reading analysis, a significant diffusion-by-age-by-group interaction was found for left FA (p = 0.0029) in predicting SN scores, and for the right FA (p = 0.00691) in predicting PP scores.DiscussionChildren with PAE showed altered developmental trajectories for the AF, compared with unexposed controls. Children with PAE, regardless of age, showed altered brain-language relationships that resembled those seen in younger typically developing children. Our findings support the contention that altered developmental trajectories in the AF may be associated with functional outcomes in young children with PAE

    Prevalence of Pain on Admission by Level of Cognitive Impairment in Nursing Homes

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    Purpose: To provide contemporary estimates of pain by level of cognitive impairment among US nursing home residents without cancer. Methods: Newly admitted US nursing home residents without cancer assessed with the Minimum Data Set 3.0 at admission (2010-2016) were eligible (n=8,613,080). The Cognitive Function Scale was used to categorize level of cognitive impairment. Self-report or staff-assessed pain was used based on a 5-day look-back period. Estimates of adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) were derived from modified Poisson models. Results: Documented prevalence of pain decreased with increased levels of cognitive impairment in those who self-reported pain (68.9% no/mild, 32.9% severe) and those with staff-assessed pain (50.6% no/mild, 37.2% severe staff-assessed pain). Relative to residents with no/mild cognitive impairment, pharmacologic pain management was less prevalent in those with severe cognitive impairment (self-reported: 51.3% severe vs 76.9% in those with no/mild; staff assessed: 52.0% severe vs 67.7% no/mild). Conclusion: Pain was less frequently documented in those with severe cognitive impairment relative to those with no/mild impairments. Failure to identify pain may result in untreated or undertreated pain. Interventions to improve evaluation of pain in nursing home residents with cognitive impairment are needed
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