Electrocardiographic (ECG) criteria for determining left ventricular mass in young healthy men; data from the LARGE Heart study

Background: Doubts remain over the use of the ECG in identifying those with increased left ventricular (LV) mass. This is especially so in young individuals, despite their high prevalence of ECG criteria for LV hypertrophy. We performed a study using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), which provides an in vivo non-invasive gold standard method of measuring LV mass, allowing accurate assessment of electrocardiography as a tool for defining LV hypertrophy in the young.Methods and results: Standard 12-lead ECGs were obtained from 101 Caucasian male army recruits aged (mean +/- SEM) 19.7 +/- 0.2 years. LV mass was measured using CMR. LV mass indexed to body surface area demonstrated no significant correlation with the Cornell Amplitude criteria or Cornell Product for LV hypertrophy. Moderate correlations were seen with the Sokolow-Lyon Amplitude (0.28) and Sokolow-Lyon Product (0.284). Defining LV hypertrophy as a body surface area indexed left ventricular mass of 93 g/m(2), calculated sensitivities [and specificities] were as follows; 38.7% [74.3%] for the Sokolow-Lyon criteria, 43.4% [61.4%] for the Sokolow-Lyon Product, 19.4% [91.4%] for Cornell Amplitude, and 22.6% [85.7%] for Cornell Product. These values are substantially less than those reported for older age groups.Conclusion: ECG criteria for LV hypertrophy may have little value in determining LV mass or the presence of LV hypertrophy in young fit males

Agroforestry trends in Punjab, Pakistan

Pakistan in general and the province of Punjab in particular have a narrow forest resource. More than 90% of the fuel wood and about 72% of timber requirements are being met from trees growing on the private farm lands, based on agro forestry / social forestry / community forestry as compared with the state forests. It is obvious that trees have to be grown in conjunction with agricultural crops on private farm lands. The main objectives of the study pertain to agro forestry trend in Punjab, Province of Pakistan along with the identification of the agroeclogical zones of the province including evaluation of adaptation level of agro forestry interventions; assessment of the aptitude of agro-foresters towards tree planting and hurdles in expansion of the agro forestry. For this, a survey of 257 farm plantations (FP) was conducted in 20 districts of the Punjab Province and more than 257 agro-farmers were interviewed through a prescribed performa. However, a correlation between linear and compact designs of the agro forestry was established. From the study of the survey results, it has also been noticed that out of 257 FP, only three FP belonged to the lessees and 254 belonged to land owners. It was also noted that number of FP considerably increased during 1995 to 2000, when the Punjab forest department transferred technology and provided various incentives and financial subsidies. The farmers can further increase it, if the government revives financial/technical incentives and marketing facilities.Key words: Agro forestry, linear and compact design, land tenure, agroeclogical zones, spacing

Knowledge management perspective on e-learning effectiveness

Author name used in this publication: Adela Lau2008-2009 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalAccepted ManuscriptPublishe

Application of Web 2.0 Technology for Clinical Training

Author name used in this publication: Adele Lau2008-2009 > Academic research: refereed > Chapter in an edited book (author)Version of RecordPublishe

The Impact of Perspective Change As a Cognitive Reappraisal Strategy on Affect: A Systematic Review

The strategic or deliberate adoption of a cognitively distanced, third-person perspective is proposed to adaptively regulate emotions. However, studies of psychological disorders suggest spontaneous adoption of a third-person perspective reflects counter-productive avoidance. Here, we review studies that investigate the deliberate adoption of a third- or first-person vantage perspective and its impact on affect in healthy people, “sub-clinical” populations and those with psychological disorders. A systematic search was conducted across four databases. After exclusion criteria were applied, 38 studies were identified that investigated the impact of both imagery and verbal instructions designed to encourage adoption of a third-person perspective on self-reported affect. The identified studies examined a variety of outcomes related to recalling memories, imagining scenarios and mood induction. These were associated with specific negative emotions or mood states (dysphoria/sadness, anxiety, anger), mixed or neutral affect autobiographical memories, and self-conscious affect (e.g., guilt). Engaging a third-person perspective was generally associated with a reduction in the intensity of positive and negative affect. Studies that included measures of semantic change, suggested that this is a key mediator in reduction of affect following perspective change. Strategically adopting a “distanced,” third-person perspective is linked to a reduction in affect intensity across valence, but in addition has the potential to introduce new information that regulates emotion via semantic change. Such reappraisal distinguishes deliberate adoption of a distanced perspective from the habitual and/or spontaneous shift in perspective that occurs in psychopatholog

An ontology-based similarity measurement for problem-based case reasoning

Author name used in this publication: Adela Lau2008-2009 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalAccepted ManuscriptPublishe

Uninhabited aircraft design optimised for close formation air-refuelling flight

Uninhabited combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) are intended for carrying out high-risk combat missions with a high degree of precision, effectiveness and efficiency and without endangering pilots’ lives. An air refuelling system for UCAVs could bring out their full potential in wartime action, by extending their range capability and increasing their airborne time. Hence, the main aim of this PhD research programme was to develop a design and optimisation methodology for an innovative concept consisting of a large uninhabited tanker and a number of UCAVs flying in a close formation, with an optimised and fully autonomous air refuelling capability. The close formation flight of this tanker and UCAVs combination provides aerodynamic benefits which together with an optimised air-to-air refuelling sequence will result in a significantly extended combat radius and capability without unnecessarily compromising the UCAVs’ physical size. With a stealth design approach, the proposed combination could fly directly to a faraway destination without any intermediate stops, hence minimizing any risk of detection, with significant fuel and time savings. To fully exploit the potential advantages the above combination, both the autonomous tanker and the UCAV concepts have been designed through specially developed and separate synthesis methodologies and each aircraft was subsequently optimised for its respective operational role. An investigation into formation flight aerodynamics has also been conducted. A method for evaluating the associated aerodynamic benefits has been developed using a modified vortex-lattice approach, to automatically locate an optimal formation position for each aircraft in flight. A further method has also been developed to optimise the air refuelling sequence of the UCAVs by utilising the design synthesis and formation flight results aiming to maximise a range objective function. The above design synthesis and optimisation methodologies have all been integrated into an automated program written in Visual Basic.NET, featuring Graphical User Interfaces for simpler, faster and repetitive implementation

Effect of nitrogen and phosphorous on Farm Plantations in various agroecological zones of Punjab, Pakistan

Against a world average of 25% area under forests, Pakistan has around 5% and Punjab has only 2% area under manageable and productive forests. The present deteriorating condition of the forests in Punjab has bleak prospects of improvement and expansion in near future due to ever increasing demand for agriculture produce. In view of the present situation the best possible solution seems to be offered by Farm forestry/agroforestry that models planting trees and agricultural crops together, which unfortunately, has not been utilized to its full potential. Based on physiographic, climate and ecology, Pakistan is divided into nine major ecological or vegetative zones, which are further sub-divided into 18 habitat types – an arrangement for the development of protected areas system in terms of representative ecotypes. During the survey of farm plantations about 400 soil samples were collected and their physical and chemical analysis was conducted for the comparison of the four Agro ecological zones of the Punjab Province of Pakistan with regards to agroforestry. A comparison of the characteristics of soils taken from various farm plantations necessitated a prior evaluation of nitrogen and phosphorous as well as their composition in order to ascertain whether the soils were texturally similar or not. In case of Agroforestry, the type of soil is one of the major factors for the classification of different suitable species of plants. The results of the soil analysis of various Agro ecological zones and the consequent recommendation of the associated suitable species, aids the agrofarmers to pick out the best possible option.Keywords: Soil analysis, agro-ecological zones, agroforestry, nitrogen and phosphorous

Effects of educational sessions on school backpack use among elementary school students

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a modificação na quantidade de carga transportada, o modelo e o modo de transportar mochilas escolares após sessões educativas. MÉTODOS: Estudo de uma série de casos, com 99 crianças de sete a 11 anos do ensino fundamental, em escola particular da cidade São Paulo, São Paulo. Foram avaliadas a massa corporal (kg) e estatura dos alunos (cm), quantidade de carga transportada nas mochilas (kg). Os modelos e os modos de transporte das mochilas foram avaliados por filmagem pré e pós-intervenção. Como medida de intervenção, os sujeitos (crianças, pais e professores) foram submetidos a uma sessão educativa, que consistiu de orientações teóricas sobre coluna vertebral e transporte de carga. Para os escolares foi adicionada orientação prática das posturas corretas no transporte de carga. Os escolares receberam um reforço prático mensal por três meses. Pais e professores receberam reforço em folheto informativo e orientações na homepage da escola. Os dados foram analisados pelos testes estatísticos de igualdade de duas proporções e Wilcoxon. O nível de significância adotado foi 5%. RESULTADOS: O modelo de mochila modificou para duas alças de 46,5% para 60,6% (p=0,046), modo de transporte para ombro bilateral de 41,4% para 55,6% (p=0,047). A carga transportada nas mochilas diminuiu 2,66kg (p<0,001) e a relação massa corporal do sujeito e carga transportada nas mochilas diminuiu 7%. Na modificação por categorias, o número de alunos do grupo inadequado (carga transportada>15% da massa corporal do aluno) diminuiu (p<0,001). CONCLUSÕES: As sessões educativas promoveram mudanças na utilização de mochilas, revelando adesão satisfatória ao modelo de intervenção proposto entre os escolares e o importante papel da Fisioterapia na saúde escolar.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the changes in loads carried, in the model of backpack used and in the way of carrying school backpacks after the implementation of an educational program. METHODS: This study was performed on 99 children aged seven to 11 years at elementary school level in a private school in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. The subjects' body mass (kg) and height (cm) and the loads carried in their backpacks (kg) were evaluated. The backpack models and the ways of carrying them were evaluated by filming before and after the intervention. The intervention program consisted of educational sessions offered to the children, parents and teachers. The sessions involved lectures about the spine and about the principles of load carrying. The children also received practical guidance relating to correct postures for load carrying. The children received monthly practical reinforcement for three months. The parents and teachers received reinforcement by means of information flyers and guidance on the school's home page. The data were analyzed by means of two-proportion equality and Wilcoxon statistical tests. The significance level was considered as &#945;=0.05. RESULTS: The use of a two-strap backpack model increased from 46.5% to 60.6% (p=0.046) and carrying it on two shoulders increased from 41.4% to 55.6% (p=0.047). The load carried in the backpacks decreased by 2.66kg (p<0.001) and the ratio between the subject's body mass and the load carried in the backpacks decreased by 7%. With regard to change per category, the number of subjects in the inappropriate group (load carried>15% of the subject's body mass) decreased (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The educational sessions promoted changes in backpack use and it was observed a satisfactory adherence to the intervention program proposed. These results demonstrate the importance of Physical Therapy educational programs in schoolchildren's health

Isotope and geochemical characterization of surface and subsurface waters in the semi-arid Sokoto Basin, Nigeria

Stable isotopes and geochemical studies have been applied in the investigation of groundwater resources in Sokoto Basin, northwestern Nigeria. Generally, the characteristic hydrochemical classification in the study area is calcium-alkali-bicarbonate. Surface waters are characterized by alkali-calcium-bicarbonate while groundwater is of Ca-Mg-HCO3. The plot of &delta;18O versus &delta;2H shows that five isotopic groups can be distinguished. Group I-III is of groundwater origin while group IV and V represent surface water. A combination of the hydrochemical and isotope data (14C, 13C and 3H) reveals the Sokoto basin aquifers generally contains good quality groundwater of Holocene age (100 to 10,000 years BP). Key Words: stable isotopes, geochemical characterization, groundwater, Sokoto Basin. African Journal of Science and Technology Vol.4(2) 2003: 80-8